As the leaves begin to turn and the air begins to turn nippy, many of us search for a trip away to extend the summer and go on something that feels like more than just a change of scenery. Golden evenings, warm afternoons and cafe terraces spilling onto ancient cobbled streets filled with people having a natter – autumn breaks don’t come much better than this.

With flights only costing £20, this European capital may be the perfect place to book your next weekend getaway. You may think of Vienna for culture, Amsterdam for its canals or Berlin for its nightlife, but it is actually Madrid that is often overlooked as an autumn holiday destination. While millions of tourists flock to its Catalan neighbour, Barcelona, it could be argued that  Madrid doesn’t have the tourism buzz that much of Spain has. Perhaps it is because it’s the capital, or maybe because of its location far away from any sea, but the city still has lots to offer.

Named by Condé Nast Traveller as autumn’s best city break, the city is starting to become known for its vibrant autumn glow, not quite seen anywhere else in the world. The travel guide added: “With an abundance of museums and galleries and some must-visit restaurants, it really doesn’t matter what time of year you visit Madrid. 

“The bonus of going in autumn, however, is how the city looks – open spaces like Casa de Campo and El Retiro Park transform into a wash of colour.”

For a capital, Madrid is surprisingly green, or in this season, a fiery red, with its tree-lined boulevard seemingly turning to match the colour of the long September sunsets.

Temperatures are also pleasant in autumn, with October averaging around 19-20C °C, which creates the perfect weather for a stroll around without getting into a sweat like the summer.

There is plenty to keep you busy, too, beyond the autumn colour. Madrid has turned itself into a cultural heavyweight.

The so-called golden triangle of art finds its home in the city, made up of the Prado Museum, home to Goya’s works, the Reina Sofia, housing Picasso’s and the Thyssen-Bornemisza rounds the trinity off.

After a day strolling around the galleries, you could have easily worked up an appetite, and luckily for visitors, we are in tapas country. A trip to Madrid isn’t complete without a stop at the beautiful Mercado de San Miguel, to nibble at some local delicacies with a glass of Rioja.

Moving to neighbourhoods like Malasaña and Chueca hum with boutiques, bars and street art that will leave you feeling full-up and particularly merry from the sangria.

With autumn classed as the off-season, prices of hotels and holiday lets also tend to fall, giving you the chance to grab a bargain. Flights can also set you back as little as £18 with budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet offering regular flights for a low price from lots of their UK airports.