Settle into this stylish apartment in Madrid's artsy Cortes neighbourhood, bookended by leafy green spaces, museums and authentic tapas bars, you'll be far removed from the tourist crowds here. Inside, we particularly like how the open-plan living space is bathed in natural light throughout the day, thanks to the large shutter doors and wrought-iron balconies. Another thing we love is how the homely decorative details, like the colourful scatter cushions, bookshelves and artwork, combine with the home's original features – from the frescoed flooring to the inky black column. With a couple of peaceful bedrooms to retire to at the end of the night and a sleek, marble kitchen island to enjoy breakfast over, you're perfectly set up for an endlessly relaxing stay in Madrid. And, best of all, location-wise there's plenty of space for long afternoon strolls in the sunshine. Walk to El Retiro Park, Neptune Fountain and Madrid's Botanical Gardens in less than fifteen minutes. Gran Vía is also easily reachable in just under ten minutes on foot, with a host of dining options, lively bars and striking architecture to explore. Home truths: *There's a lift in the building to reach the apartment floor *The dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace *There's no parking here, but we recommend skipping the car and making use of Madrid's excellent public transport instead *For bookings longer than 10 days, weekly cleaning is mandatory