i missed this last summer as it requires a bit of a walk uphill and it was too hot! Winter or shoulder is the best time to do all the walking and park activities in more comfort. Take the metro to either Retiro or even Atocha or the Arts station just before Atocha and let your map app guide you there. the park is criss crossed with tracks and it is much nicer walking under the canopy on crushed rock than on paving. This glass house is actually bigger than i was expecting. Make sure you walk entirely around it because depending on the angle of the sun it is a bit camouflaged and hauntingly beautiful from some angles. Free. Stop at a park cafe or bar after or sit and rest.

Palacio De Cristal or Glass palace is located at El Retiro Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was originally built in 1887 as a greenhouse as part of an exhibition on the Philippines. It is now used all year round as a venue for hosting temporary exhibitions. It was modelled on Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace which had been erected in Hyde Park (London) back in 1851. Whilst in this pretty park its worth visiting this unique building.

The Palacio de Cristal or Crystal Palace is a striking building from the outside. It is in Retiro Park, and unfortunately when I went the inside was closed. The Crystal Palace originally was a part of an exhibit in the Philippines before it was moved to Madrid.

A place worth a visit. As you tead through the El Retiro Park and finally reach the palacio de Cristal you really enjoy the view. The fountain lying in front of the palace filled with ducks and turtles is also a visual treat. Sadly the palacio itself was shut due to maintenance but the view from outside too was great.