Retiro Park

Where it is & how to get there

• Metro: Retiro or Ibiza stations (L2, L9).
• On foot: Next to the Prado Museum and Puerta de Alcalá.
• Boats: Rent a rowing boat on the Great Pond.

The story of Retiro Park

Buen Retiro Park was once the garden of a royal palace built in the 17th century. It opened to the public in the late 19th century and is now Madrid's most-loved park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Highlights include the Great Pond with the monument to King Alfonso XII, the Crystal Palace built in 1887 for an exhibition and now used for art shows, and the Rosaleda rose garden.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Rent a rowing boat on the lake on a sunny afternoon.
• Row a boat on the Great Pond.
• Visit the Rosaleda rose garden in May.

What's around Retiro Park

• Crystal PalaceGlass exhibition pavilion.
• Puerta de AlcaláNeoclassical gate.
• Prado MuseumNext to the park.
• Salamanca districtUpscale shopping area.

Questions travellers ask