Retiro Park is like the Central Park of Madrid. This gigantic park has it all. Large grassy areas…read morefor a picnic or long pathways to run or walk. A big lake in the center to rent a row boat and ride around or a crystal palace to swoon over. Retiro is big and it can be hard to see everything on foot. There are lots of available rental bikes to make your trip throughout the park even easier.

Beautiful park ! Lots of space for kids to run and play ! Plenty of cafes to grab coffee before and…read moreevening stroll! Came in winter and still is stunning

Retiro Park is an oasis in the center of Madrid. Is a gorgeous, immaculately maintained green space…read morein the heart of the city. There are numerous entrances into the park and walking paths throughout. On a pretty day, it's hard to find a better place to spend the afternoon. The people watching is fantastic, and there are multiple things to see and do inside the park, including the crystal Palace. I love to go sit by the lake and watch the people on the boats. They are often musicians playing, kids riding their bikes, and families enjoying all that Madrid has to offer.

So if I lived in Madrid, I'd run Parque Del Retiro daily. We wandered in for a stroll but I had my…read moreheart set on a little mermaid moment, l was ready to row a boat, minus any kissing the girl. We meandered through the park a bit and eventually found ourselves to the row boats. After a little coaching from bestie, I sort of had it down. We'll just say I won't soon be rowing on any Olympic team and I managed to splash a good amount of water up on us but we were going places! This has got to be a must do if you're visiting. The weather shaped up rather nicely and we had the boat in by sunset. I loved seeing how many runners were out at different times of the day here. Beautiful park to spend some time.

Beautiful park with the view of Royal palace. Conveniently located by bus stop for multiple bus…read morelines. When I visited in May it closed at 8.

Lovely palace gardens .... if it's a nice day- it is worth it to take a walk around to the only…read moreentrance on Paseo de la virgin del puerto - closer to the Pio principal train station . It's downhill from the palace . So if you plan to see the palace then remember after the gardens - it's a walk uphill . This place is free and so beautiful and quiet . Two peacocks walking around not very afraid of people near them . I saw horse and carriage with guards constantly circling around the top and the bottom of the palace.

I stumbled across this largely by accident as I had arrived from my day trip to Toledo earlier than…read moreoriginally planned and still had the urge to explore something new. Unlike Retiro Park and other spots, this is one more partaken by the locals of Madrid rather than the tourists like me. Because of the heat, I didn't really explore the area in full. However, it's serene and blissful in the midst of a bustling metro. It's quite the way to escape from the madness. Fortunately there is easy metro access here so it isn't hard to reach.

The decision to place one of Madrid's highways underground provided an unprecedented opportunity to…read morelocate the city of Madrid within its surroundings, achieving a greater environmental biodiversity and a city that is greener, more habitable and sustainable.

Retiro gets all the hype, but Parque del Oeste is quite lovely and much quieter! The views from…read moreParque del Oeste are fantastic. You can see out for miles and there's a great view of the palace. There's lots of shady spots to cool down and beautiful pathways for walking. This is an under rated park on the west side of the city that is gorgeous!

This Western Park was once a land fill, in 1909 the mayor planted gardens, installed a fountain,…read moreput in paths & monuments. We walked through the Parque del Oeste go up & back yo Casa de Campo by the Teleférico de Madrid, a gondola lift. We passed a police presence & some walking dogs.

The park is lovely! It has a nearby Zoo (Zoo Aquarium de Madrid), Amusement park (Parques…read moreReunidos), and the Madrid Arena. There are plenty of running and biking routes, and lots of nature to explore. The best part is the Lago de la Casa de Campo, which has several restaurants nearby. The restaurants are overpriced, but still worthwhile for the relaxing outdoor terrace along the lake. There are three metro stops near by - one by the lake (Lago), Batán, and Casa de Campo, but all are on the periphery of the park, so expect a long walk. You can call a taxi, but there are none waiting in the park. While in the park, be sure to check out the Teleférico de Madrid, which is a good value at less than €5 for the 15 minute one-way trip, and just over €5 for the 30-minute round trip. The above-ground cable car runs from the middle of Casa de Campo to the Rosaleda de Madrid park near Argüelles.

Las Cruces is a green oasis in the heart of southern Madrid. Trees abound and its myriad paths lead…read moreyou to plazas with fountains, soccer fields, and quiet lawns that can help you forget you are in a large European city. It can be a little dangerous at night but during the day it is relatively safe and full of local families. It's popular amongst cyclists as it forms part of the Anillo Verde de Madrid (the "green circle" bike path that circumscribes the city.) Deep in the park is an amphitheater that looks out over an artificial lake. There is also a little chiringuito (small bar with a big patio) that makes one of the best frituras I have ever had and is a cool place to hang out on summer nights. Also, the park hosts a very healthy urban ecosystem of plants and animals. There are several exotic species of birds including beautiful green parrots that remind me of Telegraph Hill in San Francisco. Rumor has it that a pet store lost a shipment of parrots and they made the park their home; however, my guess is that they are likely an invasive species from Northern Africa. To get there take the RENFE or Metro to Aluche.

Palacio Real de Madrid is probably my favorite palaces we've seen on our travels…read more I loved that they had these massive air purifiers so it didn't smell stale or dusty (it was incredibly comfortable), but I also adored the absolutely gorgeous purple wallpaper and how much care had been taken in the decor inside the building. Absolutely do a tour if you have a chance as ours gave such a clear impression of the space and added such a nice depth to our visit. It was one of my favorite things we did while in Madrid, and I can't recommend visiting Palacio Real de Madrid enough.

It was interesting, lavish, gaudy, historic and decadent. Went in early May so it wasn't peak…read moretourist season, and still fairly busy. Official tickets for the week was sold out, however was able to book with a tour company that wasn't that much more than regular prices. That actually seemed to have worked out better than I planned as it allowed you to skip the line. Plan for a couple of hours, and don't forget the armory on your way out.