Ahh, Madrid. It's easy to feel as if this city never sleeps. Nightlife in the Spanish capital exploded with the demise of the Franco regime in the 1970s and remains hyperactive today. But Madrid isn't just a nightlife magnet.
The city balances high culture and fun admirably well. Madrid possesses some of Europe's best museums yet also manages to lure tourists (and locals) to flashy flamenco performances. Madrid's culture is external, focused on the street. Both the city's broad boulevards and knotty alleys are riots of energy until late in the evening. Madrid is best absorbed without extraordinary effort. Sit yourself down at a tapas bar, stroll through tangles of little streets, and breathe in the cosmopolitan, sophisticated, relaxed vibe.
