Madrid

The capital of Spain is an impressive city full of grand architecture, green parks and lively nightlife. From the Palace Real (Royal Palace) to the club Kapital, Madrid's seven story dance club, Madrid has things for everyone to do from day to night. Madrid, like London, and unusually for European cities, is full of parks, including Parque de Retiro and the Botanical Gardens. The Parque de Retiro is the largest park in Madrid and popular not only with tourists but with Madrilenians as well, with street performers and regular concerts. Home to the monument to King Alfonzo XII is the artificial lake Estanque del Retiro where boats can be rented or sunbathers can relax. The Botanical Gardens is by the famous Prado Museum - Spain's answer to the Louvre- and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. On the city centre, Puerta del Sol is a kind of mini Times Square, close to the exquisite Plaza Mayor and the statue El Oso y El Madroño (the bear eating fruits from a tree) which is the symbol of Madrid. The E.U. can rightfully brag about the metro system in Madrid as it is easy to navigate and usually clean. Nightlife ranges from clubs open until 7 a.m. to pubs which close at 2 a.m. - tapas and sangria being staples of the locals after dark.