Madrid is going all out to entice visitors to the city during July and August. With temperatures often nudging 40 C, the city traditionally becomes a ghost town in summer as residents flee to the beach or mountains and many attractions and businesses shut up shop.

But this summer visitors taking a short break will benefit from discounted hotel rates, cut-price theatre tickets and extended opening hours at many of the top museums as the provincial government launches its 'Open Madrid' campaign.

Madrid's opera house, the Teatro Real, normally winds down in the summer but this year it will run a special season featuring La Vida Breve by Manuel de Falla with tickets costing less than £35.

The city's three main art museums will extend their opening hours. The Prado will open its most popular galleries on Sunday afternoons and the Thyssen-Bornemisza will stay open on Mondays, with visitors able to view the new Canaletto exhibition until midnight. It will also host three Baroque concerts. The Reina Sofia modern art museum is also looking into opening on Sundays and Saturday nights.

The Madrid Tourist Office says that all two-, three- and four-star hotels in Madrid will offer discounts in the summer. The three-star Opera hotel, for example, has a 'four nights for the price of three' offer from 15 July to 31 August.

Tour operators are also cutting prices. Kirker Holidays is offering discounts of up to £100 per person on three-night breaks to Madrid in July and August. Three nights at the five-star Palace Hotel, for example, costs £509 per person from 10 July to 24 August.

Sales director Ted Wake said that Madrid in summer has its advantages. 'You can get a table at the best restaurants, local bar owners will welcome you with open arms as many of their regulars are away and you can waltz through the Prado without having to fight the crowds,' he said.

For further information call 00 34 900 705 807.