Casa de Campo, Madrid

A ride with the Teleférico gives you some great views over Casa de Campo and Madrid in general.

A single trip with the Teleférico takes a bit more than 10 Minutes and covers a dictance of about 2,500m. When I used it in February 2005, the price for a round-trip ticket for an adult was 4.45 Euros.

I loved every second of the trip and took some great photos (there are small windows to use your camera).

On the outskirts of the city to the west is the Casa de Campo. Formally hunting grounds it is now a 1800 hectares site of shrubland containing a zoo an amusement park, swimming pools, tennis courts and plenty of places to sit and picnic with friends and family.
The most fun way to get there is by the Telerifico. A gondola style cable car. It rises high above Madrid and the trip from the city to the park is 11 minutes. It seemed more like 111 minutes to me but it was worth it for the photo opportunities. You can also get there by metro and bus.

The Zoo of Madrid, at Casa del Campo, next to the Lago metro station, in the western outskirts, shouldn't be overlooked, either; it is one of the largest in Europe, with natural animal habitats and two pandas (which seem to sleep all day).

Housing over 2000 species of mammals, a visit to the zoo is an excellent day out in Madrid. They have 70 varieties of poisonous snakes, including vipers from Gambon and the black mambo, which is considered the most dangerous snake in the world. Dolphins, seals and sea lions give regular performances throughout the day.

Casa de Campo (Country House) is a park, situated on an ancient royal hunting place. It has leafy trees, a lake, a zoo and an amusement park. Sport and recreative activities, concerts, rides, Casa de Campo calls madrilenians and tourists.

Casa de Campo es un parque situado en un antiguo coto de casa real; tiene árboles frondosos, un lago, un zoológico y un parque de diversiones. Actividades deportivas y recreativas, conciertos, paseos, Casa de Campo convoca a madrileños y a turistas.

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The Casa de Campo is the biggest park in Madrid. It has a lake, rowing, tennis courts, a zoo, an aquarium, restaurants. The cable car departs from here.