El Retiro is one of the city's principal parks, known as the "lungs of Madrid"; it offers 118 hectares of gardens, monuments, and history.

It's a meeting point for both tourists and Madrileños, a great place to spend an afternoon. Don't miss the lake, the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) and the monument to Alfonso XII.

Ayre Gran Hotel Colón is just a short stroll from this popular park.