Even if you’ve never travelled to Madrid, chances are that you’ve heard of Parque del Retiro, also known as simply El Retiro. It’s one of the biggest parks in Madrid, and is popular with both tourists and locals. There are a lot of incredible things to see in Retiro Park, so it’s not uncommon for visitors to spend half a day here.
The history of Retiro Park dates back to the 17th century, when it was built for King Felipe IV to enjoy. Until the end of the 19th century it was exclusively used by royalty, but it’s now completely open to the public. The park is packed with beautiful monuments and sculptures, unique galleries, and plenty of picturesque buildings. You definitely won’t be short on things to see in Retiro Park.
Visiting Retiro Park is one of the best free things to do in Madrid, and it’s located in a very luxurious area of the city as well. There are some great places outside of the park to visit too. At the entrances to the park, you’ll see scooters and bicycles available to rent which are very popular with visitors. It’s a fun way to see this UNESCO World Heritage Site without spending hours walking around.
You’ll also notice that there are a lot of activities happening within the park, from fortune tellers to yoga. There’s a reason why this is one of the best places to go in Madrid, and why so many people choose to visit time and time again. Here’s a look at the best things to see in Retiro Park as well as where to eat nearby.
Things to see in Retiro Park
Lago del Retiro
Lago del Retiro is a famous artificial lake in the middle of the park. El Retiro lake was completed in 1636 and was the very heart of the park. The lake would have been used for mock navy battles and boat rides for the royal family and their court – there was even a shipyard nearby to build more boats.
Today, Lago del Retiro is more popular than ever, so no visit to the best park in Madrid is complete without seeing it. On top of taking a stroll around the lake, one of the best things to do in El Retiro is to rent a paddle boat here.
Palacio de Velazquez
As part of the Reina Sofia Museum, Palacio de Velazquez stands proudly between Lago del Retiro and Palacio de Cristal. It was built at the end of the 19th century to house the International Exhibition of Mining, Metallurgical Arts, Ceramics, Glassware, and Mineral Waters.
Following the conclusion of the event, it was decided that this palace would continue to hold contemporary exhibitions and today is one of the most visited attractions in Retiro Park. It’s also a great area to relax in the shade, and is less busy than other parts of the park. This building is one of the top things to see in Retiro Park, even if you don’t go inside.
Jardines de Cecilio Rodriguez
Jardines de Cecilio Rodriguez is a beautiful garden in El Retiro that shouldn’t be missed. It’s a very tranquil spot within the park, where you’ll find more peacocks than people walking around. There are many sculptures and other unique elements of the garden to explore, and it’s the perfect spot in Retiro Park to relax for a bit. Don’t forget to snap a photo of the peacocks – some of the best things to see in Retiro Park.
Casita del Pescador
Casita del Pescador is an attraction in Retiro Park that we came across by chance. It’s a small picturesque cottage that stands on an island in the middle of an artificial pond. It was built in the 19th century by Ferdinand VII after the War of Independence had badly damaged the park. The Fisherman’s House is where the king and some of his court would go fishing as a way to destress. The bold pink colour of the cottage really stands out among the surrounding lush green trees, so you’ll have no problems finding it.
La Rosaleda
There are quite a lot of unique gardens in Madrid to visit that are especially beautiful in the springtime. Parque del Retiro is home to a few of these, most notably the famous La Rosaleda. The Rose Garden holds more than 4000 roses, and was built in 1915 to rival gardens in other European cities. It was built in an attempt to make the park look more elegant as well.
Not far from La Rosaleda is where you’ll find the only statute in the world dedicated to the devil. It shows the fallen angel being cast out of heaven, and stands at exactly 666 metres above sea level. Both of these attractions are high on the list of things to see in Retiro Park.
Ruinas de San Isidoro de Avila
If you love history, then you’ll be pleased to know that Retiro Park has its own set of ruins within it. Sitting directly behind the Fisherman’s House is where you’ll find the Ruinas de San Isidoro de Ávila. It was originally built in the 11th century, and at one point held the body of San Isidoro. By the 17th century it had become a hermitage, and following this final stage of use it fell into ruin. These ruins were later moved to Retiro Park and are now part of the Artistic Historical Heritage of Madrid. The ruins are definitely a unique thing to see in Retiro Park, and are completely open to the public with no entry fee.
Palacio de Cristal
One of the most popular things to see in Retiro Park is Palacio de Cristal. The Glass Palace was modelled on London’s Crystal Palace, and was completed in 1887. It was originally built to house exotic plants, but today it’s home to contemporary art exhibitions. The Palacio de Cristal is free to enter, though at busier times there’s usually a small queue so it doesn’t get overcrowded. The exhibitions change regularly, so if you haven’t been to Madrid in a while there’s a good chance that there’ll be something new on display.
Museo Nacional del Prado
Just outside of Retiro Park is the famous Museo Nacional del Prado. It’s one of the most important museums in the country, and is home to the largest collection of Spanish art as well. The museum also holds some of the most impressive collections of European art in the world.
