11 Things to Do with Kids in Madrid

Madrid is a city with a lot to see and do, but walking its streets and visiting its most touristy places can be a very tedious task for children. Fortunately, the city itself offers hundreds of alternatives so that children can enjoy themselves as much or even more than adults.

There are ways to adapt visits to museums and monuments that normally bore the little ones and other activities designed exclusively for them to enjoy the most. You can discover the best options for visiting Madrid with children by reading on.

Giving children an unforgettable day of fun is always a good idea. And for that, what better than buying tickets to visit the amusement park in the city of Madrid?

It is located in Madrid's Casa de Campo and is very easy to get to by metro, bus or car. In the park there are all kinds of attractions that adults can also enjoy.

Another alternative is the Warner Park, for which you can also get tickets in advance, although this is located in the southern part of the city, on the outskirts of Madrid. In any case, visiting an amusement park is always a good idea if you're travelling with children.

In addition to amusement parks, other favourite places for children are zoos. In addition to the amusement park in Madrid, there is also the Zoo Aquarium, for which you can buy your tickets online. Here there are species of all kinds and from all over the world, although its most famous star is its giant panda bear. The panda is accompanied by large mammals, animals of the savannah, marine species and many more.

Another alternative on the outskirts of the city is the Faunia park, for which you can get your tickets here, which is a little further away from the classic vision of traditional zoos and the spaces are more open. In some of its areas you can even interact with the animals. It is very accessible by car and public transport.

And finally, you can also visit Atlantis Aquarium and book your ticket without queuing. It is located on the outskirts of Madrid, specifically in Arroyomolinos. In this place live up to 10,000 marine animals, of many different species such as sharks, rays, turtles, jellyfish... and the kids can enjoy interactive activities, virtual reality, and much more!

Madrid is a city that is highly recommended for discovering on foot. A stroll through its historic centre is sure to please adults... but perhaps not so much for children. They don't usually like long walks unless we offer them some strategic stops for them to play and rest.

Luckily, in the centre of Madrid this is easy. Places like the historic Plaza Mayor are full of street performers whose skills always attract children's attention. Carousels and small fairs are also common in the square itself, as well as other places such as parks and squares that are perfect for a stop on your itinerary.

Another essential activity to do in the centre of Madrid is to stop for lunch or breakfast. The typical churros madrileños are a delicacy that is usually a hit with the little ones in the house.

Visiting the best museums in Madrid is a must if you are travelling to the city for the first time. It is true that if you are travelling with children, spending long days in a museum can be exhausting and somewhat boring for the little ones.

To overcome this barrier, there are some special activities for children when visiting the Prado or the Reina Sofía, as well as discounts on tickets.

Bringing art closer to the little ones is possible with a guided tour in which the guides are prepared to entertain and teach our children at the same time. In the specific case of the Prado Museum, the most important museum in Madrid, there are very useful interactive workshops to entertain children. All museums also have reduced prices for children under a certain age. Here you can buy your tickets for the Prado Museum.

And, continuing with museums, this time we suggest two other museums that are a bit different but perfect for visiting with children. On the one hand, there is Ikonos, an immersive art museum, which means that your senses will be the protagonists. You will come into contact with lights, colours, sensations, textures, images... it will make your imagination and that of the little ones fly! You can buy tickets in advance here.

And, on the other hand, how about visiting a museum dedicated to illusions? An experience that already has millions of visitors and where you can enjoy, both young and old, exhibitions that will trick your mind and stimulate your imagination and logic. 3D puzzles, the Hall of Dilemmas or the Room of Illusions... are some of the challenges you will have to overcome as a family, are you up for it? To get your tickets you can do it from here...

Another of Madrid's must-see sights, which at first glance may not excite children, is a visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid. The key here lies in the focus of the visit.

It is always a good idea to talk about great kings, princes and princesses and transform the visit to the Royal Palace into a fairytale tour. The best way to do this is to immerse them in the atmosphere right from the start.

