13 Things to Do in Madrid in the summer

I won't lie to you: summer in Madrid can be very tough due to the high temperatures. But don't let that stop you from enjoying yourself, because luckily the city offers visitors a wide variety of options for beating the heat without giving up on enjoying its charms.

Summer is the time for terraces with spectacular views, spending a nice day in parks and green spaces, enjoying some festivals that are exclusive to these months, and seeking refuge in its museums and theatres. Here are the best plans for spending the summer in the Spanish capital.

The central Retiro Park is the green lung of Madrid and one of the best places to visit in summer. This huge park offers many activities that are ideal for summer. Starting with sports facilities, you can cycle around the park in the shade of the trees or simply stroll through the wooded areas and stop to hydrate at the fountains.

Other more relaxed options include a refreshing boat ride on the Retiro lake or enjoying an ice cream or a good meal at one of the many terraces in the park. Here are some options you can book before your trip to make sure everything is taken care of:

• Segway tour of Madrid's Retiro Park, from RM165: In just one hour on a Segway, you can explore this wonderful park and learn all about its history.
• Mysteries and legends tour of Madrid's Retiro Park, from RM68: A two-hour tour in which you will visit the famous Crystal Palace, the statue of King Alfonso XII, the Royal Astronomical Observatory and the Great Pond.

As you can see, this park offers a wide range of appealing options for beating the heat. What's more, its location makes it the perfect place to visit after enjoying your tickets to the Prado Museum.

There are few better places to beat the heat than water parks, especially if you are travelling with your family. On the outskirts of the city there are two that are perfect for a fun and refreshing day out, especially if you are travelling to Madrid with children.

• Parque Warner Madrid has more than 30 themed attractions, including roller coasters and the fifth highest drop tower in the world. It also has a water park area.
• Madrid Amusement Park, with water rapids, elevated trains and roller coasters, among many other attractions.
• Madrid Zoo Aquarium, where you can admire more than 300 species of animals and 100 species of plants in their natural habitats.
• The Atlantis Aquarium, where you can explore numerous marine species and learn about more than 10,000 different sea creatures.
• Aquopolis, located in Villanueva de la Cañada, which has extensive facilities and all kinds of services and water attractions.

When all else fails and the heat becomes unbearable, there is always one sure option: visit Madrid's museums. In the Spanish capital, there are more than 50 museums covering a wide variety of topics and catering to all tastes. Here is a varied list:

• Prado Museum in Madrid.
• Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in Madrid.
• Las Ventas Bullring Museum in Madrid.
• Museum of Illusions in Madrid.
• Wax Museum in Madrid.

You can also book a pass for the Art Walk, which includes tickets to the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen Museum, known as the art triangle.

The list of options is extensive, and to save you the trouble of making a selection, here is a link where you can find out which are the best in Madrid and what you can see in each one. What better way to escape the heat than in the cool of a museum admiring works of art!

The Madrid Río area was built around the Manzanares River and is a large expanse of pedestrianised green areas perfect for seeing Madrid from the banks of the Manzanares, walking, playing sports or booking a Segway tour of Madrid Río.

In this area, there are several fountains where you can bathe, surrounded by green meadows with shaded areas. This area is known as Madrid's "beach", as in summer many locals and tourists flock here to escape the heat. It's a perfect activity for the whole family.

A must-do on your summer trip to Madrid is to book a day trip to the Sierra de Guadarrama, where you will discover the spectacular landscapes of La Pedriza and the mountain passes of Navacerrada and Morcuera.

The tour, which lasts approximately 10 hours, includes return transport and the services of a professional guide to this wonderful place, just 40 minutes from Madrid, where you will learn about its archaeological wealth, as well as the local flora and fauna.

And before returning to Madrid, you will visit Manzanares El Real Castle or Mendoza Castle, a 15th-century medieval building that will not leave you indifferent.

And if you are staying in Madrid for more than a week, don't hesitate to book an excursion to Toledo and Andalusia, where you will have the opportunity to discover some iconic places in depth, such as the Church of Santo Tomé, the Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, the Plaza de España, the María Luisa Park, the Bullring, the Alhambra in Granada and the Mosque of Córdoba.

This getaway from Madrid, which lasts a minimum of four days, includes return transport and accommodation, as well as the services of a professional guide who will accompany you on this adventure through the cities of Toledo, Córdoba, Seville and Granada, dazzling you with fascinating facts about the culture and history of these cities and their rich heritage.

Another suggestion for your summer holidays in Madrid is to book an excursion to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen, two symbolic places that stand out for their size and the history they conceal.

• The Valley of the Fallen was built by Republican political prisoners during Franco's regime to commemorate those who fell on the Nationalist side during the Spanish Civil War. During the visit you will see the abbey, the underground Catholic basilica and its famous 150-metre-high cross.
• The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. Built by order of King Philip II to commemorate the victory over the French at the Battle of Saint-Quentin, it is currently run by the Order of Saint Augustine. It covers an area of 33,327 square metres and houses an important collection of paintings, sculptures and works of art.

