# El Retiro and a rowing boat on the Great Pond

What to do en Madrid · Madrid

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/things-to-do/retiro-park · Revisado: 2026-11-13

- Desde: 6 € per boat
- Duración: 1 h 30
- Temporada: All year; park 6:00 to 22:00 from October to March and 6:00 to 24:00 from April to September; boats 10:00 to 14:00 and 15:15 until sunset
- Para quién: All ages; under-14s in a boat with someone over 18

Stroll · 1–2 h · Park free · Boat €6 on weekdays, €8 at weekends, 45 min and up to 4 people

You enter by the Puerta de la Independencia or the Puerta de Felipe IV, go down to the Great Pond, hire a rowing boat and go round in front of the Alfonso XII monument for three quarters of an hour. Then you carry on on foot to the Palacio de Cristal. The park is free and opens at six in the morning.
The boat: 45 minutes, four seats and booking
The landing stage hires boats every day from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:15 until a closing time that ranges from 17:15 to 20:30, depending on the light and the time of year: in November, the afternoon is short. Each boat costs €6 from Monday to Friday and €8 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, for 45 minutes and up to four people. Under-14s must go with someone over 18. Over-65s pay €1.80 per boat on weekdays until 14:00, showing proof of age.
To avoid depending on the weekend queue, you can book on the Madrid Móvil app or at deportesweb.madrid.es, in the open classes section, choosing the pond facility. The landing stage closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Park hours and alert days
El Retiro is open from 6:00 to 22:00 from October to March and from 6:00 to midnight from April to September. In strong wind, snow or extreme heat, the City Council cordons off areas or closes the park: it announces this on its X account @MADRID and on screens at the gates about two hours beforehand.
By metro, Retiro (L2) comes out at Plaza de la Independencia, a few minutes from the pond. Ibiza (L9) is to the east and Atocha (L1) to the south.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 40.4183, -3.6837

## Cerca de aquí

- [Photoshoot with a photographer in El Retiro, beside the Crystal Palace and its pond](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/things-to-do/retiro-photoshoot), a 542 m
- [Prado Museum, with a ticket or in the free last two hours](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/things-to-do/prado-museum), a 870 m
- [Silver clay jewellery workshop at El Puente Gallery](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/things-to-do/silver-clay-jewellery), a 1.2 km
- [Vermouth tasting with snacks at Vinopremier Goya](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/things-to-do/vermouth-tasting-goya), a 1.3 km
- [Paella class with shopping at the Antón Martín market](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/things-to-do/paella-class-anton-martin), a 1.3 km
- [Tapas and sangria class in the Barrio de las Letras](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/things-to-do/tapas-class-las-letras), a 1.3 km
- [Gran Hotel Inglés](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/where-to-stay/gran-hotel-ingles), a 1.4 km
- [Guided visit to the workshops of the Royal Tapestry Factory](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid/things-to-do/tapestry-factory-tour), a 1.4 km

## Consejos

### In November, the boat before lunch
The landing stage closes early in the afternoon with little light: the 10:00 to 14:00 slot is the longest.

### With a dog
The dog areas open from 7:30; in the rest of the park, on a lead.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does a boat cost in El Retiro?
€6 on weekdays and €8 at weekends and public holidays, per boat.

### Can I book the boats?
Yes, on the Madrid Móvil app or at deportesweb.madrid.es.

### What time does El Retiro close?
At 22:00 from October to March and at midnight from April to September.

Destino: [Madrid](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/madrid.md)