Retiro Park Guided Walking Tour
Description
On this tour of Retiro Park, we'll uncover stories about this green lung in Madrid. You'll also get to upgrade your experience with a visit to the Royal Palace or Prado Museum.
Retiro Park Guided Walking Tour
At the scheduled time, you'll meet your guide at the Puerta de Independencia in Retiro Park, which is located opposite the famous Puerta de Alcala.
You'll stroll amongst the luscious trees and manicured lawns of the park, reaching the iconic Retiro Pond or Estanque, overlooked by the impressive monument to Alfonso XII. In this area we'll learn about, among other stories, the hobbies of King Felipe IV, who ordered the construction of the pond of the Buen Retiro at that time.
After learning other stories about the park, we'll see the exterior of the two palaces that Retiro houses: the Palacio de Velazquez and the famous Crystal Palace, originally conceived as a greenhouse.
To finish your guided walking tour of the Retiro, you'll stop at a few of the park's other gems, such as the Parterre. Here, one of the most popular places on the site, you can lose yourself in the perfect lines of its paths, admire the neatness of its trimmed hedges and see the shadows of cypress trees moulded into whimsical shapes.
After a tour of 1.5 hours, we'll end up next to the Parterre. From there, you can visit the areas of the park that you liked the most on your own.
Tour Options
- Tour of Retiro Park (1.5 hours): if you choose this option, we'll take a guided tour of the park, as described in the previous itinerary.
- Tour of Retiro and the Royal Palace (3.5 hours): if you choose this option, after visiting Retiro, we'll meet again at 3:30 pm in Plaza Isabel II to enter the Royal Palace, former residence of the Spanish monarchs of the Bourbon dynasty. We'll finish the activity at approximately 5:30 pm.
- Tour of Retiro and the Prado Museum (3.5 hours): if you choose this option, after visiting Retiro, we'll meet in front of the Prado Museum at 12:45 pm. We'll go inside this famous art gallery to learn all the history it holds inside. This visit will end at approximately 2:45 pm.
Schedule Info
- Tour of Retiro Park (1.5 hours): this option is available at 10 am and 2:30 pm.
- Tour of Retiro and the Royal Palace (3.5 hours): this option is only available at 10 am.
- Tour of Retiro and the Prado Museum (3.5 hours): this option is only available at 10 am.
HOW IT WORKS?
During this experience, you will participate in a guided walking tour of Retiro Park, exploring its historical significance and natural beauty. The standard tour lasts 1.5 hours, while the options including the Royal Palace or Prado Museum extend this to 3.5 hours.
The meeting point for the Retiro Park tour is at the Puerta de Independencia, where you'll connect with your guide. Here’s a breakdown of the tour options:
- Retiro Park Tour (1.5 hours): A guided exploration of Retiro Park, available at 10 am and 2:30 pm.
- Retiro and Royal Palace Tour (3.5 hours): Follow up your Retiro visit with a guided tour of the Royal Palace, starting at 3:30 pm in Plaza Isabel II and concluding at around 5:30 pm.
- Retiro and Prado Museum Tour (3.5 hours): After Retiro, continue to the Prado Museum, meeting in front of the museum at 12:45 pm. This part of the tour ends approximately at 2:45 pm.
INCLUDED
- Guided walking tour of Retiro Park
- Option to visit the Royal Palace or Prado Museum (depending on selected tour)
NOT INCLUDED
- Entrance fees to the Royal Palace or Prado Museum (depending on selected tour)
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
MEETING POINT
Meet at the Puerta de Independencia in Retiro Park.
What's included
- English–speaking guide
- Admission ticket to the Royal Palace (depending on selection)
- Admission ticket to the Prado Museum (depending on selection)
Cancellation policy
Cancellazione gratuita fino a 24 ore prima (local time)
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible. Provides signage for wayfinding and orientation. Information in accessible formats.
Important information
The meeting point and start time of the tour depend on the option that you have reserved:
- Retiro Guided Tour: this tour begins at 10 am just outside the Puerta de la Independencia at Retiro Park, in front of the Puerta de Alcalá in the Plaza de la Independencia (Google maps link: ). The nearest metro stop is Retiro on line 2 (red).
- Retiro Guided Tour + Royal Palace: After visiting El Retiro at 10 am, we'll meet again at 12:30 pm at Plaza Isabel II to enter the Royal Palace. The nearest metro stop is Ópera, which is on line 2 (red), 5 (green) and R (the white Ramal line that runs between Ópera and Príncipe Pio).
- Retiro Guided Tour + Prado Museum: If you choose this option, after visiting El Retiro at 10 am we'll meet again at 4:30 pm at the entrance of the Prado Museum. The nearest metro stop is Estación del Arte, which is on line 1 (light blue).
Your guide will be carrying an object with the IBE Tours logo on it.
Please be at the meeting point at least 15 minutes before the start of the tour.
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