Madrid Río: what to see and what to do in Manzanares Park

Madrid Río is the project that buried the M-30 and returned the banks of the Manzanares to the people of Madrid. The result is a linear park of several kilometers that crosses the southwest of the city — and is a short walk from Usera.

The essentials

• Arganzuela Bridge: designed by Dominique Perrault, it is the architectural piece of the park. Cross the river with a metal double helix that lights up at night.
• Matadero Madrid: at the northern end of the park, the old municipal slaughterhouse is today one of the most active cultural centers in the city: free exhibitions, cinema (Cineteca), theater and the square with its terraces.
• Madrid Río beach: in summer, the water jets on the esplanade become the urban “beach” where children cool off.

With children

Madrid Río is probably the best park in Madrid for families: more than a dozen themed play areas spread along the route, zip lines, balance circuits and fountains. All free and outdoors.

Sports and walking

• Running and cycling: continuous lanes on both banks connect with the cycling ring and with the Casa de Campo.
• Skatepark: next to the Arganzuela Bridge there is one of the busiest skateparks in the city.
• Terraces: in the Arganzuela and Matadero sections there are terraces for having breakfast or having a drink at sunset while looking at the river.

How to get there from Usera

From our accommodations in Usera, Madrid Río is just a short walk away. No transportation is necessary: ​​go down to the river and choose the shore. Our recommendation: enter through the Matadero area and walk through the park towards the Arganzuela Bridge at sunset.

Cover photo: Marian, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.