So I want to tell you about some of our favorite things to do in Madrid with Kids. If you thinking the same, I got you covered.
I have lived in Madrid for a decade and have three kids of my own. We really are not the stay indoors type, and really like exploring Madrid with the kids. There is always something new to see, a festival, a food market, artisan markets, fairs. We never wanted our kids to be hooked on technology, so we were always looking for different things to do with kids in Madrid.
Keeping a child occupied and interested for a whole day can be a challenge. If you are on holiday though, it’s a little easier if you fill the day up with fun and interesting activities. By the time you get them back to the hotel, they’ll be ready to slip into the pj’s and hit the sack. the parents to also be interested.
The activities we choose are always of interest to us as the parents and the kids. We want the kids to have a good time, but we as the parents also want to enjoy our holidays right.
We have taken the kids to all the museums in Madrid more than once. We have been to all the best parks in Madrid, taken them on hikes, restaurants with play pens, anything to keep their creativity high and not bore them. If you are coming over to Madrid for a trip with kids, I’d like to tell you about some of the things I would recommend.
Best things to do in Madrid with kids
Kid-Friendly Attractions in Madrid: There are so many attractions you can visit in Madrid with kids and make a whole day of it. If you are in Madrid in the summer, then the best and biggest attractions are going to be the Parque Warner and Aquopolis. It will take a little longer to get to these attractions though becuase they are a little further out of the city. Fear not though, becuase within the city you have the Madrid Zoo, Faunia and the Madrid Theme Park. I have had many days out with the kids in Madrid in Faunia.
Kids will love a day out in Faunia Madrid, but adults too. They have so many animals, and not in cages. The animals are in open gated of spaces, they have bird shows, dolphin shows, areas for picnics, just an overall great choice for a day out in Madrid with the kids. If you don’t have the whole day, and just want something fun to do with the kids in Madrid for a couple of hours, go check out the Museum of Illusions or some of the Museums.
Parks and Gardens in Madrid: Madrid has numerous parks and gardens where kids can play, run around, and enjoy nature. You have El Retiro Park right in the heart of the city. Me and the kids will hire a bike, or an an electric scooter usually and have a great time touring the park. You also have Casa de Campo which is huge, or Madrid Río that has many small play parks, bars and activities. I have stuck to the parks that are in the center of Madrid as most people visiting will likely be staying in those areas, but feel free to go further and explore Madrid’s green spaces.
Kid-Friendly Restaurants: Our favorite place to eat when we go out as a family is going to be VIP’s. It’s one of the biggest chains here Madrid, and they have a menu that caters for everyone. They have salads, burgers, pizzas, ribs, vegetarian, something for everyone. Other than this chain, we prefer to go to local restaurants, the old bar types. The food in these places is always great, home made and usually comes with a menu costing between 12-18 euros.
Festivals and Events: Madrid really does take families into consideration when they are organizing events, and there are a number of annual children’s events in Madrid. There are carnivals, outdoor puppet shows, Magic festivals, book fairs. Thats not enough? In Madrid, we also have a number of open air cinemas. Kids will really like this, to watch a movie in open air, with some popcorn and the perfect weather, it’s a lovely evening out with the family.
I would have to write an endless list of the festivals and events for kids in Madrid, so it’s best you check out all the events and their dates here on the main tourism website for Madrid.
Sports and Recreation: Madrid offers opportunities for sports and recreational activities for children. There a number of ice-skating rinks, our favorite being the one in Palacio del Hielo. I also used to take the kids to a lot of indoor trampoline centers, this was definitely fun for the whole family. But if you are here for a short trip, then simply going to Retiro Park will have more than enough for the kids to have fun. They have outdoor climbing walls, puppet shows, theres the giant lake, the more natural part of the park where they can go exploring.
Day Trips and Nearby Excursions: Day trips from Madrid are one of the best ways to spend the day with family. You get to visit a different town/city near Madrid, you have a guide to show you all the interesting places, and can really make a day of it. A day trip to Segovia from Madrid was one of our favorites. We do have a car, but the kids like the feel of getting on a coach and having a guide, it makes them feel like they are on holiday.
Insider Tips: For the parents our there, this is probably advice you are already aware of, but let me just tell you how I organize my supplies for the day when I’m out with the kids in Madrid.
So something that is really handy are the water fountains in Madrid, they are everywhere. Make sure the kids have their travel bottles, and you won’t have to spend a penny on water, and you need to drink a lot of them in the summer.
For getting around Madrid with kids, the public transport system is great in Madrid. Both the bus and Metro network will get you to any part of the city.
With all that water, you are going to have to visit the restroom quite frequently. I have a system for this, and it involves mostly Burger King and Mc Donald’s. Most bars won’t mind letting kids use the restroom, but you don’t want to have to buy something just to use the toilet, so look out for fast food chains that allow the public to use their services.
You are on holiday, so you will be eating out a lot, but for the daily snacks for the kids, it’s will be much easier to go to any local supermarket and stock up. They have huge sections of really healthy snacks for kids in the shops over here, so yo wont be loading them up with sugar.
FAQ’s
Where to stay in Madrid with kids?
Most of the advice you get will advise you to stay right in the center of Madrid, but living here, if you were to ask me where the best places to stay in Madrid with kids were, I don’t think I would agree. If you want to stay at hotel in the center of Madrid out of preference, it’s still a great choice. I am speaking from a point of not spending as much money, and being in an area of Madrid more suited for kids.
There are other areas you can stay with kids near the center of Madrid, with a lot of green spaces, and transport links that will get you to the city center in 10-20 mins. Areas like Chamartin, Tetuan, Arturo Soria, La Elipa are all good choices. If you are spending more than just a couple of days in Madrid, it’s nice to have a park and a bit of calm, and not have to walk out on to a busy main road all the time.
Best flamenco show for kids in Madrid?
There are a lot of Flamenco taverns in Madrid, and most of the ones I have been to are suitable for kids. What I would say though, is to go to one of the earlier showings. Most of the taverns run shows starting in the early afternoon at around 5pm, some even earlier.
Best Hotels for kids in Madrid?
I would say check out some of the Hotels around the Chamartin area. Not only is it very close to the center, just a few stops on the metro, Chamartin has a lot of open green spaces, shops, bars, restaurants. Its a great area in Madrid to stay with family
Is it safe in Madrid with Kids?
In all the years I have lived here, I have not had any issue with safety at all. I am a pretty cautious person in general, so I always keep an eye on my surroundings, but we all do. I wouldn’t worry about your safety in Madrid, but always be cautious and careful.
Conclusion
There will not be a shortage of things you can do in Madrid with kids. You might need to do a little planning if take a day trip or need to buy tickets for a particular attraction, but simply walking around the city you will always have something to do.
I would say to be close to a park at all times, as this is always a welcome distraction for kids, and give you a little time to take a load off for a while. Always have snacks and a backpack, and always have water bottle with you if you are here in the summer cause it gets really hot.
You can drop a line in the comments if you have any particular questions, and I will be happy to help you out.