To survive in Madrid in summer, find the best parks in the capital and enjoy a good shade, it is vital. As they say “Quien a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija”, so today’s post is dedicated to present the best parks in Madrid to go now, when the weather is so hot, without taking your car.
Retiro Park
It would be impossible to start this presentation of the best parks in Madrid in which you can enjoy the summer without mentionning El Buen Retiro, the Nº1. Some even compare it to Central Park in New York, for its central location and its extension compared to the center of the capital (118 hectares). It is a beautiful and very large park, with numerous buildings, monuments and fountains full of history, since its origin back to the beginning of the 17th century. If what you are looking for is a good shade, I recommand the western part of the Park : entrances located at the height of the Museo del Prado (Calle Alfonso XII, metro Atocha) lead you to the most shaded and quiet park areas,El Bosque del Recuerdo. The ideal place for a nap enjoying the coolness of the grass and the birdsong.
San Isidro Park
This park known for the festival of San Isidro (May 15) is very little busy the rest of the year. And it’s a shame: 35 hectares of pine trees and lawn, very quiet, a few meters from Marqués de Vadillo metro station (line 5), close to the entertainment area of Madrid Rio (so you get there by bike without any problem). Outside the traditional tourist routes, it is a perfect place to enjoy a picnic in the shade.
Campo del Moro
Following the Paseo del Ermita del Santo towards the center, we find the gardens of Campo del Moro. These gardens that extend to the foot of the Royal Palace are not crowded despite its location and its attraction: probably because the only public access point is a bit hidden (a small door in the middle of Paseo de la Virgen del Santo, 100 meters from Principe Pio station). The gardens of the park are very nice, influenced by formalism and Romanticism, and provide very nice and quiet areas of shade, with trees over 100 years old and populated with birds, ducks and peacocks. You have to visit it!
West Park
It is a park known for being another tourist attraction in the capital as it is the location of the famous Temple of Debod and of the only cable car capital (which will take you to the most extensive park outside the center: La Casa de Campo). Its origine dates back to the late 19th century, and so the trees are really respectable. it may be crowded, but, if you go to the north part of the park (access through Moncloa metro Station), you will find a quiet and pleasant place to rest: very few tourists come to this area, and the lawn are extensive, and pines, just majestics: it is definitely a perfect place to forget the traffic and the crowd without getting out of the center of the capital.
La Dehesa de la Villa
Following our tour of the capital to the northwest, we arrive to the Dehesa de la Villa (metro Francos Rodriguez, Line 7). This park is less known, although probably the oldest of the city (this area was already part of the capital in the twelfth century as grazing area). Now, it covers an area of 70 hectares, and its height position (formerly called Los Altos de Amaniel) offers beautiful views of the city and the mountains. This park is the one you see when you come to Madrid by the A6 motorway (from A Coruña) and that makes Madrid look like a city surrounded by forests. In fact, the locals perceive the Dehesa as a forest within the city, not to be a park with long, wide roads, but characterized by small shaded paths. 70 species of birds, impressive trees, tranquility: the ideal place to take refuge in summer in the capital.
Caprice
We keep going around the center, and got to the northeast, Parque del Capricho. Built in the late 18th century, modeled after the French “Petit Trianon” is the quintessential romantic park. Easily accessible from the Alameda de Osuna metro station (Line 5) is a very nice park, especially if you go for a walk with your boy friend or girl friend. It is a small park (14 hectares) with multiple romantic buildings, fountains, ponds and ancient trees that will allow you to escape the summer heat.
Enjoy the ride, and have a good nap!
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