Weekend in Madrid: the best sights, art, food, clubs and more!

To make the most of the day ahead, don’t even think about having a lie-in. Get out of bed at a reasonable hour (OK, not too early) and enjoy a quick breakfast at one of the many bars in the centre of Madrid. A great idea is to head for one of the lovely cafés in Malasaña, such as Café del Jardín in the Museo del Romanticismo, a beautiful space with excellent breakfast options for just €2.50. Other places worth checking out include La Bicicleta Café or Maricastaña.

Enjoy the morning seeing the sights and stopping by some of the many shops in the centre. In Calle Fuencarral, a must-visit is the Mercado de Fuencarral (but be quick – it’s shutting its doors in 2015), which is the Madrid equivalent to London’s Camden Market. When you get to Gran Vía, head towards Callao, and from there take Calle Preciados to Puerta del Sol. This is where the shopping finishes and the sightseeing starts. Visit Plaza Mayor, stop by Mercado de San Miguel to recharge your batteries, and then head for Plaza de la Villa, with Palacio Real your final stop.

The best time of year to follow this tour is in spring or summer, when the weather is good. That's when you can have lunch on one of the many outdoor terraces that take over the streets of Madrid from May to September. Indeed, you’ll find it difficult to choose from among the vast amount of spots offering al fresco dining, so here are three recommendations: Mercado de San Antón, in the heart of Chueca; La Terraza del Casino for those with a bit of extra spending money; and El Viajero restaurant, in La Latina, where you can enjoy some snacks while people-watching from the rooftop terrace. If you’re in Madrid during the winter months, or you have the bad luck to visit on a day without sun, there are of course loads of excellent restaurants where you can eat well inside.

Saturday afternoon is the ideal time to visit a museum or art gallery. Although you’re likely to find more visitors than you would during the week, many museums and galleries open their doors for free for some hours on Saturday afternoons. For example, the Museo del Prado is free from 6pm to 8pm, and the Reina Sofía from 7pm to 9pm. Close to these two places of art worship, you’ll find the CaixaForum, an excellent destination for families with children as they often organise fun activities for kids. Whatever your interest, in Madrid there are always great exhibitions running and lots of alternative galleries that will offer you an unexpected art experience.

Madrid becomes even more beautiful when the sun is going down. And the best place to take in this natural wonder is, without a doubt, from high up. The roof terrace of the Círculo de Bellas Artes will always be our favourite, thanks to its great views and location right in the city centre, and because you can have a drink and a bite to eat while you watch the spectrum of changing lights that fall on Calle Alcalá and part of Gran Vía. Nearby you will also find the terraces of Hotel Urban and Hotel de las Letras, which are more expensive but still lovely places to visit, and they also serve some amazing cocktails. We’re big fans, too, of Casa Granada, with its tapas and views of Tirso de Molina, although in the summer it can be difficult to find a free spot.

If you really want to get into the spirit of Madrid and you're not ready to call it a day, there’s nothing better to finish a Saturday in the city than a concert followed by drinks and dancing. The concert programme of the the city’s live music venues changes almost daily, and the acts that play Madrid's stages run the gamut from the biggest international stars to up-and-coming local groups. The range of nightclubs is huge, so it all depends on what kind of music you like to listen and move to and revellers you like to have fun with. Tip: The best gay spots are in Chueca, Moncloa is where the universities are, and the city’s most famous dance club is Kapital.