El Retiro in Autumn
Autumn in Madrid is one of the most beautiful times of the year to capture your mind and soul. As a photographer, I must also portray Madrid in autumn in photos. And one of my favorite places is Retiro Park.
Below I will tell you about my walk in the Retiro, visiting, photographing, and experiencing art, nature, and culture.
A stroll through the Retiro Park
I live in a beautiful city... That’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I stroll Retiro Park this afternoon, admiring the changing colors of the leaves on the trees that announce the imminent arrival of autumn.
Nature is always inspiring and invites calm and relaxation, but this park has more than just vast nature; it reflects the diverse and joyful character of the people of Madrid. Behind the Retiro gates are people taking pictures, playing sports, riding boats, strolling through its gardens, reading, and more.
Even if you go on your own, artists are always playing near the Palacio de Cristal and the Embarcadero, who will accompany you on your journey. On my rare idle afternoons, I love to sit on the monument’s steps to Alfonso XII and listen to the musicians who usually accompany the sunset with their melodies by the lake. It is Relaxing and inspiring.
As you can see, there are endless activities and possibilities in this green space that Madrid has to offer. Of course, you can do whatever you want in the Retiro, but if you need help figuring out where to start, I’ll share my must-sees with you.
What to do in the Retiro Park?
Art
There are artists for all tastes, from musicians, painters, and exhibitions to magicians, mimes, and tarot artists. You’ll find shows every day throughout the Park, but especially on Sundays, by Retiro Lake, you can see a puppet show that children love.
History
Madrid has a vast history, and Retiro Park reflects it. To immerse yourself in it, I recommend visiting the Palacio de Cristal, the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez, the Parterre, the Embarcadero, the Palacio de Velázquez and the Exhibitions of the Casa de Vacas. All while enjoying the natural surroundings of Madrid in autumn.
Boats
The Retiro Lake is vast, natural, and peaceful. You can take a stroll around it on your walk in the gardens or hire one of the famous Retiro boats to complete your Madrid experience.
Eat
Having a drink on a terrace is part of the Spanish culture, and you can’t miss it as a way to close your visit to Retiro Park. When I have finished my visit, my ritual is to go out the Puerta de Alcalá entrance, cross the street and sit down for a drink in one of my favorite cafés in Madrid, Rodilla. A simple place, a Spanish franchise that opened in 1939 and specialized in cold sandwiches of all kinds. My recommendation? Don’t miss the smoked fish sandwich, the chicken curry sandwich, and the cod brandade sandwich, which is delicious.
To find out more about the history of our Park and the numerous activities available at any time of the year, I recommend you visit the following addresses:
What day to visit Retiro Park?
As I mentioned before, Sundays are the busiest days of the year. But unfortunately, this movement is reflected in more than just a greater variety of exhibitions and events and a more significant number of people.
You’ll find lots of people strolling everywhere, as tourists are joined by locals enjoying their day off. So, if you decide to go on a Sunday, arm yourself with patience and be prepared to wait in queues to hire a boat, see an exhibition or have a drink on one of the terraces.
Regardless, Retiro Park is a worthwhile place to visit. If you are visiting Madrid for the first time, you should take advantage of a walk here; if you already know it, seeing the Retiro in autumn will dazzle you even more.
Get up early, even on holidays, to take advantage of the cooler weather and fewer people. And if you can, come here one day at sunset and enjoy the wonderful light for photography, especially in autumn. You can’t miss it.
Madrid in Autumn photos
When I was very young, we used to prepare choreographies, practice them, and dance in the car park of Retiro Park, while people threw us some coins. Of course, it wasn’t allowed, but we used to rehearse outside the Casa de Vacas Cultural Center, and the sworn guards (charming, to tell the truth) turned a blind eye to leave a group of young people full of illusions and passion alone.
Years later, as a professional photographer, I did a photo shoot for the flamenco show “Como el agua” by the Spanish dancer Helena Martínez. It was presented in Florida Park, a scenic space within the Retiro, where you can enjoy a show, dinner, or a drink. A warm atmosphere and a benchmark of the Madrid evening.
Nowadays, Retiro Park is one of my favorite places in Madrid to take portraits of my clients or even landscape photos. Here, the hustle and bustle of the big city stops for a moment, and you forget that you are surrounded by traffic and asphalt. Instead, you find yourself in a parallel reality: immersed in the city but so far away from it simultaneously. Our park is known as the lung of Madrid, and no wonder considering its extension of 125 hectares, that although it is not as big as Central Park in Manhattan, it is a place to get lost and disconnect for a few hours.
This article brought back a flood of memories. It’s like a trip back in time that makes me smile. So I hope I’ve got a smile on your face and convinced you that it’s worth visiting Retiro in autumn. And if you want someone to retrace your visit to this unique park in Madrid, contact me.
