Retiro, Madrid
Photo: Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Neighbourhood guide

Retiro

The park and its palaces

Retiro is the large park beside the Puerta de Alcalá and the streets around it, with two museums, an observatory and a royal tapestry workshop nearby.

The Retiro is open every day, 06:00 to 22:00 from October to March and 06:00 to midnight from April to September. Inside, the Palacio de Velázquez has free exhibitions, the Alfonso XII monument stands by the large pond and the Fallen Angel fountain is a short walk away. The Puerta de Alcalá, opened in 1778, stands outside on Plaza de la Independencia.

On the edge of the park, the National Museum of Decorative Arts costs 3 euros and is free on Thursday evenings. The National Museum of Anthropology is on Calle de Alfonso XII, open Tuesday to Saturday 09:30 to 20:00. The Royal Observatory runs guided visits on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The Royal Tapestry Factory, founded in 1721, can be visited Monday to Friday 10:00 to 14:00.

Getting there

Retiro (L2), Ibiza (L9), Atocha (L1) and Estación del Arte (L1) are the Metro stops the tourism board lists for the park.

10 places
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What to see

The Palacio de Cristal is closed for works until 2027, but the art installation on its outside can still be seen.

Also nearby

The Real Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Atocha is on Calle de Julián Gayarre and open every weekday morning from 07:45.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Paseo del Prado, Madrid Paseo del Prado The Paseo del Arte 15 places · under 1 km away Huertas and Barrio de las Letras, Madrid Huertas and Barrio de las Letras Cervantes, Lope and flamenco 19 places · 1.2 km away Lavapiés, Madrid Lavapiés Markets, cinema and cultural centres 9 places · 1.5 km away Chueca, Madrid Chueca Markets, cocktails and a quiet palace 11 places · 1.6 km away

The best of Retiro

Retiro Park
Best park Retiro Park Open every day with free entry.
Palacio de Velázquez
Best free exhibition Palacio de Velázquez Free, run by the Reina Sofía Museum.
Puerta de Alcalá
Best gate Puerta de Alcalá A granite arch opened in 1778.

Things to do in Retiro

Museum · € National Museum of Anthropology The first Spanish museum devoted to anthropology, on Calle de Alfonso XII. It presents the cultures of peoples from around the world.
The building facade with the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas sign and Spanish flag
Museum · € National Museum of Decorative Arts A museum created in 1912 on Calle de Montalbán, between the Paseo del Arte and El Retiro. It shows the decorative arts and is run by the Ministry of Culture.
Museum · € Royal Tapestry Factory A tapestry workshop founded in 1721 and housed in a neo-Mudéjar building on Calle Fuenterrabía. It still makes tapestries and carpets by hand.
The Alfonso XII Monument with its equestrian statue against blue sky in Retiro Park
Landmark · Free Alfonso XII Monument A sculptural and architectural monument to Alfonso XII beside the Retiro's large pond, opened by his son Alfonso XIII in 1922.
The Fallen Angel statue on its white column above a fountain in Retiro Park
Landmark · Free Fallen Angel Fountain A fountain in the Retiro showing the Fallen Angel at the moment of his expulsion from Paradise. It is often called Madrid's monument to the devil.
The brick and ceramic facade of the Palacio de Velázquez in Retiro Park
Landmark · Free Palacio de Velázquez An exhibition hall in the Retiro run by the Reina Sofía Museum. It was built between 1881 and 1883 for the National Mining Exhibition.
The Puerta de Alcalá gate against a blue sky
Landmark · Free Puerta de Alcalá A neoclassical granite triumphal arch on Plaza de la Independencia next to the Retiro park, opened in 1778 and designed by Francesco Sabatini. It replaced an earlier gate from the 16th century.
Landmark · € Royal Observatory of Madrid An observatory founded at the initiative of Charles III on a small hill beside the Retiro. Its main building was designed by Juan de Villanueva, with work starting in 1790.
Church · Free Royal Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha One of the six basilicas in Madrid, on Calle de Julián Gayarre near the Atocha station.
A fountain surrounded by trees in autumn colour in Retiro Park
Park · Free Retiro Park The large park next to the Puerta de Alcalá, open every day. The city runs free guided visits of it under the Pasea Madrid programme.

Live music in Retiro

What's on in Retiro this week

From the blog

The white Palacio de Cibeles on Plaza de Cibeles with its clock tower and turrets Things to Do in Madrid: Palace, Prado, Retiro and an Evening of Tapas Read

Stay in Retiro

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