Burrolandia, Madrid

The Burrolandia donkey refuge, just a short way out of the city, is a great place to take children while on holiday in Madrid. With upwards of 26 donkeys to take care of, there is always plenty of loving, petting and feeding needed at Burrolandia - definitely a favourite for kids! And the good, clean country air won't do adults any harm either...

Opening Times:
Sundays 11am to 1.30pm

Admission:
Free (donations welcome).

Safari Park, Madrid

A great day out for the kids is a trip to the Safari Park, set in an African-style savannah landscape and home to giraffe, camel, zebra and rhino, as well as some entertaining monkeys. Not to be missed are the daily lionp-taming shows, and the swimming pool and slide that offer a welcome respite after a day of game viewing.

Opening Times:
Daily from 10.30am to sunset

Madrid Zoo and Aquarium, Madrid

Home to nearly 3,000 animals from all over the world, as well as an impressive aquarium, the Madrid Zoo is a great attractions for kids on holiday in the city. Highlights of the zoo include koala bears and giant pandas, as well as a few ever-odd-looking, long-snouted anteaters - truly interesting and unusual animals that children love to see.

Sorolla Museum, Madrid

A hidden gem, the Sorolla Museum was the home of renowned Spanish Impressionist painter Joaquín Sorolla and his family. Donated to the government in 1929 by Sorolla's widow, the house now operates as a memorial and museum, displaying a large collection of Sorolla's glowing works and other contemporary collections including sculpture, ceramics, furniture and jewellery. A fine example of a bourgeois Madrid home from the early 20th century, the attractive museum has an intrinsic Spanish impression with brightly painted walls and dark furniture. Much of the house remains as Sorolla left it, right down to his stained paintbrushes and pipes. Although known for his portraits of aristocrats, Sorolla's passion lay in depicting the everyday lives of Spanish people, with many paintings depicting Spaniards in their native dress, going to the beach and engaging in work or leisure activities.

Getting There:
Metro station Iglesia, Rubén Darío or Gregorio Maranón. Bus number 27, 14, 45, 147, 5, 16, 61, 7 or 40

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am to 3pm. Sundays from 10am to 3pm

Admission:
EUR3 for adults. Children under 18 free. Concessions are available

Cine Aventura Agüí, Madrid

Cine Aventura Agüí, one of Madrid's charming old movie theatres, has been converted into a play centre for children featuring ball pools, slides and trampolines, as well as a maze and an art area. There is also a small coffee shop in the building for parents to relax at while their kids play.

Opening Times:
Monday to Friday from 5pm to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 2pm, and 4.30pm to 9pm

Royal Botanic Garden, Madrid

Located nearby the Prado Museum, the Royal Botanic Garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in Europe. With the foundation of the garden ordered by King Ferdinand VI in 1755, the Royal Botanic Garden has been cataloguing and nurturing rare species of flora for over 200 years. A welcome break after hours of art, architecture, and frenetic streets, the garden is a small haven of natural splendour. Divided into three terraces and extending only eight hectares, the garden boasts an array of 30,000 plants and flowers and 1,500 trees. Not only interested in exhibiting plants, the gardens' initial aim was to teach botany, and to promote expeditions to discover new plant species and classification. Nowadays the Royal Botanic Garden houses a cutting edge research centre, an extensive herbarium and a large library. Visit the Classical Romantic Garden, Villanueva Pavilion, the Graells Greenhouse and the Exhibition Greenhouse.

Getting There:
Metro station Atocha or Atocha-Renfe. Bus number 10, 14, 19, 24, 26, 27, 32, 34, 45, 57, 140, C1 and C2

Opening Times:
Daily from 10am to 6pm (November to February), 7pm (March), 8pm (April and September) and 9pm (May to August)

Admission:
EUR2 adults; Children under ten are free.

National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid

A worthwhile visit in a country known for its rich history, the National Archaeological Museum was founded in 1867 with the purpose of being a depository for the collection of numismatic, archaeological, ethnographical and decorative art collections compiled by the Spanish monarchs. Situated in a stately neoclassical mansion alongside the National Library, the museum's collection ranges from prehistoric times to the 19th century. One of the major exhibits is the Iberian statue, The Lady of Elche, a carving from the 4th century BC found on the southeastern coast of Spain. Other intriguing exhibits are the Islamic collection, outlining the long and influential history of the Moors in Spain and the replica of Altamira Cave, inhabited over 18,000 years ago, with rock paintings depicting bison, horses, boars and human handprints.

Getting There:
Metro to Serrano or Retiro Station. Bus number 1, 9, 19, 51, or 74

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am to 8pm; Sundays and Festivals from 9.30am to 3pm

Admission:
Free

Flamenco at Corral de la Moreria, Madrid

Listed as one of Madrid's top ten sights, the tablao flamenco(flamenco show restaurant) is renowned as the oldest and most famous show in the world. The establishment draws kings and queens, international presidents, film stars, and well-known artists and writers who come to witness the nightly performances of top flamenco stars while receiving excellent service and dining on exquisite meals prepared by some of the best chefs in Madrid.

