Madrid is a city of changing neighbourhoods, of Spanish style and also one of considerable size. Exploring it by car is a pleasure. If you’ve driven in Europe before, you’ll probably be aware of most of the driving laws, but it’s worth re-familiarising yourself.

Driving on the right and overtaking on the left is the main difference to the UK, and speed limits are in kph. They’ll be signposted wherever you go – the Spanish road system is modern and well-maintained, especially in cities. The maximum speed in built-up areas is 50kph, while some motorways have speeds of 120kph (approximately 75mph).

If you leave the city, watch out for toll roads on some of the major motorways, known as autopistas – you’ll see the word ‘Peaje’. Our local team will be happy to inform you about using and paying for these toll roads.

When it comes to parking in Madrid, your safest bet is usually public car parks, or pay and display in the city’s blue and green zones. If you see a sign saying ‘Prohibido Estacionar’ or yellow markings, that means you can’t park in that area.

Leaving the airport and heading for the heart of Madrid, you can take the M-14 slip road and then the E-5, or the M-14 and then the A-2 and M-30. Either way will take around 30 minutes depending on traffic. 

There are three ring roads circling Madrid city centre. The M50 is the outermost ring, with the M40 and then the M30 moving progressively closer to the city’s heart. These are useful if you’re trying to skirt the city without getting caught up in commuter or rush hour traffic.

As you’d expect of the capital, road connections to other parts of the country are excellent, with the A1 taking you all the way to the northern coast, and the A2 and AP2 to the south-east and beautiful Barcelona.

There are those who come to Madrid to eat, some who come to sample the city’s nightlife and others who are drawn by the trio of world-class art galleries. There’s no reason why you can’t do all three in one of the world’s great cities, as you soak up its buzzy atmosphere, elegant boulevards and majestic squares.

Madrid’s ‘third’ gallery

The Prado and the Reina Sofia are the two art galleries that most visitors flock to. And while they deserve their plaudits, there’s no way that the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza should be considered a poor relation.

The main difference is that it’s based on a private collection and covers a huge range of art in a breathtaking romp through periods, schools and genres. On one floor you’ll wander through Pop Art and Cubism, past Picasso and Dali, Klee and Chagall, Miro and Jackson Pollock.

Move up a floor for Degas, Gauguin, Goya, the hypnotic Les Vessenots by Van Gogh, Gainsborough, Manet, Monet, Edward Hopper and Toulouse-Lautrec. Up another floor and you’re in the realm of Rubens, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Constable, Renoir and Canaletto.

You get the picture – this is a gallery packed with works by timeless masters of the art world.

A sense of space

As enticing as the art in Madrid is, it would be remiss to visit this most kinetic of cities and not spend some time outside – especially when the Spanish sun is shining.

There are a number of squares where people gather to chat, people-watch or sip on a café con leche – Plaza Mayor chief among them. The square is surrounded by tight warrens of streets and lined with cafes as well as impressively stately architecture.

It’s somewhere to watch the world go by, but also a place of history that has witnessed bullfights, executions and the bloody outcome of the Spanish Inquisition. These days it’s more about celebration, complete with a Christmas market each December.

If you’re in need of some rest and relaxation, the city’s El Retiro park is the place to head. It’s overlooked by its fair share of fine buildings and monuments, but on weekdays it’s a place for quiet contemplation.

Enjoy the green spaces and tranquil lake next to the monument to 19^th century monarch Alfonso XII. When you’re done wandering the rose garden or picnicking in sight of the Dante’s Inferno mural, hire a rowing boat and take a spin out on the water.

The festival spirit

It’s not like Madrid is ever restful or quiet, but it truly comes to life when there’s a festival going on – and, this being Spain, there’s often a festival going on. They vary in size and intensity, from Dos de Mayo – the 2^nd of May, which is a public holiday – to Almudena on 9tn November, celebrating the female patron saint of Madrid.

There’s also the month-long Festival de Otono in October, various neighbourhood festivals during August and the biggest of them all, Fiestas de San Isidro, in May. Come to Madrid during festival season and you’ll be swept along in the atmosphere.

There’s much more to discover in this most generous of cities, which is why car hire at Madrid Airport is essential to see as much of it as possible, at your own pace.