World-class art, a grand royal palace and late nights of tapas in Spain's sunny, lively capital. Here's what Madrid is like, when to go and how long to stay.
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Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
April, May, September and October are the best months, warm and sunny for walking and terrace drinks. May has the San Isidro fiestas. July and August are very hot and many locals leave in August. Winter is cold but often sunny and bright, with Christmas markets in December.
Velázquez, Goya and Bosch in one of the world's great galleries. Free entry in the last two hours most days.
Spain's official royal residence, with grand state rooms and an armoury.
Formal gardens, a boating lake and the glass Crystal Palace.
Modern art including Picasso's Guernica.
A glass food market and a neighbourhood of tapas bars, busiest on Sundays.
A walled hilltop city about half an hour away by fast train.
Three days covers the big galleries, the palace and the main neighbourhoods. Add a day for Toledo or Segovia.
Yes, flights are short and the centre is walkable, with great food and nightlife.
Late. Lunch is around 2pm and dinner rarely before 9pm, though tapas bars serve all day.
It's cold but usually sunny, and galleries and tapas bars are perfect for winter days.
Put Madrid on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.