Madrid City is full of surprises – abundant huge green parks, boating lake, a zoo and sprawling parkland will make the lover of open spaces feel at home. For a city break and country stroll, with good weather thrown in, Madrid makes an ideal short stay or winter break.

If urban life and large cities full of historical buildings and people are usually avoided for countryside and open spaces think again. Madrid is full of green spaces and parkland, in central Madrid the largest park is Parque del Retiro, spreading out to the north-east of Atocha Railway station, which receives the high- speed AVE trains from the south and east as well as Cordoba and Seville.

Parque del Retiro, formerly the grounds of the palace built for Felipe IV, is Madrid’s most popular park. Its large lake in the middle once staged mini naval battles to amuse royalty, these days the more tranquil pastime of pleasure boating is popular. Inspired by London’s crystal palace, the palacio de cristal can be found at the south-eastern end of the park.

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