Madrid, Spain is the third largest city in the European Union, and one of the most iconic and vibrant. It is a hub of business, culture and tourism, known for its food, history, and soccer. Madrid has lovely weather and more green spaces than any other European city. Madrid is divided into 21 districts. One link to many running spots is the Anilo Verde — a 40-mile multi-use path forming a green belt around Madrid. The entire area of the Paseo del Prado and verdant Parque del Buen Retiro, called “Landscape of Light,” is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Note: Calle is Spanish for ‘street’.
The highlights of running in Madrid are its numerous large parks. It’s especially beautiful in spring, with blossoming almond trees, bougainvillea, and cherry trees. Several of the best places to run in Madrid are near each other and can be combined in various ways: Casa de Campo (five times the size of New York City’s Central Park!), Parque del Oeste, and the along the esplanade path of the Mazanares River (Río). Just to the west is Parque de Retiro. Runners can also follow major avenues on our Mardid ‘Runseeing‘ tour ofimportant sights. For nice neighborhood running, enjoy the wide, tree-lined streets of the upscale Salamanca neighborhood, just north of Parque Retiro. In northern Madrid, we love running in the Dehesa de la Villa park near the university, or the more modern Parque Juan Carlos I with its outdoor sculptures. In southern Madrid, there are nice parks for running in the Legazpi and and Usera districts. If you’d like to have an in-person guided running experience in Madrid, we highly recommend our friends at Go! Running Tours.
There are lots of public transit options for getting around Madrid. The Metro (subway), and the four lines of the Light Metro, are the most popular. There’s also a local railway and extensive bus system.
