🌳 At The Sun Places we know that luxury is also found in the most exclusive green spaces in the city.
That is why we invite you to discover the Retiro Park, the most emblematic garden in Madrid and one of the most beautiful green lungs in the world.
With 125 hectares of surface area, more than 15,000 trees and a monumental pond where rowing is a tradition, the Retiro Park is the favourite place for Madrileños to walk, play sports, read or simply enjoy nature.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021 together with the Paseo del Prado as the "Landscape of Light", the Retiro Park is a must-visit for any traveller wanting to experience the most authentic essence of Madrid.
The Sun Places invites you to explore it, staying in our Luxury Apartments in Madrid.
With its 125 hectares, the Retiro Park is one of the largest parks in Madrid and one of the most visited in Europe.
Its gardens, monuments, art galleries and relaxed atmosphere make it an ideal destination for a day of leisure and culture. Below, we tell you everything you cannot miss in this emblematic green space.
If the Plaza de la Cibeles is the monumental heart of Madrid and the Salamanca Neighbourhood its commercial and residential epicentre, the Retiro Park is, without a doubt, the great garden that brings life to the centre of the capital, a green lung that oxygenates the city and offers a refuge of nature and culture in the heart of the historic centre.
📜 History of Retiro Park
The history of the Retiro Park dates back to 1630, when King Philip IV commissioned the Count-Duke of Olivares to build a pleasure palace on the lands that the Habsburgs used as a hunting ground.
Thus was born the Palacio del Buen Retiro, a palace complex that included gardens, a theatre, a bullring and a pond (the current Great Pond).
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the palace was the setting for lavish parties and theatrical performances. In the 19th century, after the War of Independence, the palace fell into ruins and its gardens were opened to the public.
In 1868, the Retiro Park became the property of the Madrid City Council and became a public garden. In the 20th century, new spaces were added, such as the Rose Garden (1915) and the Crystal Palace (1887), which had been built for an exhibition on the Philippines.
In 2021, the Retiro Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the Paseo del Prado, forming the "Landscape of Light". Today, it is one of the most emblematic and visited spaces in Madrid.
📍 Location of Retiro Park
The Retiro Park is located in the heart of Madrid, between the districts of Retiro, Salamanca and Centro. Its main entrances are at Plaza de la Independencia (Puerta de Alcalá), Plaza del Marqués de Salamanca, Calle de Alfonso XII and Calle de Menéndez Pelayo. It is freely accessible and can be visited every day of the year.
The opening hours of the Retiro Park vary according to the season: in autumn and winter (October to March) it opens from 06:00 to 22:00, and in spring and summer (April to September) from 06:00 to 00:00.
Entry is free. From our Luxury Apartments in Madrid in the Salamanca Neighbourhood, you can access the park in less than 10 minutes on foot via Calle Serrano or Paseo de Recoletos.
🏛️ The Great Pond: Rowing as a Madrid tradition
The Great Pond is the heart of the Retiro Park. Built in the 17th century as part of the Palacio del Buen Retiro, it covers an area of 7,400 square metres. Rowing on its waters is a Madrid tradition that dates back to the late 19th century.
Today, you can rent rowing boats at a modest price (€6 per boat for four people for 45 minutes).
From the Great Pond you get one of the best views of the park, with the monument to Alfonso XII presiding over the pier.
The monument, designed by José Grases Riera, was inaugurated in 1922 and is crowned by an equestrian statue of the king. On weekends and holidays, the pond is usually very busy, but it is always possible to find a quiet moment if you visit early in the morning or at sunset.
For The Sun Places guests, we recommend a visit at sunset, when the light bathes the Great Pond and the atmosphere is more intimate and romantic.
🏛️ The Crystal Palace: The architectural jewel of Retiro Park
The Crystal Palace is one of the most emblematic buildings in the Retiro Park. It was built in 1887 by the architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco for the Philippines Exhibition.
It is a building with an iron and glass structure, inspired by the Crystal Palace in London, which houses temporary contemporary art exhibitions (managed by the Reina Sofía Museum).
The Crystal Palace is surrounded by a moat and a small artificial lake where you can see ducks and swans. Its open and luminous interior is ideal for enjoying art installations and sculptures.
Entry is free, although opening hours depend on the exhibition. It is one of the most photographed corners of the Retiro Park, and a perfect place for a stroll and photography.
