Sun, sightseeing, rioja and tapas mean Madrid is an ideal weekend getaway

CREATIVE Director Mark Hayman and wife Margaret get stuck into sightseeing and sipping rioja under sunny Spanish skies.

A weekend in Madrid is only a two-hour and £30 flight away.

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TUCK INTO TAPAS: Few things are more Madrilenian than sitting on a picturesque square, enjoying some patatas bravas with an ice-cold beer — and, unlike some other European capitals, you won’t have to take out a second mortgage to afford the experience!

Head for the bustling Plaza Mayor, a portico-lined square at the heart of Madrid’s old town, and nab an outside table at Don Calamar to absorb the history. A beer or a glass of rioja costs £4, and a plate of croquettes £8 (Doncalamar.es).

Embrace the Spanish way of eating small plates with every round of drinks at the amazing San Miguel Market, where you can tuck into the country’s finest culinary offerings all under one roof. Don’t miss the Daniel Sorlut oysters, the savoury pastry bar, and finish at Madreamiga — “mum friend” — for delicious sweet treats (Mercadodesanmiguel.es).

CHECK OUT PICASSO: Madrid is famed for its plethora of museums and galleries. The Museo Reina Sofía is home to 20th-century Spanish art, including Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica. Tickets cost £8, free for under-18s — or visit after 7pm on Monday, Wednesday or Saturday when everyone goes free (Museoreinasofia.es).

A must-see for first-time visitors is Museo Nacional del Prado, one of the most important museums for European art. With over 2,300 paintings, you definitely need to plan what you want to see. Tickets cost £11, free for under-18s, or free for everyone after 6pm daily (Museodelprado.es).

SCORE A STADIUM TOUR: Madrid’s other temple of artistic endeavour is home to a slightly different breed of icon. Zidane, Ronaldo and Di Stéfano might not have the gravitas of the artists of the Spanish Renaissance, but they are held in equal esteem in this football-mad city.

If you want to see where they plied their trade, then a two-hour tour around the world-famous Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is a must, £12 per person (Bstadium.es).

SAMPLE THE SHERRIES: The Spanish capital is synonymous with sundown-to-sun-up nightlife, with Ernest Hemingway saying of it: “Nobody goes to bed until they have killed the night.” There are few places in Madrid that don’t claim Don Ernesto was a regular patron, but he definitely had his favourites — La Venencia is one.

This quirky bar is home to a huge array of Spanish sherries — sample from as little as £1.50 a glass (Lavenencia.com). For something a little more modern, hit Macera TallerBar, where the bearded bartenders serve up distinctly Spanish cocktails using house-infused spirits, such as ginger-scented gin or cherry-steeped whiskey.

SLEEP ’60s-STYLE: Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana is in the north of the city, a stone’s throw from the Bernabeu. Recently refurbished, the hotel has stayed true to its ’60s architecture roots. The foyer, which could be straight out of a Stanley Kubrick film (check out the amazing red loo!) houses a great bar and restaurant. Our top tapas pick is the Iberian ham, £17.

Meanwhile, on the terrace, Planta Z, there’s a gleaming food truck selling fantastic bocadillos (sandwiches) — we loved the calamari, £4 — to eat under festoon lights. Plus, there’s a fantastic pool and rooftop giving incredible views of the city and the mountains beyond.

Double rooms cost from £100 per night and are modern and sparkling-clean. We loved the art and design books dotted around, too (Hilton.com). 

FYI: Madrid is one hour ahead of the UK. Fly to Madrid from £30 one way (Easyjet.com).

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