Plaza de Oriente, Madrid

Located opposite the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), this is the city's largest, most elegant and peaceful square. It's a semi-circle of landscaped gardens planted with many varieties of trees and flowers. Statues of medieval kings line one of the walkways and Felipe IV takes center stage. The horse he sits on was modeled after a Velázquez drawing. It's an attractive pedestrianized area with an underground parking lot and many smart cafes with outdoor terraces to choose from. The Teatro Real (Opera House) is just around the corner.