One way to discover the Region of Madrid’s wealth of tourist and cultural attractions is by exploring its varied array of parks and gardens. More than 250,000 hectares make the city of Madrid one of the European capitals with most green areas. One more fact: 248,000 trees can be found on its streets.

Of these green areas, the most famous one is surely El Retiro Park, not to be missed on any visit to Madrid. It covers 118 hectares and serves as a real lung for the city’s air. However, this is not the only green area to be found in a region with a wide variety of parks and gardens. In the capital alone you will find Campo del Moro, El Capricho garden, Monte de El Pardo, the Botanical Garden, Casa de Campo, La Dehesa de la Villa park and Juan Carlos I park. Meanwhile, outside the city are the internationally famous Aranjuez Royal Gardens.

These are just some of the areas of Madrid dedicated to walking and enjoying the outdoors, with special areas for sports and other open-air activities. This is where local residents breathe fresh air and exercise their bodies.

• El Retiro Park
• El Campo del Moro
• Royal Botanical Garden
• "El Capricho" Gardens
• Sabatini Gardens
• Parks and Gardens Guide

Nature and countryside fans will love the spectacular spots to be found all over the region. Mountains, plains, meadows, lakes and open countryside make up part of the Madrid Region’s catalogue of country areas.

After spending more than a day exploring the courses of the Manzanares and Jarama Rivers, you can relax in one of many beautiful places in the Sierra de Guadarrama Mountains. This area has a wealth of flora and fauna, with La Pedriza and Peñalara being its most interesting spots.

There is such a wide variety of landscapes that here you can find places unique on the Iberian peninsula. The Montejo Beech Forest is one of these outstanding locations. It is located almost on the border with the province of Guadalajara, and is one of southern Europe’s most important beech forests.

Not forgetting Monte de El Pardo. This Mediterranean forest is considered the best conserved in all the Madrid Region, and is a real ecological paradise, just 8 kilometres from the centre of the capital.

• The Guadarrama Mountains
• The Montejo Beech Forest
• The Monte de El Pardo

There are ever more options for contact with nature, thanks to all the possibilities offered by active/adventure tourism. These options go hand in hand with maximum respect for the environment and are juxtaposed to traditional tourism, limited to mere contemplation of the wonderful surroundings.

Agro-tourism on farms, mountain biking, horse riding, multi-activity programmes, kayaking and hiking are just an example of the broad range of options available in the Madrid Region for all those who prefer to spend their free time in closer contact with nature, always respecting the environment.

Madrid is a Region with Olympic aspirations, and has excellent sporting infrastructure. This, along with the sporting tradition of the local people, make for the celebration of numerous events, including important international fixtures such as the Masters Tennis series and Eurobasket 2007, the Basketball European Cup.

Mountain sports can be found at the region’s ski resorts: Navacerrada, La Pinilla and Valdesquí. Many different reservoirs and navigable rivers provide options for water sports, and the region’s twenty or so golf courses offer more proof of Madrid’s sporting vocation.

On the subject of Sport in Madrid, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid football clubs are unavoidable references. These football teams have supporters all around the world, and are yet another attraction for tourists, who can live the spectacle live and direct. Another Madrid team that has recently moved up to the Spanish Premier Division is Getafe F.C.

• Football in Madrid
• Tennis in Madrid
• Golf in Madrid
• Sports Guide