🌹 The Rose Garden and other unique gardens
The Retiro Park has several designed gardens that are worth visiting:
- The Rose Garden: Built in 1915, it is a French-style garden with more than 4,000 rose bushes of around 400 different varieties. The best time to visit is in May and June, when the roses are in full bloom.
- Jardín de los Planteles: A botanical garden with a wide variety of tree and shrub species, many of them centuries-old. It is one of the quietest and least busy corners of the park.
- Parterre Francés: A French-style garden located next to Calle de Alfonso XII, with geometrically clipped hedges and statues.
- Jardín de Vivaces: A garden of perennials and seasonal flowers, very well-kept and colourful.
- Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez: Classical gardens with Andalusian influences, recreating the atmosphere of the Generalife gardens of the Alhambra.
🎭 Monuments and sculptures in Retiro Park: An open-air museum
The Retiro Park houses more than a hundred monuments and sculptures, turning a simple walk into an artistic tour. Among the most notable are:
- Monument to Alfonso XII: Overlooking the Great Pond pier, it is the most imposing monument in the park.
- Fuente del Ángel Caído: One of the few fountains in the world dedicated to the devil, located in a roundabout in the park. It is situated at an official topographic altitude of 666 metres above sea level, a coincidence with the so-called 'number of the beast' that has always attracted the attention of esotericism enthusiasts.
- Puerta de Felipe IV: A monumental entrance to the park, built in the 18th century.
- Palacio de Velázquez: Another iron and glass building, also by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, which houses temporary exhibitions.
- Estatua del Ángel Caído: A sculpture by Ricardo Bellver located 666 metres above sea level, which has fuelled numerous legends.
🎭 Events in 2026: The Madrid Book Fair
The Retiro Park is the setting for one of the most important cultural events of the year: the Madrid Book Fair.
In 2026, the park hosts the 85th edition of the fair, which will take place from 29 May to 14 June in the Paseo de Coches.
The fair brings together 366 stalls showcasing the main publishing new releases and hosting signings by renowned writers.
The 2026 edition is dedicated to humour as its central theme and has been inaugurated by Her Majesty the Queen.
For The Sun Places guests, it is a unique opportunity to enjoy literature in an incomparable setting, combining a visit to the park with walks through the Barrio de las Letras and the Plaza Mayor.
🎭 What Retiro Park represents for Madrid and The Sun Places
The Retiro Park is the green lung of Madrid, a meeting place for Madrileños and a symbol of the capital's quality of life. It is the place where the boundaries between nature, art and culture blur, and where visitors can experience the most authentic essence of Madrid.
For the city, the Retiro Park is an invaluable heritage site, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting millions of visitors every year.
For The Sun Places, discovering the Retiro Park is a natural extension of our philosophy of offering authentic luxury experiences.
That is why our Luxury Apartments in Madrid are located in the most central areas, just a few steps from the park.
Furthermore, the Retiro Park is connected to other great attractions of the capital that we have explored in other articles: the Cibeles, the Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor, the Prado Museum, the Barrio de las Letras and Habsburg Madrid. All of this makes Madrid a unique destination in the world, and the Retiro Park is one of its most treasured jewels.
✨ The perfect plan with The Sun Places to discover Retiro Park
Friday: Arrival and first immersion
- Afternoon: walk through the Retiro Park to discover its most emblematic corners (the Great Pond, the Crystal Palace, the Rose Garden)
- Dinner at Casa Lucio, one of Madrid's most iconic restaurants, famous for its broken eggs and traditional cuisine
Saturday: Culture and nature day
- Morning: rowing on the Great Pond in the Retiro Park
- Visit the Crystal Palace to see the temporary exhibition (managed by the Reina Sofía Museum)
- Afternoon: walk along the Paseo del Prado and visit the Prado Museum
- Evening: dinner at DiverXO, the only three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Madrid
Sunday: Relax and farewell
- Last walk through the Retiro Park and Cibeles before heading back
Ready to discover Retiro Park with The Sun Places?
📞 Contact us and let us organise your perfect getaway.
But if you prefer other destinations, The Sun Places also has these ready for you: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Seville, Luxury Apartments in Cádiz, Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús, Luxury Accommodation in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Luxury Apartments in Córdoba.
CEO's words: At The Sun Places we have walked through the Retiro Park on many occasions with great friends, and every time it moves us just as much. The combination of nature, art and the unique atmosphere of its gardens makes it an unforgettable experience. Somewhere in this green corner, high-value proposals have emerged for us. I encourage you to discover it.
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