Madrid attractions: what to see and do in autumn The Reina Sofia museum is commemorating the 75th anniversary of Picasso's masterpiece Gernika, which hangs permanently in the museum, with an exhibition that looks at artistic development in the turbulent decade of the 1930s, particularly during Spain's Civil War. As well as around 400 works by Picasso, the show features Miró, Tanguy, Moholy-Nagy and Man Ray, among others. (museoreinasofia.es) Admission €6/£4.70 to permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. This exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum and the Fundación Caja Madrid explores the impact of Tahiti on Gauguin's painting, and how travel influenced art at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. It also features work by Matisse, Kandinsky, Klee and Macke. (museothyssen.org) Admission €10/£8. My hotel pick: Room Mate Alicia hotel has all the wow factor of a design hotel - without the extortionate bill. Read the full review. Boris Godunov September 28 - October 18 The new season at Madrid's opera house kicks off with Mussorgski's Boris Godunov, conducted by Hartmut Haenchen, with Günther Groissböck in the lead role. (teatro-real.com) Tickets €7/£5.50-€324/£255 My hotel pick: At the Vincci Via hotel, theatrical style mixes with contemporary décor to create a stylish downtown option. Read the full review The Young Van Dyck November 20 - March 3 The Prado museum's exhibition, which includes more than 50 paintings and around 40 drawings, focuses on Van Dyck's development when he worked for Rubens in Antwerp, before going to London in 1620, when he was 20 years old. (museodelprado.es) Admission €12/£9.40 to permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. My hotel pick: The discreet elegance of the Hospes makes it ideal for a romantic weekend in the city. Ay Amor! Music of Manuel de Falla September 21 - October 20 Dancers, musicians and actors interpret La Vida Breve and El Amor Brujo, two of Manuel de Falla's best loved works, which are merged together in this production. (teatrodelazarzuela.mcu.es) Tickets from €20/£16. My hotel pick: Petit Palace Art Gallery hotel is a chic hotel in a smart neighbourhood near the Retiro park, museums and shops. Zaha Hadid, Beyond Boundaries, Art & Design September 4 - November 3 The dynamic cultural space Ivorypress explores the creative scope of the Zaha Hadid, who designed the stunning Aquatics Centre for the London 2012 Olympics, with exhibits including furniture, paintings and domestic objects. (ivorypress.com) Free admission. My hotel pick: Chic&Basic Mayerling is smart but not fancy, trendy but not pretentious, and a real breath of fresh air.