Madrid in December

[NutellaWithEverything]

I appreciate there's a travel section but there's much better traffic here.
I have not gone abroad since way before Covid. It seems ridiculous but I have become really anxious about travelling even though I used to travel abroad all the time, at least twice a year.

Every time I start researching online for destinations, flights, accommodations, things to do, etc, I freeze. I then get stuck in a loop. Then I give up. I start again weeks later and the prices have gone up so much that I give up again and never do anything or go anywhere.

I am pleading for your help to help me with a mini break for DH, DS18, DS17 and me. Say four or five nights the week before christmas. DC are up to their eyeballs at uni so cannot ask for their help, and by the time they break it will be too late to book anything.

Is Madrid a good city break destination in December? As a family we enjoy walking around, eating, people watching, food & drink... Would Barcelona be better?

Madrid will very likely be cold! Its central position means a more extreme, continental type of climate.
A dd was at uni there for a year. We visited one April and it was still bloody cold, and signs of spring were well behind what we’d left in SW London.

Barcelona is likely to be a lot milder, I’d have thought, but would def check beforehand.

Can I throw an alternative into the ring? Malaga.
What an amazing city. Better imo than Barcelona or Madrid. I loved both of those cities but Malaga blew me away. Why? You can go to the beach which is still lovely in the winter even though its not beach weather. Culture highlights included the Alcazaba, Cathedral, Picasso museum and the Roman Amphitheatre. The old narrow streets were an absolute delight.
Its much more compact than Madrid and Barcelona but its still a big city. We only went for the day but loved it so much we are going back for 5 nights.

Ive spent many December/Januarys in Madrid and it has usually been freezing cold. Agree that Barcelona is likely to be milder, but even better - have you thought about Lisbon? My teens love it and we even managed to spend time in a t shirt and shorts one memorable January!