Packed with entertainment – an amusement-park, a zoo, boating lake, sports arena and never-ending trails – but spread over 1700 hectares, it never feels crowded.
Madrid is often known as the city of parks, with more green space than any other European capital, and the Casa de Campo can take a large share of the credit. This enormous park in the west of Madrid is one of the city's two 'green lungs' – the other being the Parque del Retiro – but it is by far the largest. At over 1700 hectares, its vast spaces were originally set aside as a hunting ground for the Royal family. They bought a lodge, the Casa de Campo (or 'country house') here – and the name stuck. Now, however, it's a public park, packing a lot into all that space. There is an amusement park, a museum, a sports arena and a zoo – not to mention gardens, playgrounds and pools – all set around a massive lake and endless tracts of wild brush. No wonder Madrileños reckon they can live out their whole summer in the Casa de Campo.The park once merged into the wooded hills stretching north-west of Madrid. But since it was declared a public park in 1931, Madrid has grown up around it. The Zoo is one of the more popular, a modern-affair only completed in 1995, which gives plenty of elbow room to its 3,000 residents. It has a safari area, an aviary and an aquarium – and is widely praised as one of the top zoos in Europe.The Parque de Atracciones is another block-buster attraction – an amusement-park with six different areas, each offering a themed experience. The Gran Avenida is for entertainment, with its cinema and light shows the Maquinismo is for thrill-seeking, with its roller-coasters and extreme rides and the Tranquilidad is simply for a bit of peace and quiet. There’s plenty of tranquillity outside too – the Casa de Campo may be popular, but its size means you'll always be able to find a quiet spot for a picnic, or a solitary amble. And if the size and variety all seem a little daunting, you can always pass through using El Teleférico, Madrid's very own cable car, which provides spectacular views of the whole park – and the city of parks beyond.
