Madrid Río

Overview

Madrid Río is an ambitious 10-kilometre linear park stretching along the Manzanares River, built between 2006 and 2011 by burying the M-30 motorway underground. It has fundamentally reconnected Madrid with its long-neglected river.

Highlights

• Puente de Toledo: The monumental 17th-century Baroque bridge, now surrounded by parkland rather than traffic, is the centrepiece of the riverfront.
• Arganzuela Footbridge: A striking 278-metre-long spiral pedestrian bridge designed by Dominique Perrault, enclosed in a steel mesh cone.
• Sports Facilities: Free outdoor sports areas including climbing walls, skate parks, football pitches, and 30 kilometres of cycling paths.

History

For decades, the Manzanares River was flanked by the roaring M-30 motorway. In 2003, the city began the €4.2 billion project to bury 6 kilometres of motorway in tunnels, creating 120 hectares of new parkland. The project, designed by West 8, Mrio Arquitectos, and Burgos & Garrido, won the Veronica Rudge Green Prize from Harvard in 2017.

Visitor Tips

• Bike Rental: Rent a BiciMAD electric bike to cover the full 10-kilometre stretch comfortably.
• Summer Wading: Seasonal wading pools and splash zones operate during summer along the southern sections.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.