Madrid with kids aged 6-10

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.