# December long weekend from Madrid: getaways for Constitution Day and the Immaculate Conception Seven getaways of one or two nights and two day trips from Madrid, chosen for what is open or on stage over the December long weekend: snow if there is any, theatre in Almagro, Gregorian chant in Silos and stone villages. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/getaways/december-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Madrid - [A weekend in La Alberca and the Sierra de Francia, an hour from Salamanca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/la-alberca/itineraries/la-alberca-sierra-de-francia-weekend.md) (2 nights, La Alberca and the Sierra de Francia): The Casa del Parque and the tourist office are also open on 7 and 8 December. In winter it may snow on the Peña de Francia, and with snow you cannot walk up. On a long weekend, book accommodation and meals in good time. - [Skiing and snowshoeing an hour from Madrid: a weekend in Navacerrada and Cercedilla](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/navacerrada-pass-and-cercedilla/itineraries/ski-and-snowshoeing-near-madrid-navacerrada.md) (1 night, Navacerrada Pass and Cercedilla): Valdesquí is open from December to April depending on the snow, so early in the month there may be none: check the report the night before. If it has snowed, book the car park free of charge and bring chains, which the M-601 requires. If not, the Camino Schmid and Fuenfría. - [A weekend in Covarrubias and Silos, an hour from Burgos](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/covarrubias-and-silos/itineraries/covarrubias-silos-gregorian-chant-weekend.md) (1 night, Covarrubias and Santo Domingo de Silos): The Visigothic hermitage of Quintanilla de las Viñas opens specially on 7 December, and the Fernán González tower on the 7th and 8th. In Silos, vespers at 19:00 every day. San Olav, on the other hand, is closed in December. - [A getaway to Cuenca and the Ciudad Encantada, two hours from Madrid and Valencia](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/cuenca/itineraries/cuenca-enchanted-city-one-night.md) (1 night, Cuenca): In winter the cathedral is open on Saturdays and public holidays until 19:30, and the Museum of Abstract Art, in the Hanging Houses, has an exhibition of Yves Klein. The Serranía often freezes: boots for the Ciudad Encantada, or the Paleontological Museum if there is ice. - [A weekend in the Hoces del Duratón, based in Sepúlveda](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/duraton-gorges/itineraries/duraton-gorges-weekend-sepulveda.md) (1 night, Duratón River Gorges and Sepúlveda): Canoeing runs all year depending on the weather and bookings, and the lamb at El Panadero has to be ordered when you book. The Casa del Parque is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays: if your long weekend falls on those days, call in on the first one. - [A weekend in El Escorial: monastery, royal forest and Abantos](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/itineraries/el-escorial-monastery-and-forest-weekend.md) (1 night, San Lorenzo de El Escorial): In winter the Casita del Príncipe opens only on Saturdays and public holidays, and has few places: buy your pass beforehand. The monastery is closed on Mondays and last entry is at 16:45; in the hills there may be snow up high, on Abantos. - [A weekend in Alcalá de Henares with the Cervantes Train](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/alcala-de-henares/itineraries/alcala-de-henares-cervantes-train-weekend.md) (1 night, Alcalá de Henares: university, Cervantes and Complutum): The Cervantes Train usually closes its autumn season on this long weekend, and its ticket is valid for the return the next day. Alcalá schedules visits to Complutum on those days, by registration, and Cervantes's birthplace has theatrical shows on Saturdays. - [Almagro: theatre at the Corral and Calatrava castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/almagro/itineraries/almagro-corral-de-comedias-and-calatrava-la-nueva.md) (Day itinerary, Almagro): The Corral de Comedias stages classical theatre over the December long weekend: La dama boba on the 6th, Don Gil de las calzas verdes on the 7th and No hay burlas con el amor on the 8th. The dramatised tour runs until the 8th. Cold nights: bring a coat. - [Toledo: Jewish quarter in the morning and cathedral in the afternoon](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castilla-la-mancha/toledo/itineraries/toledo-jewish-quarter-zip-line-and-cathedral.md) (Day itinerary, Toledo): On 8 December the cathedral opens from 14:00 to 18:30, like a Sunday, so the order of the plan works that day too; on the 6th, the Sephardic Museum is free. Buy the cathedral with a