11 Things to Do with Kids in Madrid

Madrid is a city with lots to see and do, but walking around its streets and visiting its most popular tourist attractions can be tedious for children. Fortunately, the city itself offers hundreds of alternatives for children to enjoy as much as or even more than adults.

There are ways to adapt visits to museums and monuments that normally bore the little ones, as well as other activities designed exclusively for them to enjoy. Keep reading to discover the best options for visiting Madrid with children.

Giving children an unforgettable day of fun is always a good idea. And what better way to do that than by buying tickets to visit Madrid's amusement park?

It is located in Madrid's Casa de Campo and is very easy to reach by metro, bus or car. The park has all kinds of attractions that adults can also enjoy.

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

In addition to amusement parks, zoos are another favourite place for children. In the countryside, in addition to Madrid's amusement park, you will find the Zoo Aquarium, for which you can buy tickets online. Here you will find all kinds of species from all over the world, although the most famous attraction is the giant panda. The panda is accompanied by large mammals, savannah animals, marine species and many more.

Another alternative on the outskirts of the city is Faunia Park, for which you can get your tickets here. It is a little further away from the classic view of traditional zoos and the spaces are more open. In some areas, you can even interact with the animals. It is easily 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, in Arroyomolinos. This place is home to up to 10,000 marine animals of many different species, such as sharks, rays, turtles, jellyfish... and children can enjoy interactive activities, virtual reality and much more!

Madrid is a city that is well worth 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 enjoy long walks unless you offer them a few strategic stops to play and rest.

Luckily, this is easy to do in the centre of Madrid. Places like the historic Plaza Mayor are full of street performers whose skills always attract children's attention. In the same square, you'll also find merry-go-rounds and small fairs, as well as other places such as parks and squares that are perfect for stopping off on your itinerary.

Another essential activity in the centre of Madrid is stopping for lunch or breakfast. The typical churros madrileños are a delicacy that is always a hit with the little ones.

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 tiring and somewhat boring for the little ones.

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

Bringing art closer to children is possible with a guided tour in which the guides are prepared to entertain while teaching our children. In the specific case of the Prado Museum, the most important museum in Madrid, they offer interactive workshops that are very useful for entertaining children. All museums also have reduced prices for children under a certain age. You can purchase your tickets for the Prado Museum here.

And, continuing with museums, this time we suggest two more that are a little different but perfect for visiting with children. On the one hand, there is Ikonos, an immersive art museum. What does that mean? It means that your senses will be the protagonists. You'll come into contact with lights, colours, sensations, textures, images... it'll make your imagination and your kids' imaginations fly! You can buy tickets in advance here.

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

Another must-see in Madrid that may not initially excite children is a tour of the Royal Palace. The key here is the approach to the visit.

It's always a good idea to talk about great kings, princes and princesses and turn a visit to the Royal Palace into a fairy tale journey. The best way to do this is to immerse them in the atmosphere from the outset.

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

If your children are football fans, they will love Madrid, one of the world's capitals of the beautiful game.

The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid, is located on Paseo de la Castellana. As well as watching a match, you can take the Bernabéu Tour to visit the museum and the stadium. It houses all the trophies from Real Madrid's history and you can visit part of the stadium, enter the changing rooms and sit on the bench.

The other great standard-bearer for football in Madrid is Atlético de Madrid, whose stadium, the Cívitas Metropolitano, also has a museum and offers tours of the modern football ground. The stadium is further away from the city centre but can be easily reached by underground.

Few people know that Ratoncito Pérez lived, and still lives, in Madrid. In fact, his house museum
is open to visitors, which is sure to delight the little ones. It is located very close to Puerta del Sol, in the heart of the city, in the Prats confectionery shop, where, according to the story, the mouse lived in a biscuit tin.

The museum also serves as a place for adults to learn about the origins of this story. Although the figure of Pérez the mouse 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.

The Retiro Park is another must-see on your trip to Madrid and one of the best places for children to enjoy themselves. You can book a tour to visit it. This huge park has thousands of metres of green areas where children can run and play, areas with swings, sports courts, street artists... 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 and recharge your batteries with good food.

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

Gran Vía is one of the city's main thoroughfares. It is particularly well known for its shops, but above all for its numerous theatres. The Lope de Vega Theatre hosts one of Madrid's most popular shows and a favourite among children. I'm talking about the musical The Lion King, a show based on the Disney film that is ideal for the whole family.

The good thing is that if The Lion King doesn't appeal to you, there are dozens of other options on Gran Vía, such as magic shows and other plays that are also suitable for children.

In Plaza de Callao, in the middle of Gran Vía, there are also some cinemas that are a good alternative if the theatre listings don't take your fancy.

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

Near the theatre, we also have the Cripta Mágica. This is an old theatre dating back to 1900, which puts on a wide variety of magic shows, with the added bonus that you can enjoy them while having a coffee or a snack.

As you can see, there is no shortage of options for visiting Madrid with children. But choosing a good plan is not always enough, especially if you don't take a few things into account. To make sure that everything goes smoothly and that both children and adults enjoy themselves, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• In the most touristy places, such as the Prado or the Royal Palace, queues are common. In these cases, it is always best to buy tickets online to avoid long waits. We all know that queues and children don't mix well.
• It is also advisable to buy tickets in advance for theatres and shows such as The Lion King. In this case, however, it is not to avoid queues but to ensure you get a seat, as demand is quite high.
• Museums offer audio guides and options for children. Ask at the ticket office and they will inform you about the museum's resources for children.
• Although Madrid is a city that is best seen on foot, long walks can be tiring for children. The metro is the best way to get around Madrid and is also a means of transport that children enjoy.
• Make strategic stops in the middle of tourist areas so that children can rest and disconnect. Fortunately, Madrid has many squares and parks that are perfect for this.