Madrid runs on its own clock: lunch at three, dinner at ten, bed whenever. Adjust to Madrid time, learn five phrases of Spanish, and the city treats you like family.
- Tapas-hop through La Latina — Calle Cava Baja is wall-to-wall bars. One tapa and one caña per stop: "Una caña y una tapa de tortilla, por favor."
- Spend a slow morning in the Prado — Velázquez, Goya, Bosch. Free entry the last two hours of every day if you're patient.
- Row a boat in El Retiro — Madrid's living room. Rent a rowboat on the lake, then find the Crystal Palace between the trees.
- Snack churros con chocolate at San Ginés — open since 1894 and at 3 a.m. it's full of people ending their night the correct way.
- Catch the sunset at Templo de Debod — an actual Egyptian temple with Madrid's best sunset behind it. Bring something to drink; everyone does.
Madrileños talk to strangers as a hobby — the best free Spanish lesson in Europe. Warm up with a Spanish speaker below before you land.
