Museum
Prado Museum
Madrid, Spain
One of the world's great art museums, with Velazquez, Goya and El Greco at the centre of its Spanish collectio...
Park · Spain · Community of Madrid
Retiro Park
Madrid's beloved green lung, with a boating lake, a glass palace and shady avenues for strolling.
UNESCO World Heritage Free to enter about 2 h
For storytellers
Why Retiro Park matters
On a sunny weekend, half of Madrid seems to be in the Retiro. Families row on the lake under a grand monument, buskers play, and fortune tellers sit by the paths. The Crystal Palace, a glass and iron pavilion, glows in the afternoon. It was once the royal retreat, now it belongs to everyone, and is an easy, free way to spend a slow afternoon.
Talking points
- The park and Paseo del Prado form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Crystal Palace, a glass pavilion, was built in the nineteenth century for an exhibition.
- Rent a rowing boat on the lake for a classic Madrid afternoon.
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Within about 40 km, closest first.