Madrid holidays

Compared with the rest of Europe, Madrid is a relatively cheap and affordable place to spend a few days and enjoy everything it has to offer. It boasts unparalleled value for money in terms of accommodation and offers a fantastic range of bars and restaurants to suit every budget.

Madrid is a great place for a holiday all year round: in winter you can enjoy endless blue skies. Even when the temperature drops, the days are always sunny. In autumn enjoy the golden colours and light. And in spring and summer... discover the passion of the heat and the people of Madrid. At this time of year the city is bursting with joy!

If you want to take a city break to Madrid and don't have much time, three days are enough to take home a good impression of the city. But if you really want to enjoy the city to the full, book a five-day flight + hotel package. That way you'll have time to make the most of everything that Madrid has to offer: culture, great food, architecture... and, of course, the vibrant night life!

Madrid offers an incredible variety of flavours, but there are certain musts you can't afford to miss. Here goes: Madrid stew, potato omelette, croquettes, potato salad, scrambled eggs with potatoes and ham (known as "huevos rotos"), tripe... and be sure to set aside a day for a tapas crawl and turn your trip to Madrid into a genuine Spanish-style food experience.

The city is relatively flat and nothing is too far away so it's easy to get around on foot and admire the attractions as you go. But if you do need to use public transport, choose the underground or bus. There are numerous lines that will take you virtually anywhere you want to go. If you know you're going to be using it a lot, it's a good idea to get a tourist travel pass. Alternatively, you can hire cars, electric bikes and scooters by the minute. So you have plenty of options to choose from.

Not at all! The best way to get around on your trip to Madrid and explore the centre is to walk or take public transport. But if you want to go further afield and discover stunning nearby places, we recommend you hire a car. Chinchón, La Granja de San Ildefonso, El Escorial, Segovia, Ávila, Toledo, Cuenca and Salamanca are all well worth a visit and within easy driving distance.

The list includes all the museums – the Prado, Thyssen, Reina Sofía, CaixaForum, etc. – as well as the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, home of Real Madrid, and the recently restored Wanda Metropolitano, where Atlético de Madrid play.

The underground and taxi are the best options. Metro de Madrid line 8 connects the centre to the airport and runs from 6.05 am until 1.30 am. To get from the airport to the centre and vice versa, buy a single ticket + airport supplement ticket (3 euros). When you exit the arrivals terminal, you'll see a line of taxis waiting. If you are heading to the city centre or coming from it, the taxi price by law is 30 euros.

July and August are hot, no two ways about it, but they're good months for a holiday in Madrid because many of the local residents leave the city so it's a lot quieter... until the sun goes down, because then Madrid is on fire and it's all pure fun. At this time of year the temperature can reach 37 degrees, so many hotels have rooftop pools, which are a cool way to cool down! The city also boasts plenty of parks to escape to when the sun is beating down: the Retiro, the Casa del Campo and Juan Carlos I. If you're here for a good few days, you might want to visit the Sierra de Madrid, a mountain range dotted with charming villages where the temperature is magically much lower.

The atmosphere in Madrid is safe and courteous. The people are very friendly and always ready to help if a problem arises. There's never any trouble at night either because the streets are livelier than ever with plenty of people around to make you feel safe. After all, Madrid never sleeps!