San Silvestre Vallecana

View on map
Sports & AdventureMadrid
DatesDates TBA · Usually DecemberCheck locally before booking
DurationWinterEstimate from available data
Crowd-1052
Best forCompetition, enduranceCombining a genuinely elite, world-class
LanguageSpanish and regional languagesCurrency: EUR
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

San Silvestre Vallecana in Madrid

Madrid's ten-kilometre New Year's Eve road race, run since 1964, combines an elite international field chasing genuine competitive times with tens of thousands of costumed amateur runners on the same course. Its late-afternoon finish leaves time to join the city's New Year celebrations, making it a fixture of Spanish holiday culture well beyond competitive athletics.

Madrid empties its streets around the Vallecas district each New Year's Eve for a ten-kilometre road race that began in 1964 as a modest neighbourhood event and has grown into one of the largest and most internationally competitive road races held anywhere on December 31.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Combining a genuinely elite, world-class professional race with a mass costumed fun run of tens of thousands on the same course and same day is a specific, unusual structural feature among major road races, which typically commit to one format or the other

02

The mystery stays covered

Its timing on December 31 itself, honouring Saint Sylvester's feast day, and its direct connection to Madrid's New Year's Eve celebrations afterward, gives it a cultural role beyond athletics that few other major road races share

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The race's naming after Saint Sylvester's December 31 feast day and its combined elite-and-mass-costumed-field format are specific

Water and renewal

Living ritual

long-running

The sacred route

Living ritual

documented features of the event

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually December

Getting around

For San Silvestre Vallecana, plan transport around the exact Madrid venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Warm layers for waiting at the start in late December cold, with running gear or costume for participants; spectators should dress for standing outdoors for an extended period in winter...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For San Silvestre Vallecana, stay near the part of Madrid you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

EUR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map40.42 N, 3.70 WOpen in Google Maps

Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Nearest airportMAD — Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas
TransportFor San Silvestre Vallecana, plan transport around the exact Madrid venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor San Silvestre Vallecana, stay near the part of Madrid you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Madrid via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Madrid, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for December.Compare faresFestival gearWarm layers for waiting at the start in late December cold, with running gear or costume for participants; spectators should dress for standing outdoors for an extended period in winter temperatures.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Spain and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is San Silvestre Vallecana?

San Silvestre Vallecana is listed for December · Winter. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does San Silvestre Vallecana take place?

The festival is listed in Madrid, Spain. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Winter is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLsansilvestrevallecana.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually December
Source statusOfficial source linked
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