ARCO Madrid 2027: what to do in Madrid after hours

3 to 7 March 2027 · ExpectedMadrid, Spain

ARCO Madrid keeps attendees on the show floor all day and leaves the evenings, the day after and partners' days free. This guide covers dinners that need booking, evening outings, a companion day and the day after in Madrid.

Tours in Madrid Hotels for these dates

ARCO Madrid in short

When: 3 to 7 March 2027 (expected, not yet confirmed by the organiser)
Where: IFEMA Madrid, Madrid, Spain, about 9 km from the centre
Free time: The show floor takes the day, so the evenings, a companion day and the day after are free.
Best base: Sol, Gran Vía and Huertas: Central, on many metro lines, walk to the museums.
Getting there: Madrid-Barajas (MAD) is 13 km northeast.
Weather: In March, Madrid averages highs of about 14°C and lows of 2°C, with roughly 48 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 11 h 17 min of daylight.
Top things to do: Prado Museum guided tour; Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour; Toledo day trip

Weather during ARCO Madrid

In March, Madrid averages highs of about 14°C and lows of 2°C, with roughly 48 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 11 h 17 min of daylight.

Month	Average high	Average low	Rain
March	14°C (57°F)	2°C (36°F)	48 mm

What to pack

A warm coat, hat and gloves: nights can drop close to freezing.
A light rain jacket, just in case.
Comfortable shoes: a day on the show floor easily means 15,000 steps.

Monthly averages for 2001 to 2025 from NASA POWER. Check the forecast a few days before you travel.

Airport to IFEMA Madrid

Madrid-Barajas (MAD) is 13 km northeast. Metro line 8 reaches Nuevos Ministerios in 25 minutes; the Cercanías C1 train serves Atocha and Chamartín; the Exprés Aeropuerto bus runs 24 hours to Atocha. Taxis charge a flat 33 euros to the centre.

Metro line 8 to Feria de Madrid.

Public transport directions to IFEMA Madrid · Everything on at IFEMA Madrid

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Lavapiés and La Latina	Cheaper hostels and hotels, tapas streets and El Rastro on Sundays.
Mid-range	Sol, Gran Vía and Huertas	Central, on many metro lines, walk to the museums.
Splurge	Salamanca and the Paseo del Prado	Grand hotels near the Retiro park and the shopping streets.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Generator Madrid
Mid-range: Hotel Riu Plaza España
Splurge: Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid

Links search the nights from 2 March to 8 March. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual show week schedule for 3 to 7 March 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Evening one

Wednesday 3 March

After the show floor closes: dinner and a short evening outing.

EveningTapas and wine tour Evening · Food · Nightlife
Three or four bars in the old town with a local guide.
EatCalle Cava Baja A street of tapas bars

Evening two

Thursday 4 March

Team dinner night. Book early: every group in town wants the same tables.

EatMercado de San Antón Market with a rooftop terrace in Chueca
After darkRooftops at Círculo de Bellas Artes and Gran Vía hotels.

Companion day

Thursday 4 March

For partners who came along and do not have a badge.

Full dayWarner Bros Park Madrid Full day · Family
Theme park 30 km south of the city.

The day after the show

Monday 8 March

Push the flight back a day. A full free day costs little and the city empties out.

Half-dayRoyal Palace tour Half day · Indoor · Family
The largest royal palace in western Europe.
EatSala de Despiece Modern tapas bar on Calle Ponzano
FreeFree evening hours at the Prado (last two hours most days) and the Reina Sofía.

Team outing

For corporate groups of 10 to 40: private tours and tastings book out first.

EatBodega de la Ardosa Old tavern famous for its tortilla
EveningFlamenco show Evening · Nightlife · Indoor
Tablao show with optional dinner.

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Indoor · Family

Royal Palace tour

The largest royal palace in western Europe.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Bike tour of Madrid

Retiro park, Madrid Río and the old town in three hours.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Warner Bros Park Madrid

Theme park 30 km south of the city.

See times and prices

Half day · Family · Indoor

Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour

The rebuilt Real Madrid stadium, dressing rooms and trophy museum.

