1. If you are visiting Madrid at the weekend and you plan on visiting both the Reina Sofia and Prado art galleries, good news - the Reina Sofia gallery is free on Saturdays after 2.30pm and all day Sunday while the Prado is free all day Sunday also. Result!

2. Most of Madrid's churches and cathedrals are free to visit. The best known is Catedral de Nuestra Senòora de la Almundena, the city’s cathedral. Others that are worth locating include the baroque Basílica de San Miguel, Iglesia de San Jerónimo with its stunning façade and Iglesia de San Ginés which, dating back to the 14th century, is one of the city's oldest.

3. At €1 per single journey, Madrid's metro system isn't exactly expensive. But there are still savings to be made. A 10-journey ticket costs just €6.70 so buy one and you're almost getting 10 journeys for the price of 5!

4. The Spanish capital is full of some immaculately kept parks and gardens, most of which are free to visit. They are the perfect place to retreat to when you want to break away from the city's hustle and bustle. One of the most popular is Campo del Moro a large garden with long, winding, tree-lined paths to stroll around. Two others which draw crowds are Parque del Buen Retiro and Real Jardín Botánico (adm. €2), both of which are beside Museo del Prado.

5. If you're looking for a way to spend an afternoon without spending any euro, take a few hours to visit these three landmarks. Start at Plaza de la Cibeles. You could take a roll of film here on its own. From there take a lesuirely stroll down Gran Via, the city's main artery, then finish off with some people watching in Plaza Mayor.