Get to Know Retiro, the District in Madrid
Retiro district has a population of approximately 125.000 residents and is made up of the following neighborhoods: Pacífico, Adelfas, Estrella, Ibiza, Jerónimos, and Niño Jesús.
Altogether, it is bordered by Paseo del Prado and the districts of Arganzuela and Salamanca.
What to see in Retiro district
This district is located in the greenest area of Madrid, near Retiro Park, from where it gets its name, but also next to the most luxurious area in the city, the Golden Mile in Serrano Street. Retiro is home to many educational centers and several museums, such as the Prado museum and the Botanical Garden.
As we mentioned above, it is important to highlight Retiro Park, which is the best-known park in Madrid and a lung of the city. The park itself has several activities to do, like enjoy rowing boats in the Big Pond, practice running, or have a picnic. Inside the park, we can find the Crystal Palace and the Velázquez Palace, where they offer activities and temporary exhibitions. In addition, this area is very well connected because of Atocha station, which has Metro and Train lines in it.
One of the main streets of this district is Paseo del Prado, where there are many shops as well as bars and restaurants. It is a very good leisure area.
Crystal Palace
Architecture of Retiro district
Throughout history, we know that the district has been the place where many kings built iconic monuments from Madrid. Among these monuments, we can mention the famous “Puerta de Alcalá” with its majestic columns and iconic style, or the “Palace of Cibeles” with its eclectic architecture.
In addition, spectacular gardens and museums were built, which is why the architecture is traditional and authentic. Besides, you can notice the architecture is also very different depending on its neighborhoods.
Puerta de Alcalá
Other things to see near Retiro district
If you are staying in the Retiro area, then it will be easy to get to the Sorolla and Lázaro Galdiano Museums. From this location, you can start the post about visiting Madrid in one day. But you might also be interested in some tips for your first visit to Madrid or your second visit to Madrid.
Our closest accommodations
In case you want to stay near Retiro district, please check out our accommodation in Chamberí or Salamanca; there you can stay for weeks or days in Edificio Escultor, where we have apartments next to Calle Serrano and Paseo de la Castellana. We have apartments for different profiles of clients, so please check out the list of apartments for companies or the list of apartments for students.