• Rowing boats on the big lake, rented at the lake's own jetty; see our Barcas del Retiro page for prices and hours
• Puppet shows every weekend at the Teatro de Títeres, an open-air puppet theater inside the park
• Gates lock at night and the park can close in strong wind or storms, so check before a windy-day visit

El Retiro spreads 125 hectares of lawns, shady paths and formal gardens around a big rowing lake, watched over by the Alfonso XII monument. Kids hunt for the Fallen Angel statue, peer into the restored Monkey Pit from the old royal menagerie, and watch puppets at the Teatro de Títeres. Playgrounds of different sizes are spread through the park, and the wide paved paths suit scooters, skates and bikes.