El Retiro Park
Park · Jeronimos
Retiro, 28009 Madrid, Spain
Highlights
Boating lake, rose garden, fountains, statues, and peacocks abound.
Boating lake, rose garden, fountains, statues, and peacocks abound.
"Whenever you feel like the city is swallowing you and need a fresh, green shot, ride your bike to the city's lung. It's not only a green spot, it's a living space, with its lake, theatre, exhibition spaces, terraces, and now even a restaurant. 1,28 km. surface dedicated to ride, read, chill, run, and dream which once hosted the only zoo in town." - id.real
"A large, leafy urban park ideal for relaxed walking, offering tranquil paths and open spaces that serve as a pleasant extension of nearby sightseeing routes and a restful counterpoint to bustling squares." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A verdant urban oasis that functions as the city's living room and part of the Landscape of Light UNESCO ensemble (designated 2021). Runners loop the main pond, families spread out picnic blankets, and street musicians fill the air with Spanish guitar, while quieter corners sit just beyond the busiest museum corridors—making it ideal for relaxed strolls and people-watching away from the main tourist crush." - AFAR
"A roughly 350-acre former royal retreat with manicured lawns, trimmed hedges, fountains, rose and topiary gardens, notable monuments, and a central boating lake. Highlights include the Cecilio Rodríguez Garden—where peacocks roam—and the Palacio de Cristal and Velázquez palaces, which host modern-art exhibitions tied to the national museum." - Siobhan Reid Siobhan Reid Siobhan Reid is an NYC-based writer, editor, and copywriter. She is currently the editor-in-residence at The Vintner Project and was previously an editor at Travel + Leisure, covering culture, design, style, and wellness. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"The city's verdant cultural heart—an expansive park ideal for leisurely strolls, people-watching, boating, and relaxing amid statuary and landscaped gardens at no cost." - Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman Lauren Dana Ellman is a New York-based writer and editor who specializes in travel, lifestyle, food, and shopping content. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
