Walking Tour: Retiro, Prado, Cibeles, Thyssen, Alcala

Visiting Madrid of the Bourbon is a totally different experience than the Old town, except for the Palacio Real. If you have 2 days in Madrid, than you definitly need to do these 2 walking tours.
The Paseo del Prado is definitly an elegant and refined avenue, large and planted with trees, and with two among the three top museums in the Spanish Capital - El Prado and Thyssen.

A- You can start the tour in Plaza de la Independencia where you will find Puerta Alcala monument. From there, you can either start the visit of the Retiro Parc, or go towards Plaza de Cibeles following Calle de Alcala.

B- Plaza de Cibeles is one of the most emblematic spots of Madrid, where you will find the City Hall, the Banco de Espana Museum, as well as the Placio de Linares. Once finished from admiring these monuments, you go through the Paseo del Prado until you reach Plaza de la Lealtad.

C- When going down the Paseo, you will find on the left side the Navy Museum (Museo Naval), inside the Ministry of Defense. It holds many historic objects and small scale copies of boats. Continuing down the Paseo and once you reach Plaza de la Lealtad, you will first find to your left the Bolsa de Comercio, Madrid's stock exchange built in 1893, and which can also be visited. Than, you cross the Plaza to the opposite side of the Paseo and reach Thyssen-Bornemisza museum.

D- Besides the Thyssen Museum, you'll find around the Plaza Canovas Del Castillo and its beautiful fountain with a statue of Neptune, two of the Major historical Hotels in Madrid, the Ritz and the Hotel Palace. You can enjoy there a drink at the Hotel Palace's bar under the amazing Rotonde, or in the Ritz gardens. You continue down the Paseo until you reach the Prado.

E- The most famous museum in Madrid, the Prado holds the biggest collection of Spanish art. If you want to visit one museum in Madrid, than this should be the one. After finishing from the museum's visit, you go backwards on the Paseo del Prado to reach Calle Felippe IV, and take it to the right until you reach the Parque del Retiro gate.

F- And here starts the visit of one of the most beautiful city parks in the world. You can either continue straight until you reach the edge of the lake, or go in diagonal to reach the lake in its center, just in front of Alphonso XII monument.

G- Walk around the lake, and if you feel like it, you can rent a small boat from the embarcador (to your left when looking at the monument) and enjoy this green island in the heart of Madrid. You can also sit on the stairs below the monument and enjoy a nice view on the lake.

H- From Alphonso XII monument, and going at the opposite side of the lake, you wonder in the Park until you reach the Crystal Palace.

I- Enjoy the beautiful view on the Palace from the small lake in front of it and you can check out the Art exhibit that it holds. The Crystal Palace exhibitions often change. Go down further to the south of the Park to reach the Rosaleda.

J- Especially if in the good season, you will enjoy walking in this magnificient rosery, and if you are a plant lover, go to your left (when the rosery is on your back) and finish this walking tour in Madrid's Botanic garden.
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