The Prado Museum with Velazquez and Goya in the morning, tapas in the bars of La Latina in the afternoon, the nightlife of Malasana in the evening: Madrid is lived intensely and never disappoints.
Madrid: art, tapas and nightlife in one day
Madrid is the liveliest capital in Europe: Madrilenians dine at 10pm and stay out until 4am even on weekdays. But the city also offers top-level art and an extraordinary gastronomy.
Morning: the Prado
The Prado Museum is among the largest art museums in the world: the Spanish collection with Velazquez (Las Meninas), Goya (The Naked Maja, The Third of May), El Greco and Hieronymus Bosch (The Garden of Earthly Delights) is simply stunning.
Entry 15 euro (free Monday-Saturday 18-20, Sunday 17-19). Allow at least 3 hours.
Afternoon: La Latina and the tapas
The La Latina district (Calle Cava Baja) is the paradise of tapas: dozens of bars where every drink is accompanied by a small free snack. Iberian ham, patatas bravas, croquetas, boquerones en vinagre - Madrilenian gastronomy is rich and generous.
Evening: the Movida of Malasana
The Malasana district is the heart of the movida: old-tradition bars alternate with design venues in a unique generational mix. Plaza del Dos de Mayo is the nerve centre.