Madrid River

Madrid Río is a vast recreational and cultural area running parallel to the Manzanares River, which, thanks to its renaturalization, has once again become home to a surprising array of wildlife. Historical monuments and leisure and cultural facilities line the banks of a river that has rapidly recovered its biodiversity.

From a recreational perspective, the new layout of the Manzanares riverbank offers an extraordinary setting for spending quality time with the family. Children have a fantastic time in the 17 playgrounds located along the Salón de Pinos (Pine Grove), all of which feature swings made from sustainable and natural materials such as wood and hemp rope, which form spider webs, hammocks, suspension bridges, and climbing vines. Each area has different characteristics depending on age; therefore, there are areas set up for young children and others for older children that focus on skill, balance, and strength. What undoubtedly pleases everyone, children and adults alike, is the Madrid Río Beach, made up of three oval-shaped aquatic enclosures with water jets, ideal for cooling off in summer, surrounded by a large relaxation area with sun loungers. But it is also a space where adults can enjoy a wide range of leisure and cultural activities, including outdoor fitness circuits, pétanque courts, game tables, the Madrid Calle 30 and Madrid Río Space (located in the former Manzanares River Interpretation Center, which educationally demonstrates the role of the M-30 as an engine for the transformation and modernization of Madrid over the last half-century), a wide variety of cultural activities (exhibitions, music festivals, plays, dance performances, etc.) at Matadero Madrid, not forgetting the Newly constructed –and beautiful– bridges, such as the monumental Arganzuela Bridge or Perrault Bridge. In Madrid Río, you'll also find the Explanada del Puente del Rey (King's Bridge Esplanade), located next to one of the entrances to the Casa de Campo park. This is where the Spanish national football teams celebrated their victories in the 2010 South Africa and 2023 Australia/New Zealand World Cups, and it now serves as a venue for shows and cultural and leisure activities. And if shopping is on your agenda, be sure to visit the impressive Plaza Río 2 Shopping Center. Following the course of the Manzanares River, Madrid Río flows into the Manzanares Linear Park between Usera and Vallecas. This promenade and leisure area, designed by architect Ricardo Bofill and built in 2003, features playgrounds, green spaces, an amphitheater, and two viewpoints (one of them crowned by a sculpture). The Lady of the Manzanares, by Manuel Valdés) and the Magic Box, the High-Performance Tennis Center, designed by Dominique Perrault.