The Prado Museum is certainly worth visiting during a trip to Madrid, even if you aren’t a big fan of museums. You could easily spend a whole day exploring the museum, but if you’re on a tight schedule a minimum of 3 hours should be enough for you to see the main pieces of art.
And if you haven’t spent enough time outdoors checking out all of the things to see in Retiro Park, you can always pop into Real Jardin Botanico which sits next to the Prado Museum.
Places to eat near Retiro Park
Baldoria
A 20 minute walk from Retiro Park will bring you to the very popular Baldoria. This Italian restaurant in Madrid is famous for its pizza, but the entire menu is worth exploring. Their menu focuses on traditional artisanal dishes with unique twists. Baldoria boasts a vibrant atmosphere with Mediterranean-style ceramics and artisan tableware, with an open-air kitchen and a fun photobooth for customers to use.
As well as their classic menu, they also have an interactive menu where you can see exactly what you’re ordering. This includes their cocktail menu so it’s easy for your visualize what’ll be brought to the table.
The Viola bacia tutti is a nice violet-coloured sweet cocktail that’s easy to drink and tastes amazing. For starters I would recommend sharing the Burrata Caponata or the Croquetas alla Parmigiana, which is a unique blend of Italian and Spanish dishes.
There are a lot of amazing fresh pasta options on the menu at Baldoria. One that you absolutely need to try though is Cacio & Tartufo. It comes served in a Pecorino cheese wheel at the table, and the waiter will mix the pasta in the wheel with parmesan foam and truffle sauce. The pasta is finally topped with fresh black truffle before making its way to your table. It’s one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever tasted and it’s one not to be missed while you’re in Madrid.
What Baldoria is most well known for is its pizza. Their pizza ranks within the top 50 in Europe and it’s also been awarded the title of the best pizza in Madrid over the past few years. All of their pizzas are cooked in a traditional Acunto oven and the dough is rested for 48 hours before being used. The Burrata Fest is a must-try vegetarian pizza that’s uniquely topped with parmesan chips and lemon zest. I guarantee you won’t have tasted anything like it before.
There’s always room for dessert, right? The panna cotta is a lighter dessert option that’s topped with exotic fruits. Their classic tiramisu is another popular choice though, and it’s a good option for sharing if you’re feeling full from your meal. The next time you’re visiting Madrid and you find yourself exploring all of the things to see in Retiro Park, make sure you stop at Baldoria for the best Italian food in the city.
Cheesecake Avenue
There are many cafes in Retiro Park, but they’re very overpriced and the food isn’t the greatest either. That’s why I would recommend exploring the surrounding area, and finding some unique places to eat near Retiro Park instead.
Cheesecake Avenue is less than a 10 minute walk from Puerta de Madrid, in the northeastern corner of El Retiro. They serve up a delicious selection of New York cheesecakes in a cozy setting. You can choose to eat in or you can take your cheesecakes to go. Their cookie dough cheesecake and the pistachio cheesecake are both great options, but they do have other more traditional flavours available. Cheesecake Avenue is a great dessert spot in Madrid, so enjoy!
New York Burger
New York Burger has a few locations across the city, and luckily one isn’t too far from Retiro Park. All of the food here is cooked with smoke and wood for an authentic taste, and they mince their meat fresh every morning so you can expect only the best quality. They even make their own sauces so that’s an added bonus. New York Burger is the perfect restaurant near Retiro Park for lunch, as they have everything from burgers to sandwiches and grilled meats.
I opted for the Pulled Pork Burger for my main, which has got to be the best one I’ve tasted in a while. It was messy – but tasty! If you’re feeling really hungry, I would recommend starting off with either the Brisket Tacos or the Mozzarella Sticks. The tacos are mouthwatering so you won’t be disappointed. When you need a break from looking at all the things to see in Retiro Park, skip the tourist traps and head over to New York Burger.
Cilindro
The best restaurant near Retiro park for dinner is Cilindro. They serve an incredible fusion of Peruvian food and dishes found in the Asturias region of Spain. Most of these dishes I had never heard of before, but I was excited to try them out. The Asturian Rolls were a highlight for me, as was the Costilla Beef dish. If you want to be a bit more adventurous, you can try their Red Tuna Nachos or one of their Ceviche dishes. Whatever you choose, the flavours and presentation will blow you away, and you’ll leave with Cilindro being one of your new favourite restaurants in Madrid.
Parque del Retiro is the perfect green space in Madrid to escape to if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s not too far from Madrid’s Centro, so you can easily walk to it or hop on a short metro ride. Whether you want to take advantage of the Retiro Park boats or learn more about the park’s history, there are more than enough things to do in Retiro Park to keep you busy for a few hours.
Out of all of the parks in Madrid, visiting El Retiro is one of the most unique things to do in the city. With so many attractions within its ground, you won’t be looking for things to see in Retiro Park for very long.
Have you had the chance to stroll around Retiro Park before? Let me know what your favourite things to see in Retiro Park are in the comments section below. You can also follow my adventures on Instagram to keep up with my latest trips and travel tips about Madrid and beyond.
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