Halloween in Madrid

Thanks to globalisation in the 21^st century, we've been able to learn more and more about other cultures. Centuries-old traditions from different countries now go hand in hand with each other. And that's why around the 1 November in Madrid, not only will you find traditional sweets, such as huesos de santos (or "saint's bones") and buñuelos (fritters), but you can also see candy, pumpkins, sweet bread for the Day of the Dead and sugar skulls. Remembering loved ones is now accompanied with zombies, dead people of all shapes and sizes and elaborate La Catrina skull make-up. Theme parks, restaurants, cultural centres, etc. all join in this fusion of Spanish, Anglo-Saxon and Mexican cultures. Welcome to Halloween in Madrid!

Typical Spanish traditions

All Saints' Day: visiting our relatives at the cemetery with flowers

Cemeteries in Madrid are full of colour on All Saints' Day. Special flowers are laid on the graves, memorial niches and pantheons of loved ones. Streets become packed with people so that no one is forgotten on this special day. And walking through La Almudena Cemetery becomes a floral journey through history, art and the final resting place of some of the country's most famous people.

Saint's Bones and Fritters

The festivity's traditional sweet dishes are full of flavours. Saint's bones (huesos de santo), which are stuffed with an egg yolk syrup, and fritters (buñuelos), which are filled with cream, can be found in endless colours and flavours for all tastes: chocolate, coconut, yogurt, cream…!

Children give adults the perfect excuse to accompany them while they sample some of these classic treats. Don't feel bad for eating too many of them, as tradition has it that for every fritter you eat, a soul is saved from purgatory!

• Try them at one of the many artisan cake shops in Madrid!
• See the "wind fritters" recipe from one of the most emblematic patisseries in the city, La Mallorquina.

Don Juan Tenorio

Theatre performances of this play by Spanish poet and dramatist Zorrilla traditionally take place on All Saints' Day, as the final act is set on this very night. Many Madrileños recall the famous line "Oh, my angel of love, do you see that on this secluded shore the moon shines clear and pure, and one breathes more easily?" in the neighbouring UNESCO World Heritage City, Alcalá de Henares around this time of year. Here, it has been performed for over 35 years at the Huerta del Obispo Garden, inside the walls of the Archbishop's Palace.

A trip to Mexico for the Day of the Dead

Frida Kahlo once said that she hoped that when she died, she would never return to this world. However, in Mexico, the Day of the Dead is a huge celebration as it's believed that the souls of loved ones come back to earth on this very day, and are therefore greeted with their favourite food and drink.

The Day of the Dead at Casa de México

The Casa de México cultural centre has organised different activities to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Films, workshops and performances, as well as courses, not only honour this important day, but they also encourage us to learn about a tradition that has become a national symbol.

From 4 October to 9 November 2025, the MEGA altar of the dead can be visited free of charge. This year, it is inspired by Mexican cabaret and is presented under the name Cabaret The Memory. Its roots lie in the early decades of the 20th century and it came to Mexico as a form of evening entertainment in cafés and lounges, but soon acquired its own character. In addition to the altar, the Foundation has organised many other activities to find out more about this beautiful tradition. 

And in true American style...

Parque de Atracciones

Throughout the month of October and right up to All Saints' Day, Halloween takes over the streets of Madrid's Parque de Atracciones attraction park. Get ready to experience the next level in terms of adrenalin and thrills.

From 27 September to 2 November 2025, visitors will be able to experience the park’s most spine-chilling and fun time of the year. This year's new features include The Mysterious Castle, a terror tunnel created for children. Along dark corridors and rooms full of riddles, visitors will be able to find out that vampires are not always what they seem. This is a fun, magical adventure with a message: being different is a gift.

Another new feature for all the family to enjoy is The Cursed Pyramid, an unforgettable adventure into the heart of the desert. Brave explorers will venture into a pyramid full of hieroglyphics, traps and eternal guardians, which has been hidden away for centuries. Only by solving the riddles and working as a team will they be able to discover the Pharaoh's secret and unleash the power of the Eye of the Sun.

The park also has other terrifying experiences, such as: The Temple of Shanarkai which hides a terrifying curse dating back thousands of years; the macabre scenes full of zombies in The Walking Dead Experience (not included in the entrance ticket to the park); and the Asylum experience, set in a psychiatric centre, which has been taken over by the patients.

Warner Theme Park Madrid

At this time of year, the Warner Park also prepares a special programme that includes sinister passages, horror zones, musical shows and themed characters, offering visitors an experience that is only suitable for the most daring.

