All direct flights to Madrid from the UK & Ireland

Mark Says

The people of Madrid , the Madrilenos, claim their city has the best nightlife in the world. Quite a claim ' but difficult to dispute when you consider that the party animals of Madrid are just getting into the swing of things long after Londoners and New Yorkers are tucked up in bed. This really is the city that never sleeps. Indeed, apart from watching football, an activity which takes on quasi-religious importance, spending the evening bar and club hopping is the favourite pastime of Madrilenos'. Daytime temperatures during the summer regularly top 40 degrees, so it is little wonder that many people retreat indoors until the sun has gone down. Another solution is to simply leave the city for cooler climes, which can result in the Spanish capital feeling like a ghost town during August. It is not always roasting hot though ' it can get darn chilly in the winter. A relative newcomer compared to many of Spain 's ancient cities, Madrid appeared from nowhere in the 16 th century when it was designated the new capital by Philip II because of its central location. The Spanish empire was at its zenith at the time and Madrid rapidly became the imperial centre, built on a grand scale around its quaint medieval heart.
So, apart from the buzzing nightlife and majestic architecture, what else lures all these galacticos and their model wives to Madrid ? The city has undoubted glamour and if a scientific test was ever done we are sure Madrid would come near the top for the number of beautiful people per square mile - naturally there is a superb range of designer shops to supply their every need. But Madrid 's real draw is its world famous art museums, including the heaving Prado, famed for its royal portraits and religious paintings, the Reina Sofia, which specialises in modern art, and the vast private collection of the Thyssen. The best time to visit Madrid is during the shoulder months either side of the blistering summer. This also happens to be a good time to watch Europe's most successful football team, Real Madrid, in action. Getting tickets for Real games is rarely a problem (their stadium is massive) unless they are playing bitter rivals Barcelona or the city derby against Atletico. Madrid hosts a dazzling array of fiestas which invariably result in accommodation shortages. The city is also an important business and administrative centre, so it is well worth booking ahead if possible.