Madrid - things to do at midnight during a layover
 

We shall be starting our Spain/Portugal tour with Madrid, where we will be for 3 days. After that we head off to other cities and then to Portugal. On our way back, we land at Madrid airport at 10:30 pm on a Saturday night, and have to catch an early morning flight at 6:30 am back to India. There is little point in checking into a hotel for 3-4 hours. I guess we will dump our luggage at the left-luggage office at the airport, and want to taxi into the city for a full night out. Please give suggestions on what to do between midnight to 4am on a Saturday night.

The city is busy between midnight and 04:00 most nights. Take a look at Maribel's Guide to Madrid, it should offer you some direction.

Plaza Santa Ana area is full of people partying... But on Saturday night you can have problems to get a taxi back to the airport. Take care of this.

Madrid is alive 12 to 4. The tube to the airport should still run (best to check. Why not go to an argetinian restaurant and tango should be able to get in by 1am

Madrid will be at its peak. As previously said, it is VERY important to check the metro timetable if you are planning to use it. Last time we were in the Plaza del Sol area and caught the last car from to Barajas by sheer dumb luck!

I always thought it was kind of early to shut down the metro when most Madrileños are only begining to party :D

And do finish up at one of the all-night chocolate & churros places :-)

First, you should know about the left-luggage offices at Madrid Barajas Airport: They're open 24 hours and located at Terminals 1, 2, & 4. You'll find this information (in English and Spanish) at the Madrid-Barajas part of http://www.AENA.es , look towards the bottom of the menu at the left under LUGGAGE, then click through to OTHER and there you'll find it.

The suggestions for all-night "Churros and Chocolate" (like the "Churrería San Gines" next to the Plaza Mayor) is a good one. If you are looking for discos there's the Palacio Gaviria (@ http://www.palaciogaviria.com ) & Joy Eslava (@ http://www.joy-eslava.com/ ) - both near the Puerta del Sol.

Probably ALL of the bars inside the Plaza Mayor will be closed by the time you get there but it's still worth a walk-through at night, very well-lighted, and they'll probably be hosing down the the plaza so don't get wet!

Also as mentioned, during these PEAK times when people are leaving the city after partying, it can be challenging to find an available taxi to go back to the airport.

Best of luck and enjoy your SHORT stay in Madrid. Hope you decide to go back again sometime soon.

Saludos, MadridMan/BarcelonaMan at you-know-where!