10 Best Parks in Madrid

El Retiro Park is an iconic park with plenty of space, wide paths and the shining Crystal Palace. Visitors may even rent a rowboat and venture out onto the manmade lake located within the park.

In addition to the park's year-round offerings, you'll also find an array of special events held here that you may be interested in, such as outdoor concerts and art exhibitions. Entrance is free, so it's easy to work into your budget. Check it out for yourself just east of the city centre.

Casa de Campo Park is a massive park and one of the biggest in all of the world, being about 5 times larger than New York's Central Park. It measures about 4,200 acres of land in total, and it's packed full of activities whether you're looking to get active or simply relax.

Many visitors enjoy playing sports in the park on the open grassy fields, but you may prefer a simple leisurely stroll through the well-kept paths. Visiting during autumn is especially alluring considering the diversity in leaf colours. It's located just a short distance west of the city centre.

Western Park is a less-visited park compared to most others in town, yet this hidden gem features brilliant evergreen trees and rose gardens alongside other treasures. Typically, these kinds of trees are only found in northern Europe, but they grow tall and proud in this park.

The rose garden is one of the shining achievements of this park, displaying a colourful array of flowers every spring, so it's a must-visit if you find yourself in Madrid during the spring bloom. Plus, this park is also home to the ancient Egyptian Temple of Debod, which was transported here from Egypt. It's all located along the eastern banks of the Manzanares west of the city centre.

Real Botanical Garden Alfonso XIII (Real Jardín Botánico Alfonso XIII) is a well-kept and diverse botanical garden that cultivates a massive variety of Mediterranean vegetation. Among the many plants here, you'll find olives, Kermes oak, vine, arbutus and fig.

In addition to the plants, this garden also features an artificial geyser that contributes to a suitable ecosystem for marshland plants. It's located within the Universidad Complutense de Madrid's campus, which is a short distance north of the city centre past Vallehermoso.

Juan Carlos I Park (Parque Juan Carlos I) is among the most modern parks in the city with recreational activities and a sleek design showcasing Spain's 3 historic cultures. Hiring bikes is a popular pastime here, but you'll also find opportunities for picnics and rollerblading.

The park itself is so large that there's a small free train service to get you around. You may want to ensure you see it all, as it features a 3-pronged garden dedicated to Jewish, Christian and Arab styles, the 3 historic cultures of Spain. It's all located by Barajas a few miles northeast of the city centre.

El Capricho Park (Jardín El Capricho de la Alameda de Osuna) is a unique park that's divided into 3 sections each boasting their own design. The first section is a French-style park that's modelled after what you would find in Versailles.

The rest of the sections still differ from traditional Spanish park styling. An English garden graces the second section while the third is an Italian-style giardino. All are well-maintained and immaculate, so it's a good destination for travellers looking for something different out of a park. You'll find it in Barajas a few miles northeast of the city centre.

Quinta de Los Molinos Park (Parque de la Quinta de Los Molinos) is a bit of a hidden gem in a town known best for its almond trees. The almond trees bloom every February and March, so make sure you stop by to see them in person if you're in town at the right time.

The buds are positively picturesque, so don't hesitate to get your picture with them at the right time. With more than a thousand almond trees in the park, you'll have no shortage of opportunities. It's all located a bit further from the city centre than many other parks in El Salvador to the northeast.

Berlín Park (Parque de Berlín), as the name suggests, is a local park with German flair that features German monuments and history within. The park was created by local German residents of Madrid, and it's located near the German School.

Inside the park, you'll find plenty of German monuments and attractions including pieces of the Berlin Wall and a monument to Ludwig von Beethoven. You can explore it a few miles northeast of the city centre, right across the street from the Concha Espina underground station.

The Sabatini Garden (Jardines de Sabatini) is a park that's technically on part of the Royal Palace grounds and was once the location of the royal stables. Despite being named for the famous architect Sabatini, this park was only named in his honour and wasn't designed by him.

The park itself features geometric shapes in its design with mazes of bushes and symmetrically trimmed trees and hedges boasting a classic French style. See it all for yourself a short distance from the city centre just west of Malasana.

Dehesa de la Villa Park (Dehesa de la Villa) is a historic and densely wooded park in town that can make you forget entirely that you're in the city. The parkland dates back to the mid-12th century when it was used as hunting grounds, but today it's maintained as welcoming parkland.

The density of the woods here makes it a satisfying escape for travellers looking to get away from the city's hustle and bustle. Still, its proximity to the city centre makes it convenient enough to see urban attractions without much travel time. Specifically, it's just a couple of miles north of the city centre in Valdezarza.