To achieve this, you can start with the changing of the guard, where the children will be fascinated by the soldiers on horseback, and continue inside the Royal Armoury with its collection of weapons and armour. The hardest part for children can be the long queues, so it is highly recommended that you buy your tickets online before visiting the palace.

If your children have grown up football fans then they will enjoy the city of Madrid, one of the world capitals of the beautiful game.

On the Paseo de la Castellana you will find the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the home of Real Madrid, which you can visit not only to watch a match but also to take the Bernabéu tour of the museum and the stadium. It houses all the trophies from Real Madrid's history and you can tour part of the stadium, enter the changing rooms or sit on the bench.

Madrid's other great football flagship is Atlético de Madrid, whose stadium, the Cívitas Metropolitano, you can also visit its museum and tour the facilities of the modern football ground by hiring a tour. The stadium is further away from the city centre but can be easily reached by metro.

Few people know that the tooth fairy lived, and still lives in Madrid. In fact, you can visit his house-museum, which is sure to delight the little ones. It is located very close to the Puerta del Sol in the centre of the city in the Prats confectionery, where, according to the story, the mouse lived in a box of biscuits.

The museum is also useful for adults to learn about the origin of this tale. Although the figure of the tooth fairy has medieval origins, his first written appearance was in 1902 in the story that Luis Coloma Roldán wrote for Alfonso XIII when he was a child. A magical place to visit with children without a doubt.

Retiro Park is another essential place to visit on your trip to Madrid and one of the best places for children to enjoy and you can do it by hiring a tour. This vast park has thousands of metres of green areas where the little ones can run and play, areas with swings, sports courts, street performers... there are dozens of options for children to have a great time.

Adults can also enjoy themselves and in fact there are perfect activities for the whole family, such as a boat ride on the famous Retiro Lake. There are also bars and restaurants with large terraces where you can relax while you recharge your batteries with good food.

There are few better places for a family day out than the Retiro Park, located right in the centre of the capital.

Gran Vía is one of the main arteries of the city. It is especially known for its shops, but above all for the numerous theatres along it. The Lope de Vega theatre hosts one of the most popular shows in Madrid and a favourite among children. I'm talking about the Lion King musical, a show set in the Disney film, ideal for the whole family.

The good thing is that if the Lion King doesn't convince us, there are dozens of other options on Gran Vía itself, such as magic shows and other shows that are also suitable for children.

In the Plaza de Callao, in the middle of the Gran Vía, there are also cinemas that are a good alternative if you are not convinced by the theatres.

Speaking of theatre, there are two alternatives for children that are sure to be the right choice. The Teatro Circo Price, located near Atocha and Reina Sofia, usually hosts magic and circus shows that are always a safe bet to see with the family.

Near the same theatre we also have the Cripta Mágica. An old theatre dating back to 1900 in which the most varied and different magic shows are performed, with the added bonus that you can enjoy them while you have a coffee or a snack.

As you can see, there are plenty of options for visiting Madrid with children. But choosing a good plan is not always enough, especially if we don't take a few things into account. To ensure that nothing goes wrong and that both children and adults enjoy themselves, here are some tips you should bear in mind:

• In the most touristy places, such as the Prado or the Royal Palace, queues are common. In these cases, the best thing to do is always to buy your tickets online to avoid long waits. We all know that queues and children do not go well together.
• Buying tickets in advance is also advisable for theatres and shows such as the Lion King. But in this case it is not to avoid queues but to avoid being left without a seat as demand is quite high.
• In museums there are audio guides and options for children. Ask at the ticket offices and they will inform you about the museum resources adapted for children.
• Although Madrid is a city that prides itself on being seen on foot, long walks can be arduous for children. The metro is the best way to get around Madrid, and it's a mode of transport that children love.
• Make strategic stops in the middle of touristy places for children to rest and disconnect. Fortunately in Madrid there are many squares and parks that are perfect for this.