I work in tourism in Madrid and I don’t agree about your “Best Time to Visit” section. Madrid is a region worth visiting any time of the year. SUMMER IS NOT OUR PEAK SEASON, peak times are Easter and October, aroun the national day of Spain (12 Oct.), lately also begining of December during a week where there are several national holidays.

Nevertheless, visiting is great anytime of the year…

Spring. Beautiful weather, nice to visit historical gardens in the city and the outskirts. Take a day trip to Aranjuez, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Alcalá de Henares…

Summer. Hot, but most people get their holidays during the Summer, reason why lately we get more visitors than we used to. During the hottest hours of the day, it is a good idea to visit museums (most schedule important exhibitions during the summer), go shopping in an elegant shopping mall or take a nap so that you can enjoy the Summer nights as madrileños do. Businesses in the city centre DO NOT CLOSE DURING THE SUMMER, this is more common in small family businesses in the outskirts. Shops are open 7 days a week, from 10am to 9-10pm, without stopping. Even a musical like The Lion King continues playing during the Summer. And, of course, there is the lively Veranos de la Villa cultural festival.

Fall. Great to take a day trip around the city, discover some small village full of charm like Chinchón, Navalcarnero, Nuevo Baztán, Buitrago del Lozoya, Rascafría or Colmenar de Oreja. In Colmenar de Oreja, for example, you can visit a fantastic museum devoted to local painter Ulpiano Checa, take a walk in the village or in its natural surroundings, visit a winery to taste/buy wines. Fall is harvest time in the wine producing regions in the South of the region. Great time to enjoy a local festival or visit one of the wineries under the Designation of Origin Vinos de Madrid.

Winter. Not so cold as in other parts of the country, or the countries in northern Europe. The city is very lively… people coming and going, sitting in rooftop or street level terraces under the sun, exhibitions, theatre plays and much more. If you like the snow, you can go to the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. Great time to know Xmas and New Years traditions if you visit around that time.