What a great location this apartment has in Madrid. The Royal Palace is just seven minutes on foot, while the Almudena Cathedral and the Plaza Mayor are within walking distance, too. As you'd expect from such a central location, you will hear some city noise while staying here. After all that exploring, you can sit in this home's shared courtyard and get your breath back. Inside, we love the living area's double-height ceilings and galleried landing, and there's a desk here if you need to catch up on work. We'd say the adjacent ground-floor bedroom isn't fully private, as it's a cubicle room with three-quarter-height walls – otherwise, this is a great home for couples, a family or business colleagues.

Home truths:
*The entrance to this home is shared with the building's other residents, as is the courtyard. *This home is over two levels. For those with reduced mobility, there's a ground-floor bedroom and bathroom here. *If you're travelling with little ones, your host can provide a cot and high chair for free. You'll need to request them in advance. *There's a nightclub nearby, so you may hear some noise into the early hours.