Travel in Madrid

Madrid is a beautiful city, but sometimes, you need a moment away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle. Well, for anyone in need of a little natural beauty, the Royal Botanical Gardens is a must-see.Charles III is the monarch responsible for its development, and when it opened in 1781, “this garden promoted a series of expeditions that brought glorious times to Spanish botany, accompanied by illustrious names: Mutis, Ruiz y Pavn, Cavanilles, Boutelou, Lagasca, Colmeiro, etc.” (Spain.info website).Now the garden is home to a variety of floral displays, including Azaleas & Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Daffodils, Orchids, Camellias, Tulips and even Bonsais. The garden is located at the Plaza de Murillo, and houses three displays: the Terraza de los Cuadros, the Terraza de las Escuelas Botanicas, and the Terraza del Plano de la Flor. Each section contains its own garden style. In the Terraza de los Cuadros, for example, you’ll find a rock garden and flowers you’d expect to find in your own home. This collection also contains aromatic and medicinal plants. On the other end of the spectrum, the Terraza del Plano de la Flor is a lot greener, with a beautiful pond and gorgeous trees. Even further from the other two collections, the Escuelas Botanicas showcases plants by their scientific classifications and biological relationships.The garden also contains two greenhouses, as well as Spain’s largest Herbarium, which houses millions of plants, including specimens from the Iberian Peninsula and South America.General admission costs 2,50 while reduced tickets are 1,25. The garden’s hours change depending on the time and month of year. While the Royal Botanical always opens at 10:00am, closing times vary from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Be sure to check the Spain.info website for the most accurate hours of operation.