Parks and the outdoors in Madrid

23 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Madrid.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

EatSalamanca
Bar Jaén III
An excellent tapas bar and restaurant. A nice place to enjoy Spanish food and lifestyle without spending too much. Located in a business park in the far-east of the city, it's far from being a tourist trap and you can enjoy good food and true raciónes (portions). The pleasant owners are very willing to share stories about Madrid and Spain more generally. In summer time it has a superb terrace, within a stone's throw of the Olympic Stadium.
Mon-Thu 12:30-02:00, Fri Sat 11:30-03:00, Sun 11:30-02:00
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
CaixaForum Madrid
A private centre particularly well-known for the 'vertical garden' by Patrick Blanc installed on a wall in front of the museum, as well as the quite special architecture of the building itself. The vertical garden can be seen from the street outside, just a block south of the Thyssen-Bornemisza and across from the Prado. The museum only displays temporary exhibitions, usually of a very high quality, in fields ranging from archaeology to contemporary art and architecture.
Daily 10:00-18:00, open holidays€6, free (La Caixa account holders), free on 15 May, 18 May, 9 Nov
SeeMoncloa
Casa de Campo
The park at the rear of the Palacio Real which used to belong to the Royal family. Much of the park has been taken to smaller activity parks such as the Zoo but in general it's peaceful. From Moncloa you can take a teleferico (€5.90 return) across into the park.
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Círculo de Bellas Artes
A non-profit cultural center located a short walk from Sol, the CBA offers up a wide variety of events and shows including film, music, art displays, dance, theater and more. See the website (in Spanish) for a list of activities. Great panoramic views of the city can be had from the Azotea, located at the top of the building.
Exhibits: Tue-Sun 11:00-14:00 17:00-21:00; Azotea: Mon-Fri 09:00-21:00, Sat Sun and holidays 11:00-21:00€4 (exhibits), €4 (Azotea)
EatSol-Letras-Lavapiés
El Inti de Oro
For something different, try this great Peruvian restaurant a short walk from Sol. Be sure to order some of their ceviche and try the Pisco Sour cocktail.
Daily 13:30-16:00 20:30-00:00
SeeSouthern Suburbs
Faunia
Zoological park. Different sections of the park include animals from different locations (Africa, Antarctica etc..)
Hours vary by season€26.45 (adults), €19.95 (seniors/children), €18.45 (disabled), free (children under 3); ticket prices are significantly cheaper if purchase online
SeeSalamanca
Fundación Juan March
Juan March Institute
A few blocks off high-end shopping street Calle Serrano, this private foundation houses free temporary exhibitions of (mostly 20th-century) art which are often worth checking out. 10-15 min walk from either Museo Lázaro Galdiano or National Archaeology Museum.
Mon-Fri 11:00-20:00, Sat 11:00-14:00Free
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Museo del Prado
Prado Museum
One of the finest art collections in the world and the best collection of classical art in Madrid. It includes many different collections: the Spanish (El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya), the Flemish and Dutch (Rubens, van Dyck, and Brueghel), Italian (Botticelli, Tintoretto, Titian, Caravaggio, and Veronese) and German (Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, and Baldung Grien). Some highlights not to miss at the Prado include the Bosch masterpiece The Garden of Earthly Delights, Velázquez's masterpiece Las Meninas, the Black Paintings, The Third of May 1808, and a pair of paintings known as The Clothed Maja and The Naked Maja by Goya, Adoration of the Shepards by El Greco, and David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio. Be sure to walk along Paseo del Prado, a pedestrian walkway full of fountains and trees near the museum. Visitors can bypass the often extremely long queues by purchasing tickets beforehand by phone or online, for an additional €.90 fee per ticket. Tickets purchased online can be printed or downloaded onto a smart phone; all pre-purchased tickets can be picked up (with a reference number) or presented at the main (Jerónimos) entrance in the northeast corner of the building. If you are planning to spend a full day at the museum, it is possible to leave (e.g. for lunch) and reenter by getting your ticket stamped at the 'Educación' counter just inside the main entrance. An affordable café and cafeteria-style restaurant are on the ground floor, along with a gift shop. No food, drinks, backpacks or umbrellas are permitted (a bag check is just inside the main entrance). Photography not permitted.
Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 10:00-19:00; closed/shortened hrs on some holidays; extended hrs for special exhibits; last admission 30 min before closing€15 (adults), €7.50 (seniors 65+), free (children/students under 25); free admission within 2 hours of closure; additional obligatory fee for special exhibits
SeeMoncloa
Museo del Traje
The Costume Museum
Offers a wide selection of historical and more temporary costumes (from the early 1200s to now) which shows the aspects of different cultures and Spain. The museum also organizes many activities and events. The building itself won some architectural awards in the 1970s. The restaurant underneath the museum is fairly good. The museum is surrounded by sprawling gardens, replete with well maintained lawns and fountains, are a pleasant place to relax.
Tue-Sat 09:30-19:00, Sun and holidays 10:00-15:00; closed 1 and 6 Jan, 1 and 15 May, 24-25 and 31 Dec€3 (adults), €1.50 (concessions), free (students/children/seniors); free on Sa after 14:30, all day Su, and national holidays
SeeLa Latina-Austrias
Palacio Real
Royal Palace
The Palacio Real is an enormous palace, one of the biggest in Europe, with scorching plains of concrete around it. Though it is the official residence of the King of Spain, the royal family does not actually reside here and it is generally used only for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace is considered to be one of the most emblematic and beautiful buildings in Madrid, not only for its location on a bluff overlooking the river valley but also for its architecture and the artistic treasures to be found in its rooms. A simple one-way tour of the palace (both self-guided and guided are available) takes you up the grand stairway and through the lavishly decorated state rooms with their elegant tapestries, frescoes, porcelain, carvings and added decor like china, silverware, medals, etc. From the courtyard you can access the Farmacia (Pharmacy), which contains hundreds of bottles of early medicines and a reconstructed laboratory, and the Real Armorial (Royal Armory), a two-story collection of medieval weapons and armor. Explanations in the armory are in Spanish only, so do not expect to understand much unless your know the Spanish names for all that medieval weaponry. The lines to get in are very long, especially on weekday evenings when the place is free – try to go early. Photography inside the palace is not allowed, but is permitted in the foyer and courtyard. Free storage lockers are available behind the ticket office. The Palace was built on the site of an Alcazar (a Muslim fortress) which had been used as a palace but burned down. It was one of the first major buildings by the new Bourbon dynasty and shows a departure from the earlier styles and tastes of the Habsburgs in evidence in other royal buildings in the area.
Oct-Mar daily 10:00-18:00, Apr-Sep daily 10:00-20:00; last admission 1 hr before closing; closed occasionally for official ceremoniesEntry €11; guided tour additional €4; students and children €6; free (disabled/teachers/children under 5); free M-Th 16:00-18:00 (Oct-Mar) and 18:00-20:00 (Apr-Sep) for EU citizens, legal residents, and citizens of Latin American countries (valid ID/passport required)
SeeArganzuela
Parque Madrid Río
The motorway that used to carve into the city and blight the banks of Río Manzanares, was banished into a tunnel, in a superlative urban landscaping project that cost some €4 billion. Nowadays, a unique 6-km-long landscape garden accompanies the river on both banks. For this project, 33 bridges were dedicated, which allow you to cross from one side to another whenever you want, as well as 5500 benches installed and 33,000 trees planted. The park is multifaceted, including flowerbeds, Baroque-style boxwood broderies, pine, cypress or bamboo groves, playgrounds, climbing garden, skatepark etc. Asphalted paths are ideal for cyclists and roller skaters, while pedestrians enjoy priority rights. Cafés, "beach bars" and kiosks provide sustenance.
SeeSalamanca
Parque de El Capricho
One of the most beautiful parks in Madrid. Built in 1797-1839, it has a strong Romanticism influence. Declared as an Historic Garden, its lakes with swans and ducks, labyrinths, palaces, squares and fountains makes this a lovely place.
Oct-Mar: Sat Sun and holidays 09:00-18:30 (last admission at 18:00); Apr-Sep: Sat Sun and holidays 09:00-21:00 (last admission at 20:30)
SeeNorthern Suburbs
Parque de El Capricho
One of the most beautiful parks in Madrid. Built in 1797-1839, it has a strong Romanticism influence. Declared as an Historic Garden, its lakes with swans and ducks, labyrinths, palaces, squares and fountains makes this a lovely place.
