Madrid with Kids: Royal Splendour and Chocolate-Dipped Churros
- The editorial team
- Oct 24
- 10 min read
Blending world-class museums and sprawling parks, cultural treasures, and pure, unfiltered fun. Madrid transforms young travellers into willing explorers. The secret? Embrace the Spanish rhythm—long lunches, afternoon breaks, evenings that stretch gloriously late.
Madrid’s metro system is clean, efficient, and stroller-friendly.
Better still, many treasures cluster in walkable neighbourhoods, letting you string together cultural mornings with playful afternoons. Here are what to do and see, including season tips for December.
#1. Retiro Park
Retiro Park is Madrid’s 125-hectare living room and playground. Once reserved for Spanish royalty, it now teems with families rowing on the lake, children chasing bubbles from street performers, and extended families claiming benches for epic picnics.
The Crystal Palace, a glass pavilion rising from a small lake, fascinates kids. The puppet theatre near the Retiro metro offers weekend shows, though the real entertainment is wandering tree-lined paths, discovering hidden fountains, and burning energy on scattered playgrounds.
The rowboats are essential—fifteen minutes of questionable steering and inevitable splashing that becomes the trip highlight. Visit early morning to avoid crowds, or embrace Sunday afternoon chaos when street musicians and impromptu dance circles transform the park into a carnival.
Address: Plaza de la Independencia, 7
Metro: Retiro (Line 2), Príncipe de Vergara (Lines 2, 9), Ibiza (Line 9)
#2. Museo Nacional del Prado
The Prado’s secret weapon: stories. Children respond viscerally to Hieronymus Bosch’s fantastical creatures, Goya’s haunting portraits, and Velázquez’s intricate court scenes. The museum offers family guides and children’s programs that transform viewing into investigation.
Skip the exhaustive tour. Focus on crowd-pleasers: Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights” becomes medieval Where’s Waldo, while Goya’s “The Family of Charles IV” sparks debates about which royal looks most ridiculous. The two-hour free entry period saves money for post-museum gelato.
Limit visits to 60-90 minutes. The museum cafe overlooks a sculpture garden where tired kids decompress while adults finish coffee. Interactive engagement beats comprehensive coverage every time.
Address: Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón, 23
Website: www.museodelprado.es
Metro: Banco de España (Line 2), Atocha (Line 1)
#3. Chocolatería San Ginés
The over 130-year-old San Ginés serves only two things: thick, hot chocolate and crispy churros for dipping. Available 24 hours a day, this combination represents Madrid’s contribution to human happiness.
Marble-topped tables, hurried servers, and crowds that somehow remain charming. Children love the ritual—watching churros arrive dusted with sugar, learning proper dipping technique (full submersion, slight twist), and ending up chocolate-smeared. The chocolate is genuinely exceptional—rich enough to coat the spoon, sweet without being cloying.
Address: Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5
Website: www.chocolateriasangines.com
Metro: Sol (Lines 1, 2, 3), Ópera (Lines 2, 5, R)
#4. Royal Palace of Madrid
Europe’s largest royal palace by floor area overwhelms adult sensibilities—imagine children encountering room after room of gilt, marble, and crystal excess. Though the current king lives elsewhere, selected apartments are open for public viewing.
The armoury captivates kids: armour sized for child pages, elaborately decorated weapons, and even armour for royal horses. The throne room’s ceiling fresco and ornate pharmacy offer talking points, while the 3,418-room scale provides perspective on historical wealth.
Audio guides include family-friendly options that frame history as a narrative. The surrounding Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro provide essential outdoor breaks with playgrounds for burning pent-up energy.
Address: Calle de Bailén
Website:www.patrimonionacional.es
Metro: Ópera (Lines 2, 5, R)
#5. Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
Casa de Campo’s amusement park delivers pure fun after days of cultural enrichment. Not Europe’s largest theme park, but the manageable size benefits families—experience most attractions in one day without exhaustion.
Nickelodeon Land features PAW Patrol and SpongeBob for younger children. Older kids seek the Tornado roller coaster or the Tarantula spinning ride. Shows, parades, and character meet-and-greets entertain all ages.
Weekends get crowded. The park’s Casa de Campo location means combining visits with the adjacent zoo or Teleférico cable car for full-day entertainment.
Address: Casa de Campo
Website: www.parquedeatracciones.es
Metro: Batán (Line 10), then shuttle bus
#6. Madrid Río Park
This former highway-turned-park represents a triumph of urban planning. Opened in 2011, it quickly became a family favourite with playgrounds, splash fountains, bike paths, and cultural spaces.
