Madrid with tweens and teens (11+)

A city amusement park one metro stop from the zoo, with a full zone for small children.

A full-day theme park outside the city. Great from 6 up, a long haul with toddlers.

Trophies and a view into the bowl. Lots of stairs, so leave the stroller at the hotel.

Zoo, dolphinarium and aquarium on one ticket. It is a big site, so pick a half and stick to it.

Smaller than the zoo, with indoor climate halls. The better choice on very hot or cold days.

Gilded rooms and an armoury. Skip the interior with under-5s and enjoy the square outside.

Free for under-18s. Do one hour and five paintings, not the whole building.

The city's big park: rowing boats, playgrounds and weekend puppet shows. Free to enter.

Seventeen play areas along the river and water jets in summer. Flat, free and stroller-easy.

Dinosaur skeletons and a giant squid for €3.50 a child. Small enough to finish before lunch.

Real locomotives in a nineteenth-century station hall. Train-obsessed 2 to 6 year olds will not want to leave.