Green Spaces in and around Madrid

Madrid outdoors

Madrid may boast world-class museums, historic architecture, and a lively nightlife, but with a population of 3.200.000 and thousands of visitors crowding the city’s hotspots, travellers will be happy to occasionally step out from the city’s busy centre and enter some peaceful green spaces. Fortunately, the green spaces in Madrid are more than up to the task, offering many well-tended parks and gardens to visit throughout the city. This short guide leads you through the best green spaces Madrid has to offer, so you’ll always have a quiet place to retreat to when the excitement of the city becomes a little too much.

Be inspired in Retiro Park

This park's full name says it all: Parque del Buen Retiro literally means "a nice place to retreat to". Covering approximately 60 acres and containing over 15.000 trees, Retiro Park is the biggest and most popular in Madrid. It has offered a "pleasant retreat" from the bustling city for over 500 years. For most of that time span, the park was reserved for the use of the Spanish royal family, but it was eventually opened to the public in 1868. Today, the park still offers all the perks of its luxurious past. A leisurely stroll takes one through stunning botanical gardens and alongside lakes with rowing boats for hire, water features, and historic statues. It’s popularity makes it unlikely to ever find oneself quite alone in the park. On the other hand, the sheer size of it, guarantees a quiet corner to relax in or a hidden tree to sit under.

Get lost In Casa de Campo

For another full-on experience of green spaces in Madrid, Casa de Campo is just the ticket. Over five times the size of New York’s Central Park, this former royal hunting ground is large enough to contain both an amusement park and a zoological garden, and then still leaving plenty of green space over for cycling, jogging, walking, and families looking to spread out a picnic blanket. Even without a visit to the park’s zoo, there is plenty of wildlife to be seen in the trees and bushes, including squirrels, rabbits, and many bird species. If you decide to visit the park, why not arrive in style by travelling on the Teleférico. This popular cable car connects the city centre with Casa de Campo park.

Explore historic beauty at El Escorial

Outside of Madrid lies one of Spain's grandest parks. Located 55 km to the northwest of the city, at El Escorial, this estate includes the royal palace and monastery built by King Philip II, who was renowned for his piety. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, El Escorial has great buildings of historical and cultural value to explore, set within stunning, and extensive, natural surroundings. King Philip II was a great nature lover and the instigator of the gardens design. The sovereign's good taste is still apparent today - the beautiful flowers and hedges create a peaceful atmosphere that feels a world away from city life.

Sierra de Guadarrama: wild countryside

If the other green spaces Madrid haven't seduced you, there is still the best to come: the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. Located at about an hour's drive from Madrid, this mountain range forms a large part of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. This true patch of wilderness has not suffered any human interference and features a staggeringly diverse array of flora and fauna. Among other animals, you might just spot roe deer, wild boars, foxes, and even the occasional Eurasian Wolf. Hiking aficionados will find plenty to enjoy here, with many well-maintained and clear routes available. Still, as this is a wild place, it’s best to be prepared and ensure you have maps and supplies with you. You don’t want to get lost and find yourself facing a wolf!

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