Let There Be Sunshine

We're not ones to include homes in our collections based purely on the location, but if we did, this apartment would get an immediate pass. Not only is Real Jardín Botánico a mere five minutes' walk away and Parque de El Retiro just behind, but there's a great range of galleries in the local area, including Museo Nacional del Prado a five-minute stroll away.

Even if you spend most of your time exploring the cultural riches of the Spanish capital, you'll be happy to wake up in this home every morning. The main living space is bathed in natural light from the French doors that line one of the walls and these open up to balconies from which you can get a burst of fresh air.

The design is fairly simple, with walls painted in a modern muted grey and wooden floors making for a classy combination. The kitchen is pretty well-sized compared to a lot of other apartments intended for a couple of guests and there's even a bathtub covered in chic mosaic tiles ready and waiting for a long soak after a productive day's sightseeing.

Home truths:
*Your host can provide a cot and high chair for free upon request
*The building has no private parking space, but there are paid car parks starting as close as three minutes' walk away and Antón Martín metro station is the same amount of time away
*There's no lift in the building to reach this single-level apartment, so the home might not be suitable for guests with reduced mobility
*It's possible to take two short showers before the hot water needs to be reheated, which takes about twenty minutes