Madrid keeps later hours than any European capital — dinner at 10pm barely qualifies as early. The Prado requires multiple visits to appreciate properly; don't rush through. Free museum hours exist (Reina Sofía Sunday afternoons, Prado evenings) but crowds concentrate accordingly. Tapas culture has evolved; traditional free tapas with drinks survive in La Latina and Lavapiés, not city center. Sunday's El Rastro flea market stretches blocks but watch for pickpockets in crowds. Retiro Park provides escape from city intensity without leaving city limits. Metro runs efficiently and late; taxis and ride-shares fill gaps. Churros con chocolate at San Ginés taste different at 5am after dancing than at noon for tourists. Neighborhood vermouth bars (vermuterías) peak Sunday afternoons as local tradition. Rooftop bars multiply every summer at prices reflecting view premiums. Day trips to Toledo and Segovia fill easily by train or bus. Flamenco performances range from tourist-oriented to deeply authentic; venue research matters. The local vocabulary differs from Latin American Spanish — adjust or struggle initially. August empties the city completely as locals vacation; many businesses close entirely.