Once the grounds for a royal retreat on the edge on the edge of the city, the Retiro is now effectively the back garden for the inhabitants of the Spanish capital.

It's the place for the customary Sunday pre-lunch stroll or a cycle or jog for the more energetic. Alternatively you can take a row in the hired boats on the ornamental lake, listen to groups of South American musicians playing panpipes, pop into an exhibition at one of the pavilions, sip a cool drink at one of the kiosks or simply enjoy a siesta under one of the trees.

Don't miss the splendid glass and iron Palacio de Cristal which houses occasional exhibitions and look out for the rose gardens on the eastern edge of the park.

Practical Info

Metro Retiro & Ibiza

Oct-March: 6am-10pm; April-Sept: 6am-midnight