The 2025 season runs from 27 September to 3 November with new features, such as the revamped The Warren Files terror passage. A labyrinth that is only suitable for people who do not shock easily and it brings together the best sequences from The Conjuring Universe:  Warren File films, which includes a new scene this year from the latest film, The Conjuring:  Last Rites.  There will also be other terror passages, such as The Nun, IT Experience and Crime Alley: Night of Chaos.

Another new feature is the musical of Dracula, which is about a young English lawyer who travels to Count Dracula’s home in Transylvania. It is a story about fear, danger and love.

As usual, Warner Park has prepared the season’s most exclusive and eagerly awaited night event,  Halloween Scary Nights. Four unforgettable nights are scheduled for 10, 17, 24 and 31 October 2025, when visitors will be able to go on all of the Terror Passages, ScareZones and the scariest rides.

Zoo Aquarium and Faunia

From the beginning of October until Halloween, the Zoo Aquarium and Faunia also put together their own spooky offerings.

Halloween at Faunia becomes a great option for kids, who have a great time doing Trick or Treat!, going down themed passages or discovering terrifyingly fun stories. This time of the year, special themed talks are organised in which an educator explains the mysteries and legends of some of the most poisonous and enigmatic animals, among pumpkins and Halloween decorations.

In 2025, Faunia has prepared a unique event for Halloween on Saturdays and Sundays from 4 October to 3 November: Trick or Haribo. Get free HARIBO sweets while learning with talks on the planet’s most incredible animals.  

In mid-October, the most mysterious Halloween kicks off at the Zoo Aquarium, among pumpkins and enigmatic animals for adults and children alike to enjoy themselves to the full. At this time of the year, fun themed talks are organised and some animals are fed along with pumpkins.  The best workshops have been organised to spend Halloween at the Zoo.

Do you want to hear the most terrifying stories related to our animals? What are your worst nightmares? In 2025, you will be able to learn curious facts about some of our animals and discover everything about their diet and care thanks to the Educational Talks with Food which will be held every Saturday and Sunday from 11 October and on 1 and 2 November.  In these talks, visitors will be able to learn a lot about them and how to help them overcome their fears and greatest threats. We will also be accompanied by their carers or trainers and in some cases, visitors will be able to watch first-hand how they are fed!

Trick or Treat?

The Sweet Space Museum, a paradise for chocolate and sweet lovers in the ABC Serrano shopping centre, celebrates Halloween with some great decorations. Enjoy getting dressed up and going trick or treating around the complex. 

In 2025, they have prepared Happy HalloSweet where their Menina has disappeared! Will you help them solve the mystery?

Ghost Tour Around Madrid

On this tour you can discover the legends and tormented spirits that roam the city's streets after dark. The route starts in Plaza de Cibeles and finishes in Plaza de Santo Domingo, and includes a visit to Linares Palace, the headquarters of Casa de América, which has been the subject of a number of paranormal studies. The iconic House of the Seven Chimneys, whose walls and rooftops hide ghost stories, also feature on the tour. 

Other neighbourhoods around the city also have special tours to celebrate Halloween, with the most sinister and terrifying tales concealed in their alleys and street corners are told by Cuéntame Madrid.

Engimatium Room

Who would have thought that in the centre of Madrid it would possible to have a unique dinner experience in a restaurant located inside a former Spanish Civil War bunker? Well it is! This escape room lasts approximately 3 hours and you'll have to solve enigmas and riddles if you want to be set free at the end of the evening.

Another fun activity for families with children is to form teams and get dressed up. Games include The Refuge, where participants travel back in time to experience a real story, and Around the World, where a series of attacks is wiping out major cities.

La Casa de los Horrores

Located in Aranjuez, this rural house of terror, whose stories and activities have appeared in the media, is the best known of its kind in Spain. It's a very unique set-up, thanks to both its location and its tales that, whether they're true or not, continue to surprise the guests. The experience includes dinner with a free bar, a show, karaoke, games and entertainment, enigmas and a diptych to use while solving a real-life cluedo.

Madrid Terror Escape Room

You'll find this escape room in the heart of Madrid, in a space with more than 200m² where you'll participate in a terrifying yet exciting experience designed for those who love being frightened or those who simply themselves as clever in nerve-racking situations. Activities also include special (and easier!) sessions for families, such as Paranormal Experience and Horror Club.