December has been a long month, more emotionally than actual work-wise. A large part of this for me was that the beginning of the month was marked by the BF needing surgery (minor, but nonetheless what GF doesn't worry).
As he was resting we took ourselves out of the travel game for a while but decided that when he was up for it we'd like to take some day trips around Madrid that would be easy, interesting, and relaxing enough for him handle.
As he was resting we took ourselves out of the travel game for a while but decided that when he was up for it we'd like to take some day trips around Madrid that would be easy, interesting, and relaxing enough for him handle.
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| Dutch Windmills |
You're probably wondering, what's so special about this park? I mean Madrid is full of parks, isn't it? How is this park so different?
Well for those of you who aren't familiar with Parque Europa, it's special because it is home to 17 scale replicas of famous and important European monuments (plus Plaza de Europa with a giant map of Europe and flags of the countries in the European Union). And if this isn't impressive enough for you, there is an actual piece of the Berlin Wall that was donated to the park for part of its exhibits. Excuse me while the history major in me dies a little from sensory overload...
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| Swooning of a piece of the Berlin Wall |
Anyway, the point being that as you enter Parque Europa you "leave" Madrid behind. While you stroll through the park you can travel from Portugal to Germany to Greece and back again (if you wish). And like most great parks there are plenty of places to grab a snack (*cough cough* chocolate covered gofres/waffles) or sit and take a rest in between countries.
And the 17 replicas are not the only activities Parque Europa has to offer. There are also many activities spread throughout the park like: a multi-adventure zone complete with a zip line, a petting zoo, row boats, a laser maze, bicycles, trampolines, and an area with various activities like mini-golf, just to name a few. These activities do cost extra but I didn't think that the prices were that bad for a tourist attraction, and it was pretty sweet beating the BF at mini-golf...don't worry though, it was just luck.
Parque Europa itself is free to enter (winning) and with over 230,000 m² there is plenty of space for everyone: whether you're enjoying the day with your loved ones, furry friends (that's right there are two different dog parks), or eating a lovely picnic (next to a faux waterfull no less). And for those on the auxiliar budget it's the perfect place to plan, or dream of, your next European travels.
The only downside was that if you don't live right near the line toward Torrejón de Ardoz it could be a little difficult to get to the park. From Avenida de América you can take the bus interurbano L-224 to Torrejón de Ardoz. Once you get to the center of Torrejón de Ardoz at the stop Plaza de España, transfer to the bus urbano L1 (1.3€ each way, and make sure to ask which direction the bus is heading because it's circular). We took the Cercanías instead, either lines C-2 or C-7 towards Alcalá de Henares or Guadalajara, but get off at Torrejón de Ardoz (zone B2). Then take the L1 bus to the park.
The park is open year round with different hours depending on the season. For the winter months, from November to March the park is open from 10:00-8:00 pm Sundays-Thursdays and 10:00-9:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. You can visit the website for Parque Europa to get more information on the park, it's hours, and the history behind it.
Happy travels!
The only downside was that if you don't live right near the line toward Torrejón de Ardoz it could be a little difficult to get to the park. From Avenida de América you can take the bus interurbano L-224 to Torrejón de Ardoz. Once you get to the center of Torrejón de Ardoz at the stop Plaza de España, transfer to the bus urbano L1 (1.3€ each way, and make sure to ask which direction the bus is heading because it's circular). We took the Cercanías instead, either lines C-2 or C-7 towards Alcalá de Henares or Guadalajara, but get off at Torrejón de Ardoz (zone B2). Then take the L1 bus to the park.
Happy travels!
Yes, I went to Parque Europa - a nice afternoon out of the city! Lucky for me I went with a Spanish friend by car, so I didn't have to figure out how to get there via public transportation. :) I thought it was a neat concept, and really enjoyed walking around the park.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the public transportaion was a bit long, and confusing, but in the end it was really worth the great day trip! Such a great way to spend the day out of the city!
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