The Parque del Retiro is near the Puerta de Alcalá and not far from the Prado Museum. It can get crowded during weekends when many Madrilenian families go for a stroll in the park and street musicians, sidewalk painters, fortune tellers, jugglers and street performers animate the crowd.

A magnificent park, filled with beautiful sculpture and monuments, galleries, a peaceful lake and host to a variety of events, it is one of Madrid's premier attractions.

The Retiro Park was created as a royal park; it belonged to the Real Sitio del Buen Retiro palace. The palace was built by King Philips IV in 1632 as a retreat for the Royal family.