The best activities in Madrid: discover the secrets of the Retiro

What would be the best activities in Madrid for travelers? We're going to suggest something original. Whenever you travel, one of the best experiences is visiting those parks that serve as the lungs of large cities. In Madrid's case, the most notable is El Retiro Park , one of the favorite places for locals to walk, exercise, or simply lie on the grass and sunbathe when the weather is nice. El Retiro Park is a paradise in the center of Madrid with 125 hectares and more than 15,000 trees. It's the best place to forget about cars, the hustle and bustle, and the noise of the city. It's a place that fills you with tranquility and good feelings. And you always see, even in bad weather, people running, cycling, or skating—some of the most common activities in Madrid for both travelers and locals.

Within the park are various gardens, monuments, fountains, and more. We especially love the Artichoke Fountain, the Galapagos Fountain, and the Fallen Angel Fountain. Near the latter, you'll find one of the most beautiful corners of the park, the Retiro Rose Garden. The park's central axis is the pond , where you can rent a rowboat and have a great time, especially if you're going with children. This will be one of the activities in Madrid that will leave you with the best taste in your mouth, along with the musicals. In addition, bordering the pond, there are usually shows for the little ones, such as puppet shows. Next to the pond is the characteristic monument to Alfonso XII , always full of people chatting or playing music. Very close to the pond is the Velázquez Palace building, and a little further on is the Crystal Palace, built at the end of the 19th century and one of the finest examples of iron architecture in Spain. Both palaces are home to the Reina Sofía Museum, so they often host contemporary art exhibitions. Strolling through El Retiro Park, you'll also come across the Paseo de las Estatuas , which houses numerous statues of Spanish monarchs, the Casa de Fieras (the former zoo), the Fisherman's Cottage, the Smuggler's House , and the Artificial Mountain, former recreation buildings of Ferdinand VII. Opening hours are from April to September, from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, and from October to March, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.