The city has many faces. We enjoy exploring the medieval clutter of streets that scuttle away from the Plaza Mayor, down to the rabbit warren of La Latina and Lavapiés. Then there is the Habsburg quarter, west of the Puerta del Sol, and the high-class, trendy area of the Paseos (boulevards) and Calle de Serrano. Walking around the city is a pleasure, but you can also hop on the Metro, the cheap, efficient and easy-to-use underground system linking every spot you will ever want to visit.

But most of all, this is a great place to have fun. Madrileños eat out constantly: you're never far from a coffee, a caña of beer or a glass of wine. Snacks abound, from sweet churros to salty tapas, served in bars walled with colourful tiles, and hung with faded photos of forgotten bullfighters. In summer, the terrazas (outdoor cafés) stay open until the early hours, causing traffic jams at three in the morning. All you need to get the best out of the city is stamina.