Oct-Mar: Sat Sun and holidays 09:00-18:30 (last admission at 18:00); Apr-Sep: Sat Sun and holidays 09:00-21:00 (last admission at 20:30)
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Parque del Retiro
El Retiro Park
The main park of Madrid, the perfect place to take a rest during a sunny day, or take part in the drum circles around the statue of Alphonso XII on summer evenings. There is a large boating lake where one can hire a rowing boat - great fun for the children! There is a monument to the victims of the Madrid 3/11 terrorist bombings, the Forest of the Absent, and the Crystal Palace, a large structure entirely made of glass. Sunday afternoons in summer are a treat in the park, where young hippies play bongos and dance.
Free (park)
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid
Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
Established in 1755, the garden has been in its current location since 1774. Its extensive collection is dispersed over seven sections, five greenhouses, and a herbarium. A map of the garden is available here.
Nov-Feb: daily 10:00-18:00; Mar/Oct: daily 10:00-19:00; Apr/Sep: daily 10:00-20:00; May-Aug: daily 10:00-21:00€4 (adults), €1 (65+; students 18-25), free (children under 18)
EatNorthern Suburbs
Restaurante Casa Benigna
Owned by a Spanish-Norwegian family, this unassuming spot in Chamartín is known for serving traditional Spanish cuisine with a Nordic twist. Their paellas, served on custom-made copper pans, are reportedly among the best (if not the best) in Madrid, with prominent politicians, celebrities and businesspeople among their customers. Reservations recommended well in advance. Walk-ins are routinely turned away at the door and sent to Restaurante Samm on the other end of Chamartín.
Daily 13:30-17:00, Mon-Sat 20:30-00:00€20-30
EatNorthern Suburbs
Restaurante Samm
A Chamartín institution lauded as having some of the best paellas (if not the best) in Madrid, but only if you bring more than two people by order of the proprietor. Walk-ins turned away from Casa Benigna on the other end of Chamartín are usually sent here. Frequented mainly by locals, prepare to be stared at by the wait staff if you are from out of town.
Sun-Fri 11:00-19:00€15-25
SeeMoncloa
Rosaleda del Parque del Oeste
Jardín de Ramón Ortiz / Rosaleda Gardens
The rose garden of Madrid, located in the same park as the Templo de Debod. If you like roses and are in Madrid when they have flowered, definitely worth a visit. The garden holds an international competition yearly.
Daily 10:00-21:00Free
SeeMoncloa
Templo de Debod
An Egyptian temple in one of Madrid′s most beautiful parks. Near the Royal Palace and Plaza de España, it was a present given by Egypt to Spain for its role in saving the temple of Abu Simbel from the floodwaters of Lake Nasser following the construction of the Aswan Dam in southern Egypt. A great place to watch the sunset. Usually a queue. Only 30 people allowed in the area at a time
Oct-Mar: Tue-Fri 10:00-14:00 16:00-18:00, Sat Sun and holidays 09:30-20:00; Apr-Sep: Tue-Fri 10:00-14:00 18:00-20:00, Sat Sun and holidays 09:30-20:00; last admission 15 min before closingFree
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Yelmo Cineplex Ideal
Cine Ideal
Probably the best known V.O. (versión original, or original language) theatre in Madrid, it offers the largest selection of movies and is a short walk from Sol.
Do Not mapped
Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid
Performs in El Retiro Park in the summer. Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Monumental (listed above), at the tourist information centre in Plaza Mayor, and online.
€5 (adults), €3 (seniors/youth/children)
DoRetiro-Paseo del Arte Not mapped
Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid
An orchestra that performs in El Retiro Park in the summer. Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Monumental (listed above) and at the tourist information centre in Plaza Mayor, as well as online.
€5 (adults), €3 (seniors/youth/children)
SeeChamberí-Castellana Not mapped
Monumento a Rizal
José Rizal Monument
Honors Filipino national hero José Rizal (1861-1896), a revolutionary who was executed by the Spanish in Manila. This is a replica of the more famous "Motto Stella", which is located near his execution site at Rizal Park. This replica was built and inaugurated in 1996, marking the 100 year anniversary of Rizal's death. In the decades since its inauguration, it's become an important landmark for Filipinos visiting Madrid, and is a great opportunity for all to learn a bit more about this era of Spanish history.
free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Madrid (CC BY-SA 4.0).