Cycling through the Casa de Campo

On the west bank of the Manzanares River and a few meters from Príncipe Pío Station lies the Casa de Campo, a forest of more than 1,700 hectares that for four centuries was a hunting ground for the kings of Spain.

With the proclamation of the Second Republic in 1931, it became the largest park in Madrid and one of the largest in the world. Its area is twice that of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris and five times larger than that of Central Park in New York.

It can be quickly accessed by public transport (Lago and Casa de Campo Metro stations; the cable car is awaiting reopening) or on foot – it takes just 20 minutes from Plaza de España – although, given its size, the best way to explore it in its entirety is by bike. The Casa de Campo Environmental Education Center, located next to the lake's pier, has published a brochure (downloadable as a PDF) with three cycling routes that offer a panoramic view of the landscapes and monuments of this historic forest. In addition, the Green Ring Cycle Path crosses the park from north to south, from the Puente de los Franceses footbridge to the Zarzón Gate.