Walk Into the Underworld at Andén Cero's Chamberí Station
You descend into a metro station that hasn't seen a train since 1966, and the city has dressed it for the dead. The abandoned Chamberí station, preserved with its vintage ads, enamel signs, vaulted ceiling and white beveled tiles, is the anchor of Metro's "Andén Cero" museum network — and around Halloween it becomes "Andén de los Muertos," a haunted-house-style takeover of the platforms. Tickets sell out quickly, so watch the Andén Cero listings as October approaches. In previous years the event has run on October 25, 26, 27 and 31 and November 1–2; the 2026 dates are unconfirmed, so treat that window as your planning guide rather than a fixed calendar.
Follow the Dead Through Madrid's Cultural Calendar
Madrid marks the season by blending Anglo-Saxon Halloween with Mexican Day of the Dead and its own local customs, and the programme is strongest when you move between the city's institutions rather than chasing a single night out.
- Altar of the Dead, Casa de México Foundation in Spain: A traditional altar dedicated to composer Agustín Lara, open October 2 – November 8, 2026. Guided tours run about 25 minutes; admission is free, subject to availability.
- Sacramental de San Isidro Cemetery tours: One of Madrid's most architecturally and sculpturally rich burial grounds, set behind the site of one of San Isidro's miracles (where the fountain now stands) and near Goya's former Quinta del Sordo, where he painted the "black paintings." Routes are divided by cardinal directions; go individually or as a group of at least ten, booked in advance by phone or email. Admission is €8, open Monday–Sunday, 9:00–15:00.
- MADHORROR festival: A new international festival of horror, dark fantasy and Halloween culture, its first edition runs October 30 – November 2, 2026 at IFEMA MADRID. Honorary patron Álex de la Iglesia; guests include Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), Linda Blair (The Exorcist) and Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange). More than 25,000 m² of immersive venue holds horror attractions, Japanese haunted-house-inspired experiences, film, video games, comics and international guests, plus exhibitions on DDT's special effects, the 40th anniversary of Aliens, and the universe of Chicho Ibáñez Serrador.
Pick a Pumpkin, Ride a Tractor, Eat Corn Off the Cob
For a daytime counterweight to the haunted platforms, head out to La Huerta de Aranjuez, a pumpkin farm where you pick and decorate your own Halloween pumpkins. The activities run October 3 – November 7, 2026 and include tractor rides, pumpkin picking, a corn maze and a snack bar serving corn on the cob with a drink. It's built for families and kids; check the calendar on their website before you go.
Taste the Season: Buñuelos and Huesitos de Santo
Madrid's Halloween table leans on its own pastry tradition rather than imported candy. Look for buñuelos and huesitos de santo — the seasonal sweets that appear in the city's bakeries and confiterías as the date approaches. Pair them with a late afternoon of wandering: the markets and streets fill as the light drops, and the smell of frying dough is the surest sign the season has arrived.
Plan Around the Last Days of October
The reliable shape of a Madrid Halloween is a cluster of activity from the last week of October into the first days of November — the Andén de los Muertos window, the Day of the Dead altar at Casa de México, the cemetery tours, the pumpkin farm's final weeks, and MADHORROR's opening edition at IFEMA. Book the Andén Cero tickets and San Isidro cemetery tours early, since both fill up, and keep the first days of November free for the altars and the festival. Start with the Andén Cero calendar, then build your days around it.