The excursion, which lasts five hours, includes return bus transport, entrance tickets to both the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen, and, of course, the company of an expert guide who will bring you up to date on all the history, architecture, anecdotes and controversies surrounding these two monuments.

August is a month of festivals, and three of the capital's neighbourhoods celebrate theirs during this month. These neighbourhoods are San Cayetano in the Rastro and Embajadores area, San Lorenzo in Lavapiés and La Paloma in the Latina area.

The three are adjacent and hold their festivals at the same time. These festivals are usually held in the second week or in mid-August, and the streets are filled with concerts, food stalls and various activities typical of a festival, ideal for getting to know the essence of Madrid. I recommend that you book a guided bike tour of Madrid in advance to get an overview of these neighbourhoods.

If museums aren't your thing, you might prefer to escape the heat by seeing a play or musical. In that case , Madrid's Gran Vía is the ideal place. It is known as the Spanish Broadway thanks to its numerous theatres that host all kinds of plays and musicals.

Perhaps the best known of all is the musical The Lion King, which is performed at the Lope de Vega Theatre. Along Gran Vía and the surrounding streets, you'll find many more theatres with something for everyone, including flamenco shows, which are very popular in Spain. Not a bad plan if you're looking to escape the summer heat!

Madrid is a city full of bars and restaurants with their own terraces. Among the thousands of terraces throughout the city, some stand out for their privileged location, making them a popular destination, especially for beating the heat with a refreshing drink.

The best in Madrid for their views are the Círculo de BellasArtes
on Calle Alcalá, the Palacio de Cibeles very close to the latter, and the terrace of the Hotel Riu in Plaza España. There are many more in hotels and bars, but these three are perhaps the most famous in the capital.

I also recommend visiting them when the sun goes down, when the temperature is milder, making them one of the best things to do in Madrid at night.

Going to the cinema is generally one of people's favourite activities to combat the summer heat. That's why summer cinemas are a tradition, and in Madrid during July, August and September, special summer screenings are held in various locations around the capital, including some museums.

A different alternative is the drive-in cinema in Madrid. An open-air screening that you can enjoy from your car while listening to the film on the car radio, eating popcorn and, if it gets too hot, simply turning on the air conditioning.

Madrid has one of the largest drive-in cinemas in Europe, located at the end of Paseo de la Castellana. An ideal plan for a summer of cinema.

At the end of June and beginning of July, with the first signs of summer, Madrid celebrates its LGBT Pride Festival. Madrid is known for its tolerant atmosphere, and in neighbourhoods such as Chueca, its central hub, the festive atmosphere is unique.

For two weeks , the city celebrates events, talks, parades and endless activities with tolerance as the common thread. Pride celebrations are one of the main festive attractions in Madrid at the beginning of summer.

Casa de Campo is a large urban park covering more than 1,500 hectares, home to a wide variety of wildlife. The park is built around a large lake which, together with the shade provided by the trees, offers a much cooler climate in summer than in the city centre.

The park is also home to Madrid's amusement park, the zoo, the cable car and several restaurants on the shores of the lake. There is also a large public swimming pool, which is one of the favourites of Madrid's residents in summer. There is no shortage of options for a great day out at Casa de Campo.

Summer in Madrid and southern Spain is quite harsh. The days are very sunny and warm, and temperatures reach high maximums.

At the beginning of summer in June, the maximums are already approaching 30º, and in July and August they rise to 35º and even exceed those temperatures on certain days. The minimum temperatures at night are around 20 degrees, although they do not usually exceed this.

Do not expect many cloudy days or rain, although you may be surprised by a summer storm, although this is not common. August is the hottest month of the year and the heat index can exceed 40º. If you still want to visit Madrid in summer, do not forget to stay hydrated and protect yourself in the shade.

The summer months are the high season for tourism in Madrid, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying the things to see and do in Madrid. At this time of year, although the locals tend to leave and domestic tourism drops significantly, foreign visitors continue to flock to the city. Hotel occupancy is close to full and demand is high.

Despite the high temperatures, it is common to find queues at the main tourist attractions such as the Prado Museum or the Royal Palace. As Madrid is also a gastronomic destination, restaurants and terraces are also usually full.

As in all tourist capitals, the high season and high demand cause prices to rise, especially for accommodation. However, in Madrid this increase is moderate, as the high temperatures do not encourage long stays in the city.

The advantage is that many of the museums and monuments have special rates at this time of year.

The heat will be the main factor to consider when packing your luggage for a visit to Madrid in summer. The essentials you should pack in your suitcase are:

• Light-coloured, cool clothing.
• Lightweight but comfortable footwear for long walks.
• Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and all the accessories you need to beat the heat.
• It is essential to always carry a bottle of water to stay hydrated during our days of travel.
• Swimwear and a towel in case you decide to visit a water park, a municipal swimming pool or areas such as Madrid Río.