Garden globetrotting: Madrid

From tropical train stations to vast parks, Spain's capital, Madrid, is a city built for nature lovers, with endless trees and plenty of shady spots to enjoy the views.

- Sydney James, Editorial Assistant

I have been eager to visit Madrid for years – it's a hot spot for any art lover, with the Museo Reina Sofia, home to Picasso's Guernica, and the Museo Del Prado, whose masterpieces include Goya's Black Paintings and Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights. Madrid itself offers plenty of garden delights too, with so many horticultural treasures that it can be hard to choose which to visit.

I decided to explore the Real Jardín Botánico first, which this year celebrates its 270th anniversary. As you enter the garden, you're greeted by a spectacular seasonal display. When I visited in spring, it featured rows of brightly coloured tulips set between lines of immaculate box hedges. The entrance area can become crowded as people flock to see the amazing colours, but beyond this it's incredibly peaceful.