TEN RINKS FOR AN ICY WHITE CHRISTMAS IN MADRID!
Ten rinks to skate on ice in not-so-cold Madrid!
(Wait till the surprising Madrid winter sets in, though, and you’ll get truly chilled — to the bone!)
by Rose Maramba
The City Hall wishes you to have a WHITE CHRISTMAS even if it’s only at Madrid’s ice of skating rinks! (Though don’t count on a no-repeat of the Filomena extratropical cyclone last January that blanketed many parts of Spain with inches upon inches of the white stuff. It just might happen again and bring in real ice to skate on!)
Filomena snowing on the Retiro Park in Madrid
Here’s the list of ice rinks in Madrid but before you shove your feet into the skating boots and go off gliding, and twirling around the rink, there are things you ought to know first:
(1) The capacity and the entrance and exit of users into and from the rinks will be closely monitored.
(2) The minimization of physical contact between the users is crucial especially with yet another variant (omicron) of the Covid. To this end, there will be specific areas and numbered seats to leave shoes and skates off.
(3) The use of face masks is obligatory.
(4) There will be other pandemic-related rules.
Another thing: if you’re a beginner, here’s a great link to go to: “First time ice skating: 10 essential tips for beginners”
TEN ICE SKATING RINKS FOR YOU
MATADERO
Plaza de Legazpi 8, 28045 Madrid
This former slaughterhouse turned international cultural center offers 600 m2 meters of ice rink from 3 December 2021 to 2 January 2022. (See featured image.) In addition to skating, Matadero has lined up free figure skating (patinaje artístico) exhibitions by Federación Madrileña de Deportes de Invierno on the 26th and the 30th of December, as well as on the 2nd of January 2022 at 11:30 AM.
SKATING TIME
• December 3, 9, 10, 13-17, 20-22: 16:00 – 21:00
• December 4-8, 11, 12, 18, 19, 23, 27 – 29, and January 3-9: 11:00 – 21:00
• December 26, 30 and January 2: 12:00 – 21:00
• December 24, 25, 31 and January 1: closed
PRICE: €6 for 30 minutes
TICKETS here
Plaza de Colon (Columbus Plaza), venue of Madrid’s biggest ice skating rink
PLAZA DE COLON Javier Fernandez
This is the biggest ice skating rink in Madrid. And apart from ice-skating, there’s a mercado de Navidad (Christmas market), a giant screen, and DJ sessions. More: Papa Noel/Santa Claus will come visiting on the 24th of December, and the Three Kings on the 5th of January.Ten percent of sales will go to theFederación Española de Síndrome de Down.
- SKATING TIME: 10:00 – 22:00 from the 26th of November to the 9th of January. For tickets, and special events and activities click here.
- PRICE : €7.50 for 30 minutes
OTHER ICE RINKS
Ice rink at Cibeles (2019)
Palacio de Cibeles
The rink is mounted at the Glass Gallery of the Cibeles CentroCentro Cultural Center on Calle Montalban, 1.
- SKATING TIME: 11:00 – 21:00, from the 17th of December to 9th of January.
- TICKETS & EVENTS to be confirmed. Watch for announcement.
Puente del Rey
On the esplanade of Principe Pio, with street shows and other activities for greater fun.
TIME, DATE & PRICE to be confirmed. Watch for announcement.
Plaza de España
This year the “brand new” Plaza de España is slated to be the center of Christmas celebrations in Madrid.
Now open. Great ambiance.
PRICE: €7.50 for 30 minutes
Moreover, the Nativity Scene sculpted with LED bulbs is spectacular and worth a visit and even a few more re-visits. FREE!
The ice skating rink at the Reina Sofia Museum – Atocha
Plaza Juan Goytisolo, Museo Reina Sofia
At the foot of the Reina Sofia Museum, beside Atocha, this small rink is now a veteran of one year in the business. Apart from the rink, there are several Christmas stalls (Casetas Navideñas).
TIME, DATE & PRICE to be confirmed. Watch for announcement.
Entrevías
In front of the RENFE Asamblea de Madrid-Entrevías, Puente de Vallecas. It’s a big rink and apart from ice skating there will be other activities for children and their families, as well as figure skating exhibitions.
SKATING TIME: 10.00 – 22.00 from the 30th of November to the 9th of January- PRICE: Free
Usera
The Usera District’s own ice skating rink is mounted on the esplanade of the Junta Municipal de Usera, Avenida Rafaela Ybarra, 41.
TIME, DATE & PRICE to be confirmed. Watch for announcement.
La Vaguada
The rink is on the Avenida de Monforte de Lemos and Parque de la Vaguada.
TIME, DATE & PRICE to be confirmed. Watch for announcement.
La Peseta
Located at the Parque Salvador Allende (Metro La Peseta), this Christmas treat comprises an ice toboggan and skating rink.
TIME, DATE & PRICE to be confirmed. Watch for announcement.
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Images
Featured image (Montage: Matadero ice skating rink/Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Wreath/ViriOlvero, Pixabay. Text supplied.)
Filomena/Snooze 123, CC BY-SA3.0, Cropped.
Plaza Colon/Enrique Dans, CC BY2.0
Cibeles rink/Ayuntamiento de Madrid
Reina Sofia rink/Ayuntamiento de Madrid
Entrevias poster, Fair use
