Madrid · Paseo del Arte and Retiro
Retiro Park
Madrid's central park, with a boating lake, the Alfonso XII monument and long tree-lined avenues. From the Puerta de Alcalá gate to the lake is about 20 minutes on foot. The Crystal Palace is closed for improvement works, but you can still see the installation that covers it.
- 3 h
- Free
- Booking: not needed
- Paseo del Arte and Retiro
Data checked on October 4, 2026
The park began as the gardens of a royal palace in the 1630s and passed to the city in 1868. It covers more than 1.4 square kilometres in the middle of Madrid. Gravel avenues run from the Puerta de Alcalá gate to the lake, and the formal gardens, statues and fountains sit between them. The Crystal Palace is closed for works at the moment.
What to look for
- Rowing boats on the lake
- The Alfonso XII monument and its colonnade
- The Fallen Angel fountain
- The rose garden in late spring
Opening hours
| Monday | 6:00 am–10:00 pm | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:00 am–10:00 pm | |
| Wednesday | 6:00 am–10:00 pm | |
| Thursday | 6:00 am–10:00 pm | |
| Friday | 6:00 am–10:00 pm | |
| Saturday | 6:00 am–10:00 pm | |
| Sunday | 6:00 am–10:00 pm |
Open daily 06:00 to 22:00 from October to March, and 06:00 to midnight from April to September. Sections can close for maintenance or bad weather.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Madrid, checked October 4, 2026
Tickets and booking
Free.
Getting there
Retiro (Metro line 2) is beside the Puerta de Alcalá gate, and Ibiza (Metro line 9) is by the eastern side.
Tip
Go in the morning for quiet paths, or late afternoon around the lake.