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Plaza Mayor: the most famous square in Madrid, with the intricately painted buildings of 1619 and elegant arcades. At one time, it was the site of bullfights, ceremonies and trials of the Holy Inquisition. Nowadays, Madrilenos and visitors alike relax at the area cafés and tapas bars. 

Prado Museum: One of the most famous museums in the world, with 9,000 works of art spanning a period from the 12th to the 19th century. You can gaze at the creations of the greatest Spanish artists and representatives of the Italian Renaissance, Velázquez' masterpiece "Las Meninas" and El Greco's "Crucifixion", as well as works by Goya, Miró, Dalí, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and Tintoretto. 
Address: Paseo del Prado, 0034 91 3302800, www.museodelprado.es/

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: continue your artistic tour with a look at one of the richest private collections in the world. Creations by painters from the Italian Renaissance through the pop art era, from Raphael, Rubens and Cézanne to Polock and Lichtenstein. 
Address: Paseo del Prado 8, 0034 90 2760511, www.museothyssen.org/

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: the Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina are the three museums within less than a kilometre of each other that make up the "golden mile" of Madrid culture. The collection of the Reina Sofía is devoted to Spanish art, with pride of place belonging to one of the most famous works in the world - Picasso's "Guernica". 
Address: Calle de Santa Isabel 52, 0034 91 7741000, www.museoreinasofia.es/

Puerta del Sol: at the heart of the city, the "Gate of the Sun", with the imposing seat of the regional government, the restaurants with their outdoor tables, the statue of Carlos III and the bear symbolising Madrid. Beneath the big clock, there is a plaque inscribed with "kilometre zero", from which all distances on the Iberian Peninsula are measured.  

Retiro Park: take a stroll around the former grounds of the palace of Philip IV, with the colourful flowerbeds and romantic lake. Nowadays, it is one of the largest public parks in Madrid.
Address: Plaza de la Independencia, 7, 0034 91 5300041

Palacio Real: get a taste of the glamorous imperial Madrid at the Royal Palace, an immense structure in the Italian Baroque style with a labyrinth of 2,800 rooms. The retro, 17th century pharmacy and the amazing sala de porcelana, its walls covered in white and green porcelain, are both a must. 
Address: Calle de Bailén, 0034 91 4548700, www.patrimonionacional.es

Football museums: for connoisseurs of another sort who want to pay homage to the city's two legendary teams – Atlético Madrid and Real. Visit the Vicente Calderón and Santiago Bernabéu stadiums for tours, visits to the museums of these famous football clubs and souvenirs of the Rojiblancos (Red-and-Whites) and the Blancos (the Whites). 
Address: Vicente Calderón Stadium Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto 67, 0034 90 2260403, www.clubatleticodemadrid.com/ and Santiago Bernabéu Museum Real Madrid CF, Av de Concha Espina 1, 28036 0034 91 3984300, www.realmadrid.com/

Toledo: a visit to this city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (71 km south of Madrid) where Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) created his masterpieces, is not to be missed. Just 33 minutes by train, you will see the Alcázar of Toledo, a fortress standing atop a hill overlooking the River Tagus. The medieval alleyways of what was Spain's capital city until 1561 were frequented by Federico García Lorca and Salvador Dalí. Visit the church of Santo Tomé (Plaza del Conde 4), featuring El Greco's "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz", and the house of El Greco (Calle Samuel Leví 3) with works by the famous Cretan. 

Segovia: another "must" excursion from Madrid is a visit to charming Segovia, 80 km from the capital. An ancient city which, after the Celts, Romans and Mauritanians, experienced its golden age under the dynasty of Ferdinand, with the coronation of Isabella I taking place there at San Miguel Church. The Roman aqueduct is quite impressive, while the city's fortress is said to have been El Cid's base of operations at one time.

The Preciados pedestrian walkway with its countless shops starts from Puerta del Sol Square. At Calle Ortega y Gasset and the surrounding streets of Salamanca, you will find the most famous fashion houses of Spanish and international haute couture. Benefit from some shopping therapy at the more trendy boutiques around Princesa Street, the bohemian shops in Chueca District and the stock houses in Cuatro Caminos. You should at least take a peek at the largest department store in Madrid: El Corte Inglés at Calle Preciados 3.

Sunday morning is a perfect time to browse Madrid's flea market, El Rastro. Come to Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores (Metro stop La Latina) for a treasure hunt among the stalls of this open-air market and search for vintage items and cult souvenirs among the many antiques, comics, gadgets, books and much more. El Rastro makes a cameo appearance in Pedro Almodóvar's film, "All About My Mother".

The Spanish capital ascribes to the philosophy of madrugada, an unwritten law that discourages the city's inhabitants from going to bed before dawn.

Wander round the streets around Puerta del Sol Square and Plaza Mayor with the tapas bars and the trendy nightclubs on Gran Vía, which set the tone for Madrid's famous night life. Night-time action extends to Chueca, the bohemian district of the early 19th century, and to the hot La Latina district. For a taste of Andalusia, head for the tablaos flamencos of the Spanish capital, where the greatest names in flamenco create an explosive atmosphere with their castanets.

Become initiated to the ritual of tapas, available from noon to late at night. The tradition of dining on appetisers is said to have originated from a stomach ache suffered by King Alfonso, for which his doctor recommended he eat small meals. Others claim the culinary speciality arose from the small plates of olives that the Madrilenos used to cover their wine glasses. 

Shrimp with garlic, cod croquets, tortillas, fried potatoes with hot sauce and Iberian ham are just a few of the appetisers that you can enjoy with a glass of sangria, cerveza from a barrel or Ribera wine as you call in at a few of the hundred tapas bars in the city.

In Toledo, try the almond marzipan made by the nuns at the Santo Domingo monastery.

Madrid celebrates its milestones in the streets and squares every year with enthusiasm and intense emotion.

• New Year's Eve The Madrilenos gather in Puerta del Sol Square to usher in the new year, near the spot where "kilometre zero" is inscribed.  
• Carnival The carnival season provides Madrilenos with a reason to defy the February cold and pour into the streets wearing improvised costumes, without a trace of gravitas. For six days, Madrid celebrates the carnival festivities, climaxing in a parade and costume competition staged by the city's Fine Arts Circle. 
• Easter Holy Week in the Spanish capital is particularly devout and full of symbolism. The Madrilenos recreate the dramatic highlights of the Passion with litanies throughout the city and in Plaza Mayor. The city's churches hold concerts with religious music and restaurants serve Easter dishes.
• Feast of St Isidore This five-day feast celebrates the city's patron saint each May and provides the Madrilenos with an opportunity to express their explosive temperament. Emblematic locations such as Plaza Mayor or Pradera de San Isidro park host flamenco and theatre performances, concerts and a bullfighting festival.

Transport from the airport

Aegean Airlines lands at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas International Airport, located 12 km east of Madrid. This major airport features retail stores, restaurants, banks and foreign exchange points. Wi-Fi is free for 15 minutes. 

To reach the city, you can take the metro to Madrid Atocha and Madrid Chamartín stations. You can also take one of six city buses, or the Exprés bus line.