Famous for its lush parks and gorgeous gardens – Madrid has earned the reputation as one of the greenest cities in Europe. Whether you have a romantic love of blooms, are blessed with green fingers or simply gravitate towards nature – this is the city break for you. Enjoy the famous sights like the Royal Palace, explore the Museo del Prado, sample delicious tapas in the La Latina district and then escape to the leafy surrounds of the city’s calming green spaces.

A Guide to Madrid and its Magnificent Parks & Gardens

Wandering through the city’s 8 most famous gardens, garden lovers will be in a state of botanical bliss  – from the classical Jardines de Sabatini to the magnificent Royal Palace Gardens –  enjoy the heady perfume of prize blooms, unusual shrubs and leafy trees planted for generations of city dwellers to enjoy.

JARDINES DE SABATINI

The classical-style gardens are built on the site of the old Royal Stables, designed in the 1930s by Sabatini for the Royal family – hence the name! The architectural and ornamental style of the gardens owes a lot to their prime location beside the palace. Several white marble sculptures of past kings that were meant to decorate the cornice of the palace can be found here. The geometric design, with a rectangular pond at its centre, surrounded by trickling fountains and greenery, as well as the spectacular location make it one of the best sites in Madrid to watch the sunset at dusk.

CAMPO DE MORO

Queen Maria Cristina was responsible for designing this 19th Century English country garden, influenced by the romantic concept of nature. The gardens are perched on an elevated site with sweeping views that take in the Royal Palace. The area is thought to have been named after the Muslim army that lay siege to the city in 1110.

JARDINES DE LA PLAZA DE ORIENTE

Directly across from the royal palace, the 1.6 hectare garden is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Madrid. The pedestrianised square located in front of the palace was designed by Jose Bonaparte to highlight the Palacio and the Teatro Real. Built on the site of the old Hapsburg Palace, at its heart lies an imposing equestrian statue of Philip IV, surrounded by trees and formal gardens. The statue was designed by Italian sculptor in 1639, with help from the calculations of Galileo, and was the first of its kind – successfully depicting a figure on a prancing horse without toppling over!

JARDINES DEL PALACIO DEL PRINCIPE DE ANGLONA

Located right in the heart of the lively La Latina district of Madrid, this garden is tucked hidden away behind high walls off Plaza de la Paja, overlooking Via de Segovia. Commissioned by the Marquises of La Romana, the garden was designed by Javier de Winthuysen in the 18th Century. Laid out in a neo-classical style, the pretty garden bordered by box hedges adjoins the 16th Century Palace, which once belonged to the Prince of Anglona.

JARDINES DEL TEMPLO DE DEBOD

These gardens were designed by Manuel Herrero Palacios in 1968 as somewhere to sit and ponder the magnificence of the Temple of Debod, which was donated to Spain by the government of Egypt. More than 2,000 years old, the Debod Mausoleum was rescued from the waters of the Aswan Dam by a group of Spanish archaeologists. Each stone was brought to Spain and it was rebuilt in its current location, with the same orientation to the sun as its original Egyptian setting.

JARDIN DE RAMON ORTIZ ROSALEDA

A visit to this beautiful garden is a feast for the senses – as it is home to some of the world’s most important varieties of roses. Planted in the grounds of the Parque del Oeste in 1914, the delicious perfume of rose petals permeates the air. It’s a delight to simply wander along the peaceful paths, shielded from the noise of the city, past trickling fountains and trellises laden with climbing buds. Here garden lovers can spend forever admiring hundreds of types of roses in an explosion of colours and scents.

EL RETIRO PARK

A popular emblem, Retiro Park is located in the east of the city. It was once a recreation area for the Royal family – a place where they could retreat from city life. The enormous 320-acre garden was first opened to the public in 1868 and includes a military museum containing a fantastic collection of armour, the sword of El Cid and the cross that Columbus took to the New World. There’s also a lake where you can rent rowboats and go for a paddle and the Palaci0 Cristal, inspired by the Crystal Palace in London, which once housed exotic plants from the Philippines but is now used mainly for exhibitions.

THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS

Designed over 250 years ago, the botanic gardens have over 5,000 plant species. Highlights include the classical romantic garden with a duck pond, wild roses in a variety of shades, a fantastic herb garden with over 1 million plants, a library and extensive archive with over 10,000 drawings. Located next to the Prado and open to the public all year round – pop in after you’ve visited the museum.

Finish your horticultural tour of Madrid by taking to the skies! No, we haven’t gone cuckoo…Madrid’s cable car is the best way to get a spectacular birds-eye view of the entire city. From an exciting new vantage point you can make out Madrid’s famous landmarks and greenest spaces spread out like a blanket below. If a botanical city break appeals to you – check out our fantastic deals to Madrid on ClickandGo.com and see how their gardens grow!