by Kim Sharpe

As the Spanish capital, Madrid is a city full of history, culture and entertainment. Great weather, fist class hotels, delicious restaurants, fascinating museums... we could go on. It's the ideal city for a short break. In no particular order, here are a few ideas for things to do in Madrid:

Museo del Prado

El Rastro

El Rastro is Madrid's most popular market selling everything from leather bags to Moroccan antiques. Dating back five centuries, the market may not be a great place for bargains but it's still a highly recommended shopping experience.

Palacio Real

Commissioned by Philip V, the Royal Palace is a beautiful baroque palace built in 1764. The building is now rarely used by the royal family which means that many of its 3,000 rooms are open to the public. The lavish interiors are matched by the stunning gardens outside.

Parque del Buen Retiro

Philip II created the beautiful Parque del Buen Retiro in the 1630's. This lush park, covering some 300 acres, is the ideal place to enjoy the Madrid sunshine. The gardens are incredibly popular but because of it's sheer size, the park never becomes crowed. A real oasis in the city centre.

More city attractions

Why not jump on the Eurostar for a day out in Paris or enjoy all the interesting things to do in Brussels. The train takes you straight into the heart of these great cities in just over two hours.

You could also take trip to Italy and enjoy the countless great things to do in Rome or the terrific attractions of Venice. This wonderful country really has something for everyone.

And finally, if you wanted to travel a little further, you could explore the many attractions in Tokyo. There is so much to see and do in this amazing Japanese city.