Madrid Retiro Park Segway Tour

This small-group tour, lasting approximately one hour, will allow you to discover the Retiro, a large green space in the heart of Madrid. Originally, the park was reserved exclusively for the nobility until it was opened to the public in 1868.

To make getting around easier, the tour is conducted on Segways and includes a brief training session before setting off towards the lake, the Crystal Palace and the other attractions. Throughout the tour, you’ll hear explanations from an expert guide. The list below sets out the main stops:

• Felipe IV Gate – The Baroque entrance to the Retiro. It was designed by the architect Mechor de Bueras in the 17th century. It was originally situated near the Monastery of Los Jerónimos and was moved to its current location two centuries later
• Parterre Garden – This area of the Retiro is characterised by its geometrically shaped plants and shrubs. It is also home to the ahuehuete, the oldest tree in the capital
• Estanque Grande and the Monument to Alfonso XIII – This picturesque artificial lake was built in the first half of the 17th century by Cristóbal de Aguilera. In the past, it was connected by a canal to another lake within the park, which no longer exists. Behind it stands the group of columns and statues that make up the monument to Alfonso XII
• Palacio de Cristal – An elegant building made of glass and steel. It was built to house tropical plants from the Philippines
• Royal Astronomical Observatory – It is situated in the south-eastern part of the park and was built at the request of Jorge Juan, a naval officer and man of science. Inside is a reconstruction of a reflecting telescope that was destroyed during the Napoleonic occupation