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These small gardens next to the Palacio Real occupy the site of the royal stables. Laid out in the 1930s, the design was based on original 18th-century plans. A quiet, restful place for a picnic (see Palacio Real).

Pounding the pavement isn’t an attractive proposition in Madrid because of the heavy traffic, although an exception is Paseo Pintor Rosales with views of the Parque del Oeste. Most madrileños head for the Retiro or Jardines Sabatini with mountain and palace views. Jogging (el footing ) is especially popular in the evening when the air is cool.

Madrid’s outdoor swimming pools are open from June to mid-September. There are three pools in the Casa de Campo (children’s, intermediate and Olympic), but they are crowded at weekends. An alternative is the Piscina Canal Isabel II.

Inaugurated in February 2005, the Palacio de los Deportes (sports palace) occupies the site of a former sports centre that was destroyed by fire in 2001. The new building seats 18,000 spectators and was designed to accommodate several sports including athletics, basketball, handball, tennis and boxing. As well as improving safety and security measures the centre’s acoustics were improved in order to make it a suitable venue for pop and rock concerts.

When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, everyone wanted a piece of the action. Set among the fountains at the far end of this small neighbourhood park, near the Auditorio Nacional (see Auditorio Nacional de Música), are three concrete sections of the wall with original graffiti. Children’s play areas and plenty of places to eat and drink are nearby.

These delightful 18th-century gardens belonged to the palace of the Duke and Duchess of Osuna and were landscaped by Jean-Baptiste Mulot, the gardener at Versailles, outside Paris. They have been restored to their former glory with tree-lined paths, fountains, a lake and follies.

This lovely park, to the west of the city as its name suggests, was designed in the early 20th century by Cecilio Rodríguez, head gardener at the Retiro. Apart from the rosaleda (rose garden), the main attraction is the Temple of Debod, an ancient monument, dating from the 2nd century BC. It was a gift from the Egyptian government. Cafés abound on Paseo del Pintor Rosales, a terminus of the Teleférico.

In 1767, Carlos III broke with tradition by allowing members of the public into the Retiro, providing they were “washed and suitably dressed”. However it was not until the 1860s and the advent of the First Republic that the partitions separating the royal enclosure from the public area were finally torn down for good (see Parque del Retiro).

This attractive park lies within the exhibition grounds of the Campo de las Naciones. The river is the main source of amusement, with catamaran trips on offer. The park also boasts the largest fountain in Spain, with 300 jets.