Botanical Gardens - Jardín Botánico

Madrid's luscious botanical gardens were created for Charles III by Juan de Villanueva and the botanist Gómez Ortega in 1781. The botanical gardens are right alongside the Paseo del Prado, just south of the Prado museum, but inside this deep-green glade, with over 30,000 plants from around the world, it's easy to feel that city life has been put on hold.

A sign at the entrance of the botanical gardens asks that you treat the gardens as if they were a museum, but don't feel bad about getting comfortable with a book for a while; it is one of the best spots in Madrid to do so.

Address Plaza de Murillo 2
Transport Metro Atocha .
Telephone 91 420 30 17
Open Oct-Feb 10am-6pm daily. Mar 10am-7pm. Apr, Sept 10am-8pm daily. May-Aug 10am-9pm daily.

Admission €2. Free under-10s.