One of Madrid’s best features is its parks. You can encounter small neighborhood parks such as Parque de Berlin near Prosperidad Plaza or famous ones with lots of history such as Retiro or Capricho.
A popular tourist attraction for visitors and hangout location for locals is Retiro Park. El Retiro directly translates to retreat, a secluded place. Covering more than 385 acres, Retiro Park truly is secluded from the outside. Similar to the ambience and format of an amusement park, being in Retiro will make you think you are in another world. Some will call it a maze because of its many intertwined roads and landmarks. Luckily, there is a map located in areas along the perimeter of the park in case anyone gets lost. But even if you do, don’t panic! Getting lost in Retiro might be one of the most fun things to experience. You never know if you will encounter the Cristal Palace, monument of Alfonso XII, an artificial lake with people rowing boats or beautiful rose gardens. The activities that you can do in Retiro are endless. Here are some I recommend.
1. After walking around Retiro and seeing all it has to offer, you can get tired or hungry which is why these open cafes/restaurants are the way to go. There are restaurants all over Retiro park with traditional Spanish dishes and tapas such as paella, croquetas, tortilla española and chocolate con churros.
2. If you don’t want to spend money on all the food you would consume, opt out for a cute picnic instead. You don’t need to have a picnic date when you have friends and family to accompany you. If somehow you forget a towel, there are vendors in Retiro that lay out different designed blankets and towels for you to purchase.
3. What has been becoming really popular are the scooters around Madrid. Companies such as Bird or Lime offer people who download the app to scooter around the park for a specified amount of time depending on much they pay. Many people like to ride scooters around Retiro park to explore the different monuments. It is also the perfect place to do so because of the smooth pavement and the many different scenic roads you can take.
4. The most popular attraction that visitors enjoy doing is rowing through the artificial lake called Estanque Grande de Retiro. The hours and prices are listed as below. For six euros, you can row for 45 minutes. The maximum amount of people on the boat is four. Come with your family or friends and exercise your arms while observing the beautiful view.
5. If you love photoshoots and want some beautiful pictures for your Instagram, the rose gardens are not one to miss. Many people go into Retiro to take engagement photos, wedding photos and family portraits.
6. Retiro is a place for everyone to spend time including kids! There are playgrounds and always people dressed as statues for the kids’ amusement. With more than ten play areas in Retiro, children can run around and play with their friends while their parents hang out. From big pandas to military men, you can always find an actor at Retiro, which is perfect for the kids to interact with them and take pictures as well.
7. If your children are art fans, Retiro has displays of different exhibits and artworks that they can check out. The Velazquez Palace and Glass Palace are both exhibiting artwork by the Reina Sofia Museum.
8. Kids love being in nature, running around and being active so it is important to teach them to appreciate science. Stop by Retiro’s Botanical Garden to observe some beautiful species of plants that are special to Madrid. There is also a Rose Garden you can stop to see what is currently in bloom.
9. If you want to have fun with your kids and also do some learning about Madrid, create a scavenger hunt to do with them listing places down including: Casa de Vacas, the Botanical Garden, the Observatory and the Glass Palace. Retiro is huge and creating a scavenger hunt to get them active and give them a chance to see all of the park is a fantastic idea. As a reward, consider treating them to chocolate con churros after they have accomplished finding everything on the list!
If you have already visited Retiro or want to see more of Madrid’s parks, we have provided a few great parks that will love?
2. Sierra de Guadarrama
Looking for something less crowded and out of the city? Opt out of the city life and take a train, bus or drive to Sierra de Guadarrama. Hiking and being outside in nature is the perfect for people who don’t want to be in the crowded spaces and loudness of the city. Parque de Peñalera is a National Park in Madrid. Located in the province of Segovia, it has a plethora of hiking trails and gorgeous landscapes for you to take a day for self-care and enjoying nature.
3. Parque del Osete
A two-minute walk from the gorgeous Templo de Debod, Parque del Osete is a large area where you can run, walk or take a nice nap. The view is super gorgeous from here because you can see the Palacio Real de Madrid and its garden. If you want to see sunset, this park would be the place to go to because you can see the Templo de Debod while the sun sets.
4. Parque del Capricho
Created in 1784 by the duke and duchess of Osuna, Parque del Capricho is one of the most historical and beautiful parks in Madrid. Capricho is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and big events/festivals. There are many landmarks you can see such as the duke and duchess’ palace and the maze created out of bushes. Because it was created during the Enlightenment, there are three different styles in architecture from the English, French and Italian.
What are you waiting for? Go out and enjoy Madrid’s best features. There are endless choices for parks you can go to and activities you can do!