El Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro)
8.7Friend Score / 10#1 of 10 Parks & Outdoors in Madrid
Known forretiro parkparque del buen retiroboating lakecrystal palace
Madrid's 125-hectare green heart — a former royal garden with a boating lake, the Crystal Palace, rose gardens, and thousands of madrileños doing everything from tai chi to terrible rollerblading. Free, gorgeous, and essential. One practical note: it closes at night and the city shuts it entirely during high-wind alerts, so check on stormy days.
Key facts
| Hours | Daily 06:00–00:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | free |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | Metro Retiro (L2) at the main gate; also Ibiza (L9) and Estación del Arte/Atocha for the south end |
| Time needed | 2-3 hours; a full lazy half-day is easy |
| Best time to go | Weekday mornings for calm; Sunday afternoons for the full local spectacle; golden hour at the lake |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.7/10- Value9.5
- iconic8.5
- Freshness9.1
- Crowd level5.5
- Authenticity9.0
- Accessibility9.5
Frequently asked questions
- Is Retiro Park free?
- Completely — the park, the Crystal Palace and Palacio de Velázquez exhibition spaces inside it (both run by the Reina Sofía), the rose garden, all of it. The only things that cost money are the rowboats, the terrazas, and whatever the fortune tellers charge.
- How do I get to Retiro Park?
- Metro line 2 to Retiro station drops you at the main Puerta de Alcalá gate. The park has many entrances — from the Prado, walk up past the Casón del Buen Retiro in five minutes; from Atocha, enter at the south end near the rose garden.
- What shouldn't I miss in Retiro?
- The lake and Alfonso XII monument, the Crystal Palace, the Rosaleda rose garden (spectacular in May), and the Paseo de las Estatuas. Oddity worth finding: the Fallen Angel statue — supposedly the world's only public monument to Lucifer, sitting at exactly 666 metres above sea level.
- What is the Crystal Palace in Retiro?
- A gorgeous 1887 glass-and-iron pavilion originally built as a greenhouse for a Philippines exhibition, now hosting free contemporary art installations from the Reina Sofía. It's the most photogenic single spot in the park — go early or the reflecting pond area is a scrum.
- What are Retiro Park's opening hours?
- Roughly 6:00 to midnight April through September, and 6:00 to 22:00 October through March. It's a gated park, and the city closes it partially or fully during high wind or storm alerts because of falling branches — signs and the madrid.es site announce it.
- Can you picnic in Retiro Park?
- Yes, and everyone does — lawns near the lake and the Crystal Palace fill with blankets on weekends. Officially no alcohol in public spaces, enforced with discretion. Grab supplies from a supermarket on Calle de Alcalá or Ibiza street rather than the pricey kiosks inside.
- Is Retiro Park safe at night?
- It's gated and closes at night, so the question mostly answers itself. During opening hours it's very safe — patrolled, busy, family-filled. Late evening in the dimmer corners calls for normal big-city awareness, nothing more.
- How much are the rowboats on the Retiro lake?
- A 45-minute rental runs around €6-9 depending on weekday versus weekend, paid at the kiosk by the lake. It's touristy and completely worth it — the view of the Alfonso XII colonnade from the water is the park's classic angle.
Nearby in Ask Madrid
- Museo Nacional de Artes DecorativasMuseum0.53 km · 7 min walk
- Puerta de AlcaláAttraction0.64 km · 8 min walk
- Museo del PradoMuseum0.66 km · 8 min walk
- Taberna ArzábalRestaurant0.72 km · 9 min walk
- Real Jardín Botánico de MadridAttraction0.73 km · 9 min walk
Where to stay near El Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro)
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