Rowing Boats at Retiro Park, Madrid

Welcome to our blog post on Rowing Boats at Retiro Park, Madrid.

We have long wanted to go on this boating lake but on previous visits haven’t got around to it. So what do you need to know about hiring a rowing boat at the gorgeous Retiro Park in Madrid?

Where are the Rowing Boats?

The Rowing Boats are located in the Centre of Retiro Park (Parque de el Retiro) on the large artificial Lake which is one of the most popular places for those visiting this huge green space in central Madrid. It is one of the main attractions in Madrid and has a lovely relaxed atmosphere and gives you great views of the park. Currently, the lake offers several activities within the Estanque del Retiro Municipal Sports Centre. There are two types of boat rides of the lake. Rowing boats are the main attraction (100 boats are available, two of which are accessible to people in wheelchairs), but there is also a solar boat (which is also wheelchair accessible).

How much do they cost to Hire?

It cost us €6 to hire a boat for 45 minutes which we found to be plenty of time. This was the off peak price (Monday to Friday).

It costs €8 for 45 minutes on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

Solar Boat: €2 per person. Children under 4: free

Opening Times

Mon – Sun: 10am – 6:30pm – 8pm (depending on the time of year)

Closed: 24th, 25th and 31st December, 1st January

What’s it like to Row a Boat in Retiro Park?

We really enjoy rowing on this lake! Especially as its such a popular thing to do in Madrid. The boats were the perfect size for the 4 of us (2 adults and 2 children), and were easy to row (even the kids had a go). We went on a weekday morning and didn’t have to queue and it was also fairly quiet on the lake. On the weekend we’d noticed the lake was extremely busy and the queue was very long. So if you can, I highly recommend going at a quieter time.

We didn’t have a pre-booked boat but this was ok as it was quiet when we went. You can book a boat online using the Madrid Movil App but this is only in Spanish. It seemed that most people were queuing in the unreserved lane so it seems most people just turn up. If you are passing and don’t want to queue you could ask at the ticket office if you can reserve a time in advance from there.

What else can you do at Retiro Park?

Covering over 125 hectares and comprising more than 15,000 trees, El Retiro Park is a green oasis in the heart of the city.

In it you’ll find all kinds of interesting monuments and gardens, including the Jardín de Vivaces, the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez (Andalusian-inspired gardens), the Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios, the Rosaleda rose garden and the Parterre Francés, which holds a Mexican conifer that is nearly 400 years old and is believed to be Madrid’s oldest tree.

It’s a wonderful place for a stroll, a jog or to picnic. There are plenty of playgrounds dotted around so the children are always entertained too. On Sundays there is a puppet show at the Puppet Theatre. We saw lots of people enjoying go-karts that they’d hired to explore the park. There are so many trees that there is always plenty of shade (much needed in the hotter months) and there’s lots of places to stop for a bite to eat or ice cream. 

There are also the Velázquez Palace and Glass Palace (Palacio De Velázquez) which are both currently used as an exhibition hall by the Reina Sofía Museum.

Parque Del Retiro is also filled with beautiful buildings, sculptures and fountains such as the magnificent Monument to Alfonso XII, which watches over the large lake. Near the Rose Garden, you’ll find the statue of the Fallen Angel, the only sculpture in the world dedicated to the devil. Other spots worth visiting are the Galápagos Fountain, built in honour of the then princess Isabella II, the Teatro de Títeres, the only theatre in Europe that stages puppet shows every weekend, and the large area known as Reservado de Fernando VII which King Ferdinand VII decided to keep for himself and his family when the rest of the park was opened to the public. For additional information about the Park and all it has to offer click here.

Summary

This is definitely a must do when visiting the City of Madrid. Click on the Visit Madrid official website to find out more of what you can do during your visit to the City. Including the Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace.

For more recommendations for Spain, check out our blog posts on Seville, Valencia and Basque Country.