A Self-Guided Tour of El Retiro Park’s Rise, Ruin and Redemption
5.0
1 Rating
Madrid
Explore El Retiro Park's hidden gems and rich history on a self-guided tour with Felicity Hughes. Uncover secrets, stories, and stunning sights.
Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Monument to Goya - Begin your exploration of Madrid’s iconic El Retiro Park in front of the Monument to Goya, where you’ll learn about the renowned painter and the collection of the nearby Prado museum.
  • San Jerónimo el Real - Pass by the historic San Jerónimo el Real church, once a spiritual retreat and later transformed into an opulent pleasure palace.
  • Hall of Realms - As you wander through the Retiro neighborhood, catch a glimpse of the Hall of Realms, a splendid pleasure palace built for Philip IV as a private retreat.
  • El Cason del Buen Retiro - Pass by the El Casón del Buen Retiro, the remains of the magnificent pleasure palace where Spanish royalty once sought refuge from the public eye.
  • El Retiro Park - Meander through the lush greenery of El Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich 500-year history, as you absorb the beauty of its landscapes and architectural wonders.
  • Puerta de Felipe IV - Take in the grandeur of the Puerta de Felipe IV, an iconic landmark that once marked the entrance to the royal retreat of El Retiro.
  • Great Pond of El Retiro - Marvel at the serene beauty of the Great Pond of El Retiro, a tranquil oasis nestled within the park’s enchanting landscapes.
  • Fountain of the Fallen Angel - End your tour at the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, where you’ll gain insight into the park’s hidden history and often overlooked sights, from the decadence of its royal past to its present-day allure.
What's Included
  • Unlimited, lifetime use of the tour before and after booking date
  • Virtual playback option to listen like an audiobook from anywhere
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • Self-guided GPS tour to explore at your own pace
  • Directions to the starting point for automatic tour start
What's Not Included
  • Smartphone and headphones
Additional Information

On this self-guided walking tour led by tour guide and writer Felicity Hughes, you’ll discover another side to Madrid’s famous El Retiro Park.

The much-loved El Retiro Park is at the heart of Madrid’s picturesque Retiro neighbourhood. Long before it became a public park, it was a royal retreat. On this walking tour, you’ll explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site and hear its fascinating 500-year-long history.

On this tour, you’ll discover how the spiritual retreat of San Jerónimo el Real church was later transformed into an enormous pleasure palace, find out how Retiro’s oldest tree survived the ravages of Napoleon’s invasion and learn about the rebellious Nobel prize-winning Ramón y Cajal by a monument to the neuroscientist.

You’ll have a chance to take a peek at the peacocks strutting around a hidden walled garden at the far reaches of the park and see the lake in front of Palacio de Cristal where Pizarro the elephant used to bath

Location
Relieve "La Maja Desnuda" (Monumento a Goya)
The tour starts in front of the Museo del Prado by a statue of Goya.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(1 Rating)
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Bezbezson
May 10, 2024
A great showcase of the parks varied history over the ages. - A really nice history of the Retiro park, including some areas that now lie outside of it. The tour explores some of the buildings, monuments, and locations in the park, plus touches on events such as the Napoleonic occupation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
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June 2024
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