Why go

The Real Jardín Botánico is the quiet green corner of Madrid’s museum mile. Created in the 18th century and moved to this site beside the Prado under King Charles III, it is still a working scientific garden run by Spain’s national research council, the CSIC. Inside its railings, terraces of plants step gently up the hill, with avenues of trees, flower beds, ponds and greenhouses, all a few steps from the traffic of the Paseo del Prado.

It is the perfect pause between galleries, and in spring, when the beds and fruit trees are in bloom, one of the most beautiful places in the city.

What to see

  • The terraces. The garden is laid out on terraces, with the lower levels arranged in neat geometric beds and the upper terrace more informal.
  • The greenhouses. Tropical and desert plants under glass, worth seeing in any season.
  • The bonsai collection. A celebrated collection of miniature trees on its own terrace.
  • The Villanueva Pavilion. An 18th-century pavilion used for exhibitions.
  • Seasonal exhibitions. In late 2026 the garden is showing several temporary exhibitions, including one on Mexican flora.

Plan your visit

The garden opens every day from 10am, except on 25 December and 1 January. Closing time changes through the year: 6pm in January, February, November and December; 7pm in March and October; 8pm in April and September; and 9pm from May to August. The ticket office, greenhouses, exhibitions and bonsai terrace all close half an hour before the gates. Parts of the garden can close in strong wind or bad weather.

Adult tickets cost €4. Students aged 18 to 25, over 65s and adults in large families pay €1, and under 18s go free. Some exhibitions in the Villanueva Pavilion carry a surcharge of €2 to €5. Every Tuesday morning entry is free for everyone, subject to capacity; you still need to collect a ticket at the box office. The garden’s own pages give the end of the free period as 1pm or 1.30pm, so aim to arrive by 12.30pm.

You can buy tickets online or at the gate. Allow an hour to an hour and a half for a relaxed walk and the greenhouses.

When to go

Spring is the highlight, with blossom and bulbs from March and roses and flower beds at their best from April to June. Autumn brings warm colours to the trees, and in winter the greenhouses and the low sun on the terraces still make a visit worthwhile. On hot summer days, the long evening opening until 9pm lets you come after the heat of the day.

Getting there

The entrance is on the Plaza de Murillo, opposite the southern end of the Prado. Estación del Arte Metro station (line 1) and Atocha station are each a short walk away.

Nearby

There are benches throughout the garden. Pushchairs and wheelchairs can use the main avenues, though some paths between terraces have steps or gravel.

The Prado is next door, the Retiro is just up the hill behind the garden, and CaixaForum and the Reina Sofía are a few minutes south along the Paseo del Prado.