Getting There:
EMT 3 or 148, Metro to Opera or Sol stops

Opening Times:
Open daily from 8.30pm to 2am

Admission:
EUR29 per show, not including dinner

Puerta del Sol, Madrid

One of the most well-known plazas in the country, Puerta del Sol is the historical and geographical heart of Spain. Named after Madrid's eastern city gate of the same location, the 15th century entryway was bathed in the rays of the rising sun due its eastern position. Littered with famous landmarks, Puerta del Sol is home to the famous Spanish clock tower whose bell marks the beginning of the New Year. The official symbol of Madrid, the El Oso y El Madroño, a 20-ton statue of a bear eating fruits off a Madrono tree, as well as a large equestrian statue of King Carlos III are also on display. Unmistakable is the luminous Tio Pepe sign, a longstanding hallmark of Puerta del Sol, and more discreet is the kilómetro ceromarker on the pavement, which signals the official starting point of six of Spain's major highways and symbolically places Puerta del Sol as the centre of Spain, cementing it as a site of many rallies and protests against violence and war.

Getting There:
Metro to Sol Station

Cuenca, Madrid

Just two hours southeast of Madrid lies Cuenca, one of the most charming small towns you'll find anywhere on the Iberian peninsular. Located on a steep spur, above the confluence of two deep river gorges, Cuenca's magnificent geography is matched only by the architectural wonders contained within its medieval city walls. In fact, the entire town centre of Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (and has been since 1996), and visitors to Spain who are looking for a romantic town to wander around in for a few days are strongly encouraged to give Cuenca a try. Full of Moorish fortresses, Gothic cathedrals with ' unum ex septem' signs outside (if you pray while looking at one of them, you'll get five years' worth of forgiveness for your sins), rococo-style convents, museums and parks, the most endearing feature of Cuenca is in fact its 'hanging houses', residences with cantilevered balconies that overhang the deep river gorges below. The strange angularity of these buildings is said to have inspired the artistic movement known as Cubism. A wonderful place to ramble around for a couple of days, Cuenca is an ideal stop for those travelling to Barcelona from Madrid.

Royal Palace, Madrid

The massive, bright-white Royal Palace (Palacio Real) on the Plaza de Oriente in Madrid dates from 1734, when the 3,000-roomed royal residence was commissioned by Philip V. It was last called 'home' by the royal family in 1931 - the present king, Juan Carlos, lives in the more subdued Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid. Most of the rooms are now open to the public, and others are used for state business. English tours are run regularly, lasting about two hours, taking visitors to the reception room and state apartments, the impressive armoury and the royal pharmacy. The grandiose state apartments are filled with art treasures, antiques and opulent Rococo décor that could even rival Versailles.

Getting There:
Bus 3, 25, 39 and 148. Metro to Opera Station

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm, and Sunday from 9am to 2pm (October to March); Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and Sunday from 9am to 3pm (April to September)

Admission:
EUR8, concessions available

Parque de Atracciones, Madrid

Parque de Atracciones is a fantastic amusement park in Madrid for kids to visit, offering a number of rides and attractions for all ages. The Virtual Cinema is a simulator with moving chairs that kids will love, and the Spectacle of Sound, Light and Water show's fireworks and lasers are also a favourite.

Getting There:
Batán (Line 10); bus lines 33 and 65; by car, Carretera de Extremadura (N-V) or exit 18B 'Casa de Campo' from M-30

Admission:
EUR9.30

Reina Sofia National Art Centre Museum, Madrid

The third of Madrid's famed art galleries, the Reina Sofia is dedicated to 20th century Spanish art, having been designed to give Spain a museum to equal France's Pompidou Centre and London's Tate Gallery. The museum was opened by Queen Sofia in 1986, and is housed in the former Hospital de San Carlos. The artworks displayed here include those of Juan Gris, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso. The star attraction of the museum is Picasso's controversial Guernica, depicting the Nazi bombing of the Basque town in 1937 in support of Franco's cause in the Spanish Civil War. Until 1980 this painting hung in New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday from 10am and 9pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 2.30pm. Closed on Tuesdays

Admission:
EUR6.50

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid

The second gallery in Madrid's 'golden triangle' of art museums is the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Housing the former private collection of the Thyssen family, the works were bought by the city of Madrid to enrich its fund of art treasures. The collection, in the restored 18th century Palacio de Villahermosa near the Prado, contains more than 800 paintings, sculptures, carvings and tapestries, ranging from primitive Flemish works to contemporary pieces. Among the highlights are works by Renoir, Durer and Van Eyck. The collection includes some major American works as well.

Getting There:
Metro to Banco de España station. A variety of public buses also provide transport to the museum

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm. Closed on Mondays, 1 January, 1 May and Christmas Day. The museum closes early (3pm) on 24 and 31 December.

