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

we had W little time, so decided to take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens. Plants, trees and…read moreflowers from around the world. Not too many flowers blooming mid-June, but beautiful and peaceful. A really nice walk in nature.

Who doesn't like a walk in a garden? Smartly squeezed between the Prado and Parque del Retiro,…read moreMadrid's Royal Botanical Garden is actually a large parcel of greenery, about twenty acres. Founded in 1755 and spread across seven discrete sections, the garden showcases over 5,500 living plant species, and fortunately, May was a good time to visit. Spring floral displays were just beginning, in particular, roses and irises (Photo 9), and two greenhouses contain more rarefied tropical and desert plants. For the more botanically inclined, there are organized scientific displays, aromatic medicinal herb sections, and English-style landscapes populated with towering, ancient trees. For the rest of us, there are quiet walkways and fountains that allow a more meditative pace. One particular path was set up for the specific display of bonsai trees (Photo 2). Admission is normally 4€ - though we inadvertently hit the garden during a free access period on a Tuesday. Yep, it was kinda crowded but still worthwhile. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/9IYyItExqL

Honestly, what a surprise! Did not realize that this beautiful garden existed in the middle of the…read moreAtocha Renfe station. As you walk in, it's gorgeous and right front and center in the station! Train stations can be a mega waiting game, so it's nice to have something to do there.

An amazing use of otherwise empty space, the tropical garden of the Atocha Station is a destination…read moreby itself. Beautiful landscaping regardless of weather. There are a few paths through the "jungle" and several benches where you can sit and appreciate the trees as you wait for your train to board. There were a number of people painting today. Very cool. [Review 12545 overall, 2335 of 2019.]

Another visit that was high on the list of things to do in Madrid…read more I bought passes that came with an English guide. I enjoyed having that, but you could easily come through on your own without a guide and be fine. Our guided tour was about 90 minutes, but you could also stay as long after as you desired. We ended up staying about another hour to catch some of the things the tour didn't stop at. Note that you cannot take photos inside. It also seems to get pretty busy early, so it might be a good idea to go fairly early or closer to closing. Would highly recommend the Prado.

I know the Prado is acclaimed as one of the world's best museums, and its global reputation rests…read moreon the depth of classic European paintings from the 12th to the 19th century. No argument about that, but unlike the Louvre, it doesn't offer the breadth of art one would expect from such a vaunted museum. The curators apparently have no interest in expanding their collection because it engenders unmanageable foot traffic. That also explains why photography is prohibited in the galleries. I ended up buying postcards to have a visual remembrance of my favorite masterpieces collected by centuries of Spanish royalty. Consequently, the Spanish masters are represented by familiar masterworks like Las Meninas (The Maids of Honor) by Diego Velázquez (Photo 4), as well as The Naked Maja and The Family of Carlos IV (Photo 7), both by Francisco de Goya. Other European masterworks are represented like the impressive Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch (Photo 6) and The Judgment of Paris by Peter Paul Rubens. Beyond this scope, there are intriguing artifacts to peruse like the Leoni Renaissance Sculptures (Photo 3). Truth be told, you need to add the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Museo Reina Sofía to get a more complete picture of Madrid's artful treasures. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/ElhwJIbGWS

This lovely park near the Caja Madrid Obelisk and Plaza de Castilla is a super spot for a break…read morefrom the noise and the racket of the city. I didn't spend more than a half hour walking the park and destressing from the metro but I enjoyed myself. Green spaces, lots of benches and a lovely view from here that is just far enough away that the buses and the sirens tend to dim. I particularly enjoyed the reflecting pool. [Review 12550 overall, 2340 of 2019.]