đ What's on in Madrid: April 18
It's Holy Week, Part 2! Get ready for chocolate bunnies and even more torrijas.
Madrid | Issue #94
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Itâs (Good) Friday again!
If youâre in Madrid, youâre stuck with us peasants, whose only choice is to go look at the processions, the tamborradas and saetas in this unholy weather. Remember summer? That was a fun concept.
Itâs pretty much dead because all the madrileños are spending some quality in a casa rural, a beach in AndalucĂa or having pulpo in Galicia.
But fret not, fellow human. There are tons of Christianity-themed activities this weekend that are fun even if youâre an atheist.
Enjoy!
1. The epic conclusion of Easter Week in Madrid 2025
Wake up, babe. Jesus (not to be confused with JesĂșs, the waiter at the bar from down the street) is resurrecting this Sunday.
The celebration continues this weekend, with more processions and floats throughout the city streets. As we mentioned last week, there are simply too many to detail them here, but the link to the official program below will help you take your pick. There are other things you may not want to miss this weekend:
Processions: There are still a few happening around town! Check out the official program or the website of the Archdiocese of Madrid for more information.
Saetas: There are two saeta events taking place this weekend. BTW, saetas flamencas are a form of unaccompanied Andalusian religious song thought to date back to the 16th century that (hereâs the twist) are performed from balconies. There are saetas taking place tonight at the Real Casa de Correos (9:45 p.m.), at the Plaza de la Villa (9 p.m.), and the balcony of the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid (9:30 p.m.), with performances by Manuel de la Tomasa, Reyes Carrasco, and Lela Soto, respectively. Tomorrow, the Saeta de la Virgen de La Soledad y el Cristo Yacente (not a name to be messed with, right?) will be performed from the balcony in Plaza de la Villa (6:30 p.m.), with musical accompaniment by RocĂo Luna.
Tamborrada: To bid adieu to Easter Week, go to Plaza Mayor on Sunday for a spectacular drum festival: the traditional tamborrada (see video above). Organized by the city of Madrid and the Real e Ilustre Congregación de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad y Desamparo, drummers congregate there on Sunday morning to mark the beginning of the end for the Catholic processions.
Repent now, heathens! You have no excuse.
đ„ïž What: Madridâs Holy Week 2025 (Official program in Spanish)
đ Where: Multiple locations throughout Madrid
đ When: Through April 20.
đ Tickets: Free admission
2. đ„Ș II Campeonato de España de Bocatas: The search to find Spainâs best sandwich is back
If you love sandwiches (and we do), this is your moment to help crown Spainâs best bocata.
Best Sandwich Spain, the national championship to find the best bocata in the country, is back. And yes, Madridâs got some serious contenders that you can still try.
But first, what is a bocata?
In Spain, bocatas (short for bocadillos) are hearty sandwiches typically made with crusty baguette-style bread and filled with everything from jamĂłn to fried squid (calamares, like in the photo above), pork loin (lomo), or Spanish omelette (tortilla). Think of them as Spainâs answer to the sub, only more rustic and flavorful.
How it works:
Itâs simple. When you buy a competing bocata at any participating spot you get a voting code from the restaurant. You head to elmejorbocata.com to vote on taste, creativity, and presentation, plus an overall score from 1â5. You then follow them on Instagram/Facebook, and youâre entered to win an iPhone 16. As influencers with poor French speaking skills like to say when they are trying to say voilĂ : âWallah!â
Because we want you to live the full experience, here are some of our top Madrid picks to try this weekend:
đ„ The Minutejo (at La Casa de los Minutejos). Grilled pigâs ear on a soft bun. Not for the faint-hearted, but itâs a cult favorite.
đ El Memeâs 2.0 (at Camperos La Memeâs Food). Shredded beef, smoked cheese, and pepper alioli. Comfort food with a kick.
đź Don Pancho (at Döggo). BBQ-style pork meets guac and cheddar on brioche. Messy. Worth it.
đ Chipirones & Morcilla (at Pistola). Fried baby squid and black pudding stew in a bold new take on Madridâs squid sandwich.
đ„ïž What: II Best Sandwich Spain Championship
đ Where: Multiple locations around Madrid (and Spain, actually)
đ When: Through May 4. Check website for participating venues.
