Park life in Madrid

If the frenetic pace of the Spanish capital’s nightlife gets the better of you, head to one of Madrid’s many parks the following day for some vital relaxation.

Retiro

Madrid’s best-known park, central El Retiro was once a royal estate. Nowadays it’s open to the public and features a small boating lake, exhibition spaces, landscaped gardens and plenty of grassy spaces – perfect for resting your weary legs. Retiro is particularly lively on Sunday, when madrileños head to the park for a traditional afternoon paseo.

Casa de Campo

Much wilder than Retiro, Madrid’s biggest park consists of acres of scrubland, a natural boating lake, an outdoor swimming pool, a zoo and a theme park. Skip the metro and take the scenic route there: the Teleférico (cable car) departs from Parque del Oeste.

El Capricho

If you feel the need to escape the city entirely, take the metro to El Capricho and wander over to the park of the same name. The Duchess of Osuna’s nineteenth-century pleasure garden is a formal space of manicured lawns, fountains and follies. No eating or drinking is allowed in the pretty park’s perimeters, so if you’re picnicking head over to next door Parque Juan Carlos first.

Post written by freelance writer, Kate Turner – https://www.talesofabritabroad.blogspot.com/

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