Madrid

• Best use: Sit down to a proper lunch at Casa Lucas, then decide whether you still want the walk. Madrid rewards one good table and one chosen collection more than a rushed museum triangle.
• Choose by energy: Churros and Plaza Mayor for a short introduction; the Prado for art; La Lorenza for a booked Lavapiés dinner. These are alternatives, not a single day's checklist.
• Big mistake: Building a late lunch around a kitchen's afternoon closure, or leaving the return journey until the last minute.
• What to skip: Toledo, Segovia and a second major museum on a short awake window. Keep those for a separate visit.

Getting back before pickup

Set your accommodation as the start and end of the outing. Check both journeys, waiting and any connections before leaving. Set a leave-by alarm that gets you back with time for rest and preparation before your required crew pickup. Cut the extra stop if the return becomes uncertain.

• Payment: Pay in EUR and decline an offered home-currency conversion. Carry a backup payment method and check a small counter's payment terms before ordering. For shopping tax refunds, check your eligibility and validation requirements with the retailer and customs before buying.