Every visit in every season to the park will bring new discoveries, but if you have never been before start with the Estanque, an artificial lake with boats available to rent. Dominating the lake is the dramatic Monument to Alfonso XII in the background. Nearby the park’s Crystal Palace looks like something out of a fairy tale. Originally constructed as a greenhouse, today it’s part of the Reina Sofia Museum (the building is closed for repairs through 2027 but its exterior is still worth a detour). You can also see the statue of the Fallen Angel (how many parks have statues dedicated to Satan?), the charming Fountain of the Galapagos (that’s turtle, as the fountain includes statues of two of them), and even enjoy some of Madrid’s famous nightlife at Florida Park, a restaurant and cabaret venue. Or simply wander aimlessly through the gardens, watching Madrileños enjoy some nature.
The Retiro is Madrid’s best-known park but by no means its only one. If you have time, there are plenty of other green areas to explore. A picnic in Casa de Campo or the Parque del Oeste is always a good idea; the Capricho Garden with its neo-classical Templete de Baco is one of the most bucolic addresses in the city; and the Madrid Río (a park running alongside a portion of the Manzanares River) is an award-winning urban design with skate parks and playgrounds. Along with the Temple of Debod, another of the most spectacular sunsets in the capital can be seen from the Parque de las Siete Tetas, in Vallecas, a neighborhood in the city’s southeast.
Madrid’s art beat
When you think of art in Madrid, likely the first thing that comes to mind is the Prado, one of the most important art museums in the world with the most complete collection of Spanish paintings. On its walls hang masterpieces by Velázquez, Zurbarán, El Greco, Goya, and many other celebrated Spanish painters, but other nations are represented too, with works by Dürer, Rubens, Rembrandt, and others. In all the museum has around 8,600 paintings as well as thousands of sculptures, drawings, and engravings. Tickets cost $17 though entry is free for the last two hours before closing, from 6 to 8 p.m.