timed ticket: by half past five it is already dark. ## How many days do you really have? The December long weekend is rarely four days off for everyone. If you have three or four, the two-night getaway to La Alberca makes the most of the journey: three hours by car pays off with two days in the mountains. With two days, one night away is enough: Covarrubias and Silos, Cuenca or Sepúlveda and the Duratón Gorges. If you work some day in between, stay close: El Escorial and Alcalá de Henares are under an hour away and can be reached without a car. And if you only have the 6th and the 8th free, they are good for a day trip. Toledo works on the 8th like a Sunday, with the cathedral in the afternoon, and Almagro has a performance at the Corral de Comedias on all three days of the long weekend. ## Snow or city? Snow in the Guadarrama starts in December, but it keeps no timetable. Valdesquí and the Navacerrada pass open as it falls, so the skiing and snowshoeing getaway is decided the night before, by checking the report. If it has not snowed, the same weekend works for walking: the Camino Schmid and the Roman road at Fuenfría are just as good in a dry winter. Cities do not depend on the weather, but they do depend on the cold. Cuenca and Sigüenza are above a thousand metres, Ávila above 1,100, and in all of them it freezes. In return, there are fewer groups in winter and the light is clean. Cuenca looks best at night, from the San Pablo bridge, with the Hanging Houses lit up. ## With children? With children, the easiest option is whatever has short opening hours and room to move around. The Ciudad Encantada is a 3 km walk among rocks and under-7s go free. In the mountains, Valdesquí has the Pradera for beginners, with its own lift pass, and the school at the Navacerrada pass runs guided snowshoe outings for those who have never skied. The Cervantes Train, with actors on board, makes its last autumn trip on 5 December: if it suits you, it is the plan for them. ## What should you book beforehand? A long weekend fills up just like an ordinary weekend, but for more days. Book accommodation first, because La Alberca, Silos and Sepúlveda have few beds. Then whatever has a limited number of places: the Casita del Príncipe in El Escorial, Toledo cathedral with a timed ticket, the performances at the Corral de Comedias, which are bought online, and canoeing on the Duratón. And meals: the lamb in Sepúlveda has to be ordered when you book, and the Venta Marcelino, in Cotos, does not take reservations and fills up on a snowy Sunday. ## The road, there and back If you are heading to the mountains, leave early. On snowy days the 250-space car park at Cotos fills up before 8:00, and the DGT (traffic authority) may require chains or close the M-601. If you would rather not drive in snow, bus 691 leaves from Moncloa and goes as far as Valdesquí. On the way to Segovia, the last stretch goes through the Guadarrama tunnel or over the Navacerrada pass, which can have snow in winter. Without a car, you can easily reach Alcalá by Cercanías commuter train, Toledo by Avant from Atocha and Cuenca by AVE, although from Cuenca station to the Ciudad Encantada you will need a taxi. The drive back to Madrid in the afternoon is usually heavy: leave after lunch or keep the last night for an early return. ## What is better left for another date Albarracín fills up at midday on long weekends: if you want a quiet village, go another weekend. The Laguna Grande in Gredos and the one in Peñalara are for spring to autumn. The oak woods of the Lozoya valley and the chestnut groves of La Herrería have their moment in October and November. And in the Arlanza valley, the chapel of San Olav is closed from December to February. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Is it worth going to the snow over the December long weekend? Only if it has snowed. The Valdesquí season runs from December to April depending on the snow, and early in the month there may be no pistes open. Check the report the night before and have a plan for without snow. ### What opens on the long weekend that does not open on other days? The hermitage of Quintanilla de las Viñas, near Covarrubias, opens specially on 7 December; the Fernán González tower on the 7th and 8th; and the Casa del Parque in La Alberca, also on the 7th and 8th. ### What can you do without a car? Alcalá de Henares by Cercanías, El Escorial by bus from Moncloa, Toledo by Avant and Cuenca by AVE for the old town. For the snow, bus 691 from Moncloa to Valdesquí. ### Do you have to book well in advance? Accommodation, yes, especially in small villages like La Alberca, Silos or Sepúlveda. Also Toledo cathedral with a timed ticket, the Casita del Príncipe and the Almagro performances.