Getting around Madrid with kids
Most family sights are within a few metro stops of each other, and children under 4 travel free on public transport. With a stroller, buses are often simpler than the metro, because buses load strollers by a ramp at the middle door and not every metro station has a lift.
Metro and lifts
The metro runs from 6:00 to 1:30. Many stations have lifts, mainly the busy ones, and the official metro map marks which stations are accessible. Check both ends of your trip before you set off with a stroller.
Strollers on buses
EMT city buses take strollers unfolded. You board by the ramp at the middle door, park on the central platform with the brake on, and the child rides facing backwards and strapped in. Depending on the bus there is room for one or two strollers, and a driver can refuse if the bus is full.
Child fares
Children under 4 ride free. For everyone else a single metro ticket in zone A costs €1.50 to €2 and a 10-trip ticket costs €7.30, loaded on a Multi card that costs €2.50. Tourist passes for 1 to 7 days are also sold.
Taxis and car seats
Official taxis are white with a red diagonal band on the front door. Taxis with child seats exist but you have to ask for one when you book, so use an app or phone booking for trips with small children instead of hailing in the street.
Airport to centre
A taxi between the airport and anywhere inside the M-30 ring road is a flat €33. The Airport Express bus (line 203) costs €5, runs 24 hours and takes about 40 minutes from Terminal 4 to Atocha, stopping at Cibeles. The metro (Line 8) carries a €3 airport supplement.
Walking and slopes
The stretch between Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace is short enough to walk with children. From the palace down to Madrid Río is steep, so walk down and ride back. In summer, stay off the streets in the mid-afternoon heat.
Checked against the operators' official pages: Oct 4, 2026