Cheap flights to Madrid, Spain

In May through October, Madrid’s weather is usually warm and dry. The spring brings some of Spain’s most spectacular fiestas, starting with Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. Madrid’s biggest holiday is the feast of San Isidro, the city’s patron saint, which begins on May 15. It’s a popular party, so book well in advance.The plateau on which Madrid is sited is high enough for clear skies and dry air. Summers are very hot (often over 100 degrees Fahrenheit), but it’s a dry heat. And the warm summer nights are a great pleasure. The winters are quite cold.

• Madrid has a wealth of art museums. In addition to the world-renowned Prado, the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia for modern art, and the formerly private collection the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, there is a little-known jewel, the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales. This elegant convent was built in the 16^th century for aristocratic nuns. Each new arrival brought a dowry, many of them priceless works of art. Now open as a museum, the convent has a superb and eccentric collection of religious relics and art, including works by Rubens, Breughel, and Titian. Tours are led by a nun; they are in Spanish, but if you had a couple of years of high school Spanish, you’ll be able to understand a lot of it.
• The Museo Sorolla exhibits the work of Spain's most important impressionist painter, Joaquin Sorolla, in the house where he lived and worked for most of his life. The house and the gardens are charming. In addition, the Museo Sorolla is one of several museums that host occasional concerts under the Ministry of Culture’s program called Tiempo de musica en los Museos.
• The tower of the church of San Nicolas de las Servitas is one of the oldest buildings in Madrid, believed to date to 1085. The exhibits in the church are devoted to the Moorish history of early Madrid.
• Madrid has many lovely parks, of which the foremost is the Parque del Retiro. Originally the private gardens of King Philip IV, the park consist of 350 acres of formal gardens, fountains, lakes, sculpture, playgrounds, and outdoor cafes.
• El Rastro is one of the best flea markets in Europe. If you like flea markets, you’ll find bargains here.
• If you’re interested in bull-fighting, Madrid gets the best matadors in the country. There are fights on Sundays and holidays throughout the year and for longer periods in the spring, especially starting with the feast of Madrid’s patron San Isidro, which begins on May 15.
• Much of Madrid’s nightlife is unique. In the summer, cafes spill out onto the terrazas, and the eating, drinking, and partying often go on till dawn. For a typical Spanish experience, visit several tascas, the pubs that serve tapas, those wonderful Spanish appetizers. Each tasca has its specialties in tapas and wines. And you will find the soul of Spain in flamenco music. At a flamenco tavern, you can experience these haunting gypsy folk songs and dances.
• Unlike Daylight Savings Time in the U.S., Spain’s time change is on the first weekend of spring. Be aware of the local time so you don’t miss a flight