The Prado, The Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen Bornemisza museums are surrounded by lovely foliage, and only a short walking distance from each other. They are located at the lovely Paseo des Arte, which is in the Eastern part of city. Private apartment complexes and fine dining highlight this area, and the older museums serve as background for the ambience of the bigger three. Just behind the Prado you will find the luxurious length of the rertiro gardens,covered by ponds and fountains,pavilions of glasss,and rose gardens,it is a lovely shaded place to find some relief from the summer heat.

Just West of the Paseo del Arte is the exhilarating barrio of Santa Ana with sloping lanes lined with tiled restaurants and tapas bars. Ever since the days of Cervantes and Lope de Vega, it's been known as a free-spirited, lively and unconventional place. At one point in time, the theatres used to compete with the brothels for customer but even today, its a happening spot to be when the sun goes down. The crowds swarm in and fill the terraces all around the Plaza, fighting for seats and standing room. During the calmer daylight hours, chic dogs out walking with their trendy professional owners amuse and delight the older neighbors who relax on the benches of the area.

This beautiful plaza is the heart and soul of old Madrid. The large, impressive square which was long ago the site of royal ceremonies and religious persecutions, is now, sadly, just filled with tourist restaurants. The contorted and intricate lanes that wind away from the square as well as the senior lanes in the metropolitan area, are a final distant sound of the history of the georgeous city. A historic classic town combining all key elements of a village including religious and musical components reflecting a slow paced lifestyle. To the east is the Palacio Real, a sight that must be seen.

These average blue collar neighbourhoods lie randomly under the Plaza Mayor. Rejuvenation is present even though most of the region is delapitated. Immigrants from North Africa and South America, native people from Madrid and eclectic young artists opening up pubs and coffee shops make for an enticing combination. Don't miss out on the notable Sunday morning flea market as well as a tapas crawl.

The Gran Via is an entertainment and retail mecca. A contrast of calm and craziness exist between night and day north of Gran Via. In the know shops and bars and the excuberant nightlife make such places the hippest areas in Madrid.

In the northeast section of the city, Swanky Salamanca is comprised of broad avenues containing chic apartments and fine restaurants. As soon as you spot the Ferraris, exclusive clubs and designer boutiques, it becomes obvious that money is in no short supply in Calle Serrano. Some of the nineteenth century mansions enhance the higher end surroundings, and the shiny towers that line Paseo Castellano are a wonderful point of interest for those intrigued by modern building design.

Maria is a part-time columnist writing about tourism and holidays, whilst working for eComparison compare airport to resort transfer service for people on holiday abroad.