Madrid with kids
Madrid with kids is easier than its size suggests. The centre is compact, the two big parks are close to the main sights, and the zoo and a full theme park are a metro ride away in Casa de Campo. The catch is the weather and the clock. Summer afternoons are too hot for anything outdoors, and locals eat lunch at two and dinner after nine, so plan mornings out, a long midday break, and a second outing in the evening.
The old centre has slopes, most of all between the Royal Palace and the river, and some older metro stations have no lift. The famous sights are art museums and a palace, which are hard work with under-5s. This guide says so where it applies. Every price and access detail below was checked against the venues' official pages on the date shown.
Things to do in Madrid with kids
Zoo and aquariumZoo Aquarium de Madrid
child from €16.90Zoo, dolphinarium and aquarium on one ticket. It is a big site, so pick a half and stick to it.
Theme parkParque de Atracciones de Madrid
child from €23.90A city amusement park one metro stop from the zoo, with a full zone for small children.
Theme park day tripParque Warner Madrid
child from €32.90A full-day theme park outside the city. Great from 6 up, a long haul with toddlers.
Animal parkFaunia
child from €16.90Smaller than the zoo, with indoor climate halls. The better choice on very hot or cold days.
PalaceRoyal Palace of Madrid
child from €9Gilded rooms and an armoury. Skip the interior with under-5s and enjoy the square outside.
Art museumMuseo del Prado
free under 18Free for under-18s. Do one hour and five paintings, not the whole building.
Stadium tourSantiago Bernabéu Stadium Tour
free under 5Trophies and a view into the bowl. Lots of stairs, so leave the stroller at the hotel.
ParkEl Retiro Park
No ticket neededThe city's big park: rowing boats, playgrounds and weekend puppet shows. Free to enter.
Riverside park and playgroundsMadrid Río
No ticket neededSeventeen play areas along the river and water jets in summer. Flat, free and stroller-easy.
Natural history museumMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
child from €3.50Dinosaur skeletons and a giant squid for €3.50 a child. Small enough to finish before lunch.
Railway museumMuseo del Ferrocarril
child from €4Real locomotives in a nineteenth-century station hall. Train-obsessed 2 to 6 year olds will not want to leave.
Madrid with kids: common questions
Is Madrid stroller-friendly?
Mostly. The big parks, the zoo, Faunia and the theme parks are easy with a stroller, and city buses take strollers unfolded by the middle door. The weak points are metro stations without lifts and the Bernabéu tour, which the club says includes numerous staircases.
When is the best time of year to visit Madrid with kids?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for long days outdoors. In July and August afternoons are very hot, and the theme parks and Faunia do not open every day outside the summer season, so check their calendars before fixing dates.
Zoo Aquarium or Faunia: which one should we choose?
Choose the zoo if your children want dolphins, an aquarium and a big day out. Choose Faunia with under-5s or in extreme heat or cold, because it is smaller and much of it is indoors. The official sites sell a combined pack if you want both.
Do children pay to enter the Prado and the Royal Palace?
The Prado is free for under-18s. The Royal Palace is free under 5 and costs €9 for ages 5 to 16, against €18 for adults. Carry ID that shows the child's age.