3.đš CALLE25 Festival: LavapiĂ©s becomes an open-air gallery
Madridâs most eclectic neighborhood is once again turning its spray-painted streets into an urban gallery. The CALLE25 Festival is back for its 12th edition in LavapiĂ©s, featuring more than 50 artists transforming local storefronts and public spaces into living, breathing works of art.
This yearâs edition opened with a bang: Sfhir, one of Spainâs most acclaimed muralists (and winner of the âBest Mural in the Worldâ in 2023) unveiled the stunning âMirada andaluza en el corazĂłn de Madrid,â (see above) a large-scale tribute to Andalusian identity located on the façade of the parking garage at Calle del Amparo, 28.
Organized by the LavapiĂ©s Merchants Association with support from the Madrid City Council, CALLE25 pays homage to the neighborhoodâs history and tight-knit community, evoking a time when LavapiĂ©s felt like one big family and calling on neighbors and visitors to reconnect through art and local commerce.
In the last few weeks, 51 artists have left their mark across the neighborhood, creating expressive murals on shop windows and storefronts.
On top of that, the âabuelas grafiterasâ (a group of women over 65 from the AntĂłn MartĂn Senior Center who love to spraypaint) presented their new work outside the CafeterĂa Amanda. Their piece combines street art with large-format photos of LavapiĂ©s, bringing the neighborhoodâs past into the present with slogans, spray cans, and heart. Donât miss it, do it for the grandmas.
đ„ïž What: CALLE25
đ Where: Streets of LavapiĂ©s, Madrid.
đ When: Through April 20.
đ Tickets: Free admission
4.đ Fall down the rabbit hole at CaixaForum Madrid
This one is definitely not about the Easter bunny.
CaixaForum is hosting the largest-ever exhibition devoted to the cultural legacy of Aliceâs Adventures in Wonderland, an immersive, multi-sensory journey through the origins, adaptations, and reinterpretations of Lewis Carrollâs timeless tale that (trust us) will look incredible on your Insta stories.
Itâs been almost 160 years since her creation and Alice remains a pop culture powerhouse. This exhibit, produced by Londonâs V&A Museum, traces how her surreal world has been reimagined across disciplines: from fashion and film to theater, science, and visual arts.
One highlight of the exhibit? A trippy 1967 psychedelic Cheshire Cat poster by Joseph McHugh that shows just how deeply Alice has been embraced by counterculture, surrealism, and beyond.
The exhibition is split into five themed zones:
The Invention of Alice â her Victorian roots and literary context.
Through the Screen â How Cinema Has Reshaped Wonderland.
Alice, Gateway to Other Worlds â reflections on dreams, time, and space.
Alice on Stage â her theatrical legacy across genres.
Becoming Alice â modern reinterpretations and reinventions.
The exhibit has dramatic set designs and immersive rooms (see video above). Itâs as playful as it is profound, and a must-see for fans of Alice, literature lovers, and anyone whoâs ever felt a little lost in Wonderland.
đ„ïž What: Los Mundos de Alicia (Aliceâs Worlds: Dreaming Wonderland)
đ Where: Caixa Forum Madrid, Paseo del Prado 36, Madrid.
đ When: Through Aug. 3. Check website for opening hours.
đ Tickets: âŹ6
5.đ„Š Food Market: Eat something fresh at the Mercado de Productores Planetario
This popular fresh produce market offers high-quality products from growersâ farms straight to your table on the first and third Sunday of every month. All fruit and vegetables sold have been grown in nearby locations, which reduces energetic consumption, respects the environment and supports the farming sector.
So if you want to eat healthy while buying local, this is a great option for you. It also looks great on your Instagram stories.
đ„ïž What: Mercado de Productores Planetario
đ Where: Av del Planetario, 16, Parque Tierno GalvĂĄn, Madrid.
đ When: April 20.
đ Tickets: Free admission
đšđ»âđ» Viral Stories of the Week
đ° As we were saying about the Easter processions
đ¶ Because pets need to see Semana Santa too
đ A Message From Our Sponsor
Secret Kingdoms is your English bookstore in Madrid. It specializes in Spanish history and literature, contemporary and classic novels, books for children and young adults of all ages, history and historical fiction, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, poetry, biographies and much more.
Located on Calle de MoratĂn 7 â a few blocks away from the Prado Museum â and with over 20,000 new and used books, Secret Kingdoms has something for everyone.
Find out more at www.thesecretkingdoms.com
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