See times and prices

Retiro rowing boats on the lake.
Madrid Zoo Aquarium in Casa de Campo, reached by cable car.
Faunia and the Warner theme park on the outskirts.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Food · Nightlife

Tapas and wine tour

Three or four bars in the old town with a local guide.

See times and prices

Evening · Nightlife · Indoor

Flamenco show

Tablao show with optional dinner.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Warner Bros Park Madrid

Theme park 30 km south of the city.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Toledo day trip

Medieval city of three cultures, 35 minutes by train.

See times and prices

Full day

Segovia and Ávila day trip

Roman aqueduct, Alcázar castle and medieval walls.

See times and prices

After dark

Rooftops at Círculo de Bellas Artes and Gran Vía hotels.
Malasaña and Chueca bar streets after midnight.

Ten tours worth booking for ARCO Madrid

Tour	Length	Good for
Royal Palace tour	Half day	Bad weather, Families
Bike tour of Madrid	Half day	Families
Churros and chocolate cooking class	Half day	Food lovers, Bad weather
Warner Bros Park Madrid	Full day	Families
Prado Museum guided tour	Half day	Bad weather, Tired legs
Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour	Half day	Families, Bad weather
Toledo day trip	Full day	Families
Segovia and Ávila day trip	Full day	Everyone
Tapas and wine tour	Evening	Food lovers, Night owls
Flamenco show	Evening	Night owls, Bad weather

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Mercado de San Miguel Glass market hall of tapas stalls by Plaza Mayor
Sobrino de Botín Roast suckling pig in the world's oldest restaurant
Chocolatería San Ginés Churros and thick chocolate, open late
Casa Lucio Huevos rotos institution in La Latina
Calle Cava Baja A street of tapas bars
Mercado de San Antón Market with a rooftop terrace in Chueca
Sala de Despiece Modern tapas bar on Calle Ponzano
Bodega de la Ardosa Old tavern famous for its tortilla

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Indoor · Family

Royal Palace tour

The largest royal palace in western Europe.

See times and prices

Half day · Food · Indoor

Churros and chocolate cooking class

Paella or tapas class with lunch.

See times and prices

Half day · Indoor · Low walking

Prado Museum guided tour

Velázquez, Goya and Bosch in two hours with skip-the-line entry.

See times and prices

Reina Sofía museum (Guernica).
Thyssen-Bornemisza museum.
Naval Museum and the Archaeological Museum.

Getting around on event days

Metro covers the whole city until about 1:30 am; a 10-trip card works on buses too.
Both stadiums are on the metro: Santiago Bernabéu (line 10) and Estadio Metropolitano (line 7).
Uber, Cabify and Free Now work in Spanish cities. Taxis are metered and reasonable.
Renfe high-speed AVE and Ouigo/Iryo trains link Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Valencia and Zaragoza. Book early for event weekends.

Day trips from Madrid

Toledo: 35 minutes by AVE
Segovia: 30 minutes by high-speed train
El Escorial: 1 hour by Cercanías

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for ARCO Madrid.

Plan a group trip

Organiser of ARCO Madrid? Add this guide to your website.

Questions people ask

When is ARCO Madrid 2027?

The next edition is 3 to 7 March 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

What is the weather like during ARCO Madrid?

In March, Madrid averages highs of about 14°C and lows of 2°C, with roughly 48 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 11 h 17 min of daylight.

How do I get from the airport to IFEMA Madrid?

Where should I stay for ARCO Madrid?

For most visitors the best base is Sol, Gran Vía and Huertas: Central, on many metro lines, walk to the museums.

What can we do between sessions at ARCO Madrid?

Good short outings in Madrid include Prado Museum guided tour, Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour, Royal Palace tour. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near ARCO Madrid?

Family-friendly picks: Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour, Toledo day trip, Royal Palace tour. Retiro rowing boats on the lake.

How far is IFEMA Madrid from Madrid centre?

About 9 km in a straight line. Metro line 8 to Feria de Madrid.

How we put this guide together: dates come from the organiser's published calendar or, when not yet announced, from the event's usual pattern; weather from NASA POWER monthly averages 2001 to 2025; venue access and city tips from our own research. Last checked 2 November 2026. How we research.

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