Retiro & Paseo del Prado/Atocha Attractions in Madrid

The area surrounding the Paseo del Prado, Retiro, and Atocha is one of the most beautiful, historic, and monumental parts of Madrid. There you can find a number of important cultural institutions, notable government buildings, and pleasant green spaces. To help you get the most from your visit, we've put together a list of the top 10 things to do in the Paseo del Prado, Retiro, and Atocha area. Our top pick is Retiro Park, the city's most celebrated green space. The former refuge of royalty is now a beautiful public park full of gardens, lawns, statues, and trails, as well as a boating lake, sports courts, and exhibition spaces. Visitors and Madrileños alike flock to the park and especially on the weekends. The Plaza de Cibeles, our second pick, is Madrid's busiest and most beautiful square. On the four corners are monumental buildings: the Communications Palace with its white sand castle-like towers, the imposing stone Bank of Spain, the pretty (and allegedly haunted) Linares Palace, and Buenavista Palace enclosed behind gates. In the center of the square and serving as a roundabout is Madrid's emblematic Cibeles fountain - a beloved symbol of the city. Simply put, the Prado Museum is a definite must-see. The massive museum is one of the most important and most visited museums in the world. Based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, the current Prado collections include the finest Spanish and European art anywhere.

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