Go Venture Beyond.blog

Right in the middle of Madrid, where the traffic and chatter are constant, there’s a spot where everything just… slows down. El Parque del Buen Retiro, “Retiro Park” if you want to sound local, is like the city’s giant backyard. It used to be where Spanish royalty went to relax, but now it’s where you’ll find joggers weaving past fountains, street musicians strumming guitars, and couples rowing across a sunlit lake.

The park itself is vast, over 350 acres! The best starting point is by the main enterance close to Retiro metro station, this should be your destination if you want to visit this splendid park.

When I visited, I thought I’d just pop in for a quick look around. Big mistake, this place pulls you in. One minute you’re walking by the giant pond at the main gate,, the next you’re stumbling onto a rose garden (which sadly wasn’t much in January!) or standing in front of the Palacio de Cristal, wondering how something made of glass can look so magical. There are painters, buskers, rollerbladers, and a hundred spots to just sit and watch the world go by. Retiro isn’t just a park, it’s where Madrid comes to breathe.