Retiro Park

About

Locals treat Retiro as a giant shared garden. Rent a rowing boat on the lake, wander to the Crystal Palace and stop for a coffee at a shaded terrace. On Sundays the park comes alive with street performers and picnics.

Why visit

• Boating on the lake
• The elegant Crystal Palace and nearby gardens
• A lovely break between museum visits

Good to know

• Boat hire is inexpensive but queues can form in summer
• Some paths close in strong winds
• It sits right next to the Prado and Reina Sofía

Nearby while you’re here

Combine Retiro Park with Palacio de Cristal, Prado Museum and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum for a full day around Retiro.

Palacio de Cristal

Free30 min

600 m · 9 min walkAdd: Palacio de Cristal

Prado Museum

~£132h 30m

700 m · 11 min walkAdd: Prado Museum

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

~£142 hrs

900 m · 14 min walkAdd: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

Reina Sofía Museum

~£102 hrs

1.2 km · 18 min walkAdd: Reina Sofía Museum

Círculo de Bellas Artes Rooftop

~£41 hr

1.2 km · 18 min walkAdd: Círculo de Bellas Artes Rooftop

Eat and drink nearby

Mercado de San Fernando

Free1h 15m

1.5 km · ~11 min by metro/taxi

Churros con Chocolate at San Ginés

£5–1045 min

1.9 km · ~12 min by metro/taxi

Distances are straight-line estimates from sample coordinates.

Sample hotels nearby

• Hotel Retiro Jardín (Retiro), about 400 m away. Sample listing.
• Casa Salamanca (Salamanca), about 1.5 km away. Sample listing.
• Gran Vía Atelier Hotel (Gran Vía), about 1.9 km away. Sample listing.