Bullfighting in Spain, Madrid

While some see the practice as cruel and savage, for others, bullfighting in Spain counts as one of the most memorable and evocative cultural experiences that the country has to offer. As Ernest Hemingway says in his non-fiction paean to bullfighting Death in the Afternoon, "anything capable of arousing passion in its favour will surely raise as much passion against it" - and it is true that tourists to Spain will be divided in their enthusiasm for witnessing the spectacle. With its origins in pagan Spain, bullfighting is seen by its supporters as, at once, a vibrant expression of their national identity, and as a cathartic spectacle that reconciles individuals to hard truths about death, life, and the nature of the cosmos. Although you can watch bullfights in a variety of Spanish cities, Madrid, Granada and Seville are the best - although, if you reallyhave an interest in the sport, you should also visit its birthplace of Ronda. Look for signs saying Plaza del Toros, and choose between a sunny seat ( sol), or the more expensive sombra(shaded) seating.

The Prado, Madrid

One of Madrid's most famous attractions is the 19th century Prado Museum, one of the world's greatest art galleries, with more than 7,000 paintings that include masterpieces by Fra Angelico, Botticelli, El Bosco, Titian, Rembrandt and Velazquez. The museum began as a Royal collection, which succeeding dynasties have added to. The collection naturally focuses on the Spanish masters, particularly Goya, whose exhibited works follow the development of his painting from the sun-soaked early scenes of joyful festivities to the grim madness characterising his 'black period'. The Prado has few equals - and whether you are an art lover or not, you should check out this magnificent Madrid sight.

Getting There:
Metro to Banco de España or Atocha; train to Atocha station; bus 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37 or 45

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm

Toledo, Madrid

The magnificent hilltop city of Toledo, about 43 miles (70km) southwest of Madrid, was immortalised by Spain's renowned artistic genius El Greco in a cityscape that currently hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The city has changed little since El Greco captured it on canvas in 1597, with its golden spires and Gothic buildings spreading across the Tagus River Gorge, overlooking the plains of New Castille. The ancient city was capital of Visigoth Spain in the 5th and 6th centuries, and as time passed Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities have all left their mark on the city's rich architectural heritage - from the Moorish gate (Puerta de Bisagrai) to the Gothic convent of San Juan de los Reyes. Toledo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of all these wonderful cultural attractions throughout the city. Pride of place is held by El Greco's 'Burial of the Count of Orgaz', painted on the wall of the Santo Tome. The town's attractions and main street are packed with tourists throughout the summer, but it is easy to escape into one of the enchanting side streets, which wind up and down the hillside.

Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Madrid's lush central park, one of many green spaces in the city, covers 350 acres (142 hectares) and was laid out originally as the private garden of Philip IV. The vast park features formal gardens, a statuary, fountains, lakes, exhibition halls, children's playgrounds and outdoor cafes. Visitors can stroll among the trees, admire the rose garden, and take a boat ride on the lake. At weekends the park comes alive with buskers, clowns, fortune-tellers and sidewalk painters.

Opening Times:
Daily from 6.30am to 10.30pm

Goya's Tomb (Panteon de Goya), Madrid

The Panteon de Goya is situated in the Glorieta de San Antonio de la Florida, and is known as Goya's Sistine Chapel. The artist decorated the dome and cupola of the little chapel with a fresco depicting the miracles of St Anthony, with the use of sponges, a project that took six weeks to complete. Mirrors have been placed in strategic places to provide better glimpses of the art. The chapel also contains the artist's tomb.

Opening Times:
Open from 9.30am to 8pm, Tuesday to Friday. On weekends the chapel is open from 10am to 2pm. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.

Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Madrid's famous central arcaded square dates from 1619 and was built by Philip III, whose statue still stands in the centre of the cobbled expanse. In medieval times the Plaza de Arrabal, as it was then known, was the venue for numerous public spectacles, ranging from knights' tournaments and festivals to the burning of heretics at the stake. Today it remains a public gathering place, but the majority of people who congregate in the sidewalk cafes to sip sangria on summer nights are tourists, enjoying impromptu music performances and watching the passing parade.

Segovia, Madrid

The ancient town of Segovia, lying on a slope of the Guadarrama Mountains with the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores Rivers below, is a delightful taste of the glorious past of the area known as Castile in central Spain. Segovia is 54 miles (91km) northwest of Madrid and is well worth visiting for its reputation as being the most beautiful city in Spain, awarded a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The ancient Romans turned the town into a military base, leaving behind Segovia's famous aqueduct which begins nine miles from the city and until fairly recently still supplied the town with water. The other main attraction in Segovia is the fairytale Alcazar, a fortified citadel perched on the edge of town that the Walt Disney castle is said to be modelled on. The town overflows with Romanesque churches, 15th century palaces, narrow streets and small fountain-splashed plazas and is best explored on foot.

Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid

The huge granite rectangular edifice, topped with four spiral towers, is a foreboding sight in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 30 miles (50km) northwest of Madrid. The monastery/church/palace complex was built by Philip II as a memorial to his father, Charles V, and contains some of El Greco's and Hieronymus Bosch's artworks. A vaulted library contains a priceless collection of more than 60,000 ancient books. The monastery itself houses a wealth of paintings and tapestries, and the mausoleum beneath the church's altar serves as a burial place for Spanish kings.

Getting There:
Bus 661 and 664 from Madrid, or the Madrid-El Escorial train

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm (until 5pm between October and March)

Admission:
EUR10 (guided), EUR8 (unguided). Concessions available