How to Rent a Boat in El Retiro Park (Madrid)

Renting a boat in El Retiro Park is one of the most popular activities in Madrid for locals and tourists alike, especially during the weekends.

It is the perfect outdoor activity to have fun while enjoying the sunny weather in the capital of Spain. And you will admire some of the best attractions in El Retiro such as the stunning Monument to King Alfonso XII.

Find below all the necessary information to rent a boat in El Retiro.

How to get to El Retiro Park?

Address: Plaza de la Independencia 7

Metro Madrid is probably the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to get to El Retiro.

Although there are several subway stations next to the Park, Retiro (Line 2), and Ibiza (Line 9) are the stations closest to the boat rental.

What is the price of a boat rental in El Retiro?

The price to rent a boat for 45 minutes is € 6 (€ 8 on weekends and bank holidays), with a maximum of 4 occupants.

Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

What are the opening hours?

The boats can be rented from Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 20:00 (18:30 in Winter and depending on the sunlight).

Where can I rent the boat in El Retiro Park in Madrid?

You will find the Retiro Park pier exactly on Paseo del Estanque, inside El Retiro Park.

Once you get to the Pond you will easily identify the pier right in front of the iconic Casa de Vacas.

How to purchase the El Retiro boat rental tickets?

You can buy your tickets at the pier itself.

But in order to avoid waiting times, it is advisable to book the tickets in advance through the official App “Madrid Movil”.

Once in the App, if you are a one-time user, you can skip the registration on the lower part of the screen. Afterwards, you will be probably requested for some location permits.

You will easily identify a section on the main screen called “Madrid es deporte”. Click on “Ver más” and click again on “Entradas de Uso libre”.

You are interested in “Barcas de recreo”, so click on the picture and choose “Estanque del Retiro”. Through this App, you can also rent a boat in Casa de Campo Lake if you want to.

A calendar will appear to check availability. The sooner you book the better, but you can only book 2 days in advance.

You will be requested for your name and the email where you will receive the confirmation after the payment with a credit card.

This is the easiest and fastest way to get El Retiro boat rental tickets. You will skip the lines and make the most of your day in El Retiro.

Infographic

As of today, the App is just in Spanish so you can follow my step-by-step infographic below:

How many boats are available to hire?

There are 100 boats available to rent, two of them accessible for people in wheelchairs.

Are the boats accessible?

Yes, there are two boats accessible for people in wheelchairs.

What is the “Sun Boat” in El Retiro?

Another great option is getting on the Solar Boat, which works entirely with solar panels and takes a 15-minute tour of the Pond.

The price of the tickets is € 2, it is wheelchair accessible, and it is free for children under 4 years old.

The opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 15:15 until sunset.