Madrid
Madrid runs on a completely different clock — dinner starts at 10pm, nightlife kicks off at midnight, and nobody bats an eye at having a beer at 1am on a Tuesday. The city's three world-class art museums (Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen) are within walking distance of each other and all offer free evening hours. A caña (small beer) and a tapa costs about €3–4 at most bars, and many places still give you a free tapa with your drink. The metro is excellent (€1.50–2 per ride) and covers the entire city. Summer hits 40°C+ so locals escape to terraza bars and parks after dark.
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Madrid travel FAQ
How many days do I need in Madrid?
3–4 days covers the essentials. Day 1: Prado Museum (free 6–8pm Mon–Sat, go then and save €15) and Retiro Park — rent a rowboat on the lake for €6. Day 2: Reina Sofía for Picasso's Guernica (free Mon & Wed–Sat 7–9pm), then tapas crawl through La Latina neighborhood. Day 3: Royal Palace in the morning (€12, free last 2 hours for EU citizens), Gran Vía for shopping, Mercado de San Miguel for gourmet tapas (pricey but worth one visit). Day 4: Day trip to Toledo (30 min by train, €13 round trip) — an entire medieval city on a hilltop. Segovia (the Roman aqueduct) is another great day trip option.
Where are the best tapas in Madrid?
La Latina neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon is peak Madrid tapas — every bar on Cava Baja is packed and lively. Start at Juana La Loca (famous tortilla with caramelized onion), then Bar Santurce (grilled sardines), then El Tempranillo (great wine selection). For free tapas with drinks, head to Calle Cava Baja or the streets around Plaza de Santa Ana. Mercado de San Miguel is beautiful but pricey (€4–6 per tapa) — worth one visit for the atmosphere. For a more local experience, Mercado de San Fernando in Lavapiés is cheaper and less touristy. Pro tip: sitting at the bar (barra) is often cheaper than a table and way more fun.
What are the best day trips from Madrid?
Toledo is the #1 pick — 30 minutes by AVE train from Atocha (€13 round trip), a UNESCO World Heritage medieval city with incredible views, the cathedral, and El Greco paintings everywhere. Segovia is another must — famous for the perfectly preserved Roman aqueduct (2,000 years old!) and cochinillo (roast suckling pig). Take the bus from Moncloa (1.5 hours, €8 round trip). Ávila has the best-preserved medieval walls in Europe — you can walk on top of them. For something different, Chinchón is a tiny town with a gorgeous circular plaza and the best garlic soup you'll ever have. All these are doable as half-day trips if you start early.