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Madrid Río opens its urban beach and becomes one of the favourite refuges from the heat
When the thermometer rises above 35 degrees, finding a place to cool down without leaving Madrid becomes a priority. That is why the reopening of the Madrid Río urban beach marks the unofficial start of summer each year for thousands of residents. Located in Parque de Arganzuela, this free facility once again serves as one of the capital’s main refuges from the heat.
The space consists of three large water areas with more than three hundred water jets of different heights, capable of creating true refreshing curtains during the hottest hours of the day. Unlike a traditional swimming pool, there are no bathing areas here, but water games designed to cool off safely and accessibly for all ages.
Families are the main protagonists. During weekends and summer afternoons, dozens of children turn the area into one of the liveliest spots in Madrid Río. While some run between the fountains, others make use of the nearby green areas, shaded benches or rest spaces distributed around the park.
The urban beach forms part of the great transformation experienced by the banks of the Manzanares after the M-30 was put underground. What for decades was a traffic barrier has become one of the city's most used public spaces, with kilometres of promenades, cycle lanes, sports areas and children's areas that attract visitors all year round.
Its location, next to Matadero Madrid and very close to Legazpi, also makes access by public transport easy. Many residents take advantage of the visit to combine the experience with a walk along Madrid Río, a meal in the area or an afternoon of outdoor activities by the river.
The urban beach has established itself as one of the most popular alternatives during heatwaves. In a city increasingly affected by high temperatures, these spaces not only offer free leisure, but also help make summer more bearable for those who remain in Madrid during the holiday months.
Madrid Río shows every year that there is no need to leave the city to find a respite. Between water jets, shade and green areas, Arganzuela once again becomes one of the places where the arrival of summer can best be felt.