World City Guide

Further Distractions

Parque del Buen Retiro (Retiro Park)
This lush 118-hectare (292-acre) park in the heart of Madrid was originally the private garden of Philip IV. Visitors can enjoy a stroll along the shady avenues and formal gardens, take a rowing boat out on the lake or picnic in the extensive wooded areas. Madrileos come here in their thousands on Sunday mornings, were entertainment is provided by fortune tellers, pavement artists and circus acts. There is a children’s puppet theatre and numerous refreshment points. Temporary art exhibitions are held in the Palacio de Cristal, Palacio de Velzquez and the Casa de Vacas.

Puerta de Alcal, Plaza de la Independencia
Transport: Metro Retiro, Atocha or Ibiza; bus 2, 14, 19, 20, 26, 28, 51, 52, 68 or 69.
Opening hours: Daily 0600-2200.
Admission: Free.

Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Convent of the Royal Barefoot Sisters)
Founded by Juana de Austria, the daughter of Charles V, in 1559, as a retreat for noblewomen, the Convento de las Descalzas Reales is still a functioning convent. A superb example of 16th- to 17th-century Baroque architecture, it contains a magpie’s hoard of artistic treasures, including Flemish tapestries, Italian and Flemish paintings and sculptures, religious artefacts and more. The convent is open for guided tours only. Tours are in Spanish, although questions are taken in English.

Plaza de las Descalzas Reales 3
Tel: (91) 454 8800.
Website: www.patrimonionacional.es
Transport: Metro Callao or Sol; bus to Puerta del Sol 3, 5, 15, 20, 51, 52 or 150.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 0900-1400.
Admission: 4.01 (concessions available).

Faunia Parque Biolgico de Madrid (Environmental Park)
The theme of this new, attractively landscaped theme park is bio-diversity. Each of the 10 pavilions has been specially designed to recreate a different natural environment, with the aim of demonstrating how life (animal life in particular) has learned to adapt to a variety of ecosystems. Thanks to the latest high-tech wizardry, visitors can ‘experience’ a tropical storm, take a stroll through the rain forest, visit the polar regions with temperatures of - 5C, or watch rivers of molten lava flowing 1,000m (3,281ft) beneath the earth’s surface.

Avenida de las Comunidades 28
Tel: (91) 301 6210. Fax: (91) 301 6229.
Website: www.faunia.es
Transport: Metro Valdebernardo or Cercanas Viclvaro; bus 8, 71, 130.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (Mar); daily 1000-2000 (1 Apr-Jun); daily 1000-2200 (Jul-16 Sep); daily 1000-1800 (17 Sep-30 Sep); Wed-Sun 1000-1800 (Oct-Feb).
Admission: 17.50 (concessions available).

Faro de Moncloa (Light of Moncloa)
The Faro de Moncloa observation tower, situated in the university district, is open to the public, offering visitors panoramic views of Madrid from the flying-saucer-shaped viewing deck, 92m (302ft) high. The tower was designed by architect Salvador Arroyo, in 1992, to monitor traffic congestion.

Avenida de los Reyes Catlicos/Plaza del Arco de la Victoria
Tel: (91) 544 8104.
Transport: Metro Moncloa; bus 1, 16, 44, 46, 61, 82, 83, 132, 133 or C.
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1400 and 1700-2100 (Jun-Aug), Tues-Fri 1000-1400 and 1700-1900, Sat-Sun 1000-1800 (Sep-May).
Admission: 1 (concessions available).

Parque Juan Carlos I
This modern and vast green space (Madrid’s biggest park) holds within it the recinto ferial, where most of Madrid’s exhibitions take place. It also holds the largest collection of macro-sculptures in Spain. People come here to walk, ride their bicycles, fly kites and fish. There is even an enclosure to exercise dogs.

Campo de las Naciones, glorieta de Don Juan de Borbon s/n
Tel: (91) 721 0078.
Website: www.camponaciones.com
Transport: Metro Campo de las Naciones
Opening hours: 0900-nightime
Admission: Free.