Over 17 themed playgrounds range from castle climbing structures to rope courses and zip lines. Playa Madrid Río provides summer water play—splash pads and water jets that thrill overheated children. Bike rentals let families cover more ground, while the Matadero Madrid cultural centre offers exhibitions.
Weekend afternoons see locals picnicking, kids skateboarding, and families strolling pedestrian bridges spanning the river. The park connects numerous neighbourhoods for customisable visits.
Address:Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto
Metro: Príncipe Pío (Lines 6, 10, R), Legazpi (Lines 3, 6)
#7. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
Spain’s premier natural history museum offers engaging exhibits without overwhelming crowds. The dinosaur gallery captivates young palaeontologists, while extensive taxidermy—including a spectacular elephant—demonstrates biodiversity with visceral impact.
Interactive exhibits explain evolution, geology, and ecosystems through hands-on displays that encourage touch and investigation. The Mediterranean biodiversity section connects museum learning to real-world environments that children might encounter.
The modest size works in families’ favour—thoroughly explore everything in two hours, leaving time for other activities. Weekend workshops provide deeper engagement for science-loving kids.
Address: Calle de José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid
Website: www.mncn.csic.es
Metro: Gregorio Marañón (Lines 7, 10), Nuevos Ministerios (Lines 6, 8, 10)
#8. Faunia
Part zoo, part theme park, Faunia recreates global ecosystems with animals in immersive environments rather than traditional cages. The polar section keeps penguins and Arctic species in climate-controlled environments, while the rainforest zone reaches steamy Amazon temperatures.
Children respond to interactive feeding sessions, animal encounters, and educational presentations throughout the day. The facility feels more intimate than Madrid Zoo, encouraging closer observation. The nocturnal ecosystem exhibit, using special moonlight simulation, fascinates kids accustomed to daylight-only viewing.
Plan half a day minimum. Picnic areas and restaurants are available, though many families bring their own food. Morning visits or cloudy days beat summer heat.
Address: Avenida de las Comunidades, 28
Website: www.faunia.es
Metro: Valdebernardo (Line 9)
#9. Teleférico de Madrid
The cable car gliding from Paseo del Pintor Rosales to Casa de Campo provides panoramic views and gentle thrills. The 11-minute journey crosses the Manzanares River, offering perspectives impossible from ground level.
Kids press faces against cabin windows, spotting landmarks and squealing at the height, though a maximum of 40 meters isn’t truly scary. Combine with Casa de Campo attractions for efficient itineraries.
Cabins accommodate six comfortably. Purchase round-trip tickets or use them as one-way transportation, returning via metro. The experience delivers memorable moments—that combination of novelty and mild adventure defines successful family travel.
Address: Paseo del Pintor Rosales, 2
Website: www.teleferico.com
Metro: Argüelles (Lines 3, 4, 6) or Príncipe Pío (Lines 6, 10, R)
#10. Mercado de San Miguel
San Miguel occupies a stunning iron-and-glass structure steps from Plaza Mayor. This upscale market offers prepared foods perfect for grazing—tapas, seafood, croquettes, and pastries.
Families secure high-top tables and sample different vendors, each family member choosing their preferences while experiencing the Spanish market atmosphere. Children find artisan chocolates and pastries, while adventurous eaters try olives, cheeses, or traditional tortillas.
The central location makes it ideal for lunch when exploring Madrid’s historic centre. Prices exceed neighbourhood markets, but experience and quality justify the premium.
Address: Plaza de San Miguel
Website: www.mercadodesanmiguel.es
Metro: Sol (Lines 1, 2, 3), Ópera (Lines 2, 5, R)
#11. Warner Bros. Park Madrid
Located in San Martín de la Vega, Warner Bros. Park requires a 30-40 minute journey but delivers Hollywood-themed entertainment. Areas inspired by DC Comics superheroes, Warner Bros. cartoons, and movie sets feature rides from gentle carousels to intense coasters.
Younger children love Cartoon Village, where they meet Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird. Older kids seek Batman: Arkham Asylum, Superman: Atracción de Acero, and Stunt Fall. Shows—stunt performances, musical productions, parades—punctuate the day.
Lines build midday but diminish early evening. Train option (Cercanías C-3 from Atocha to Pinto, then shuttle) eliminates driving stress.
Website: www.parquewarner.com
Metro/Train: Cercanías C-3 to Pinto, then shuttle bus
#12. Museo del Ferrocarril – a railway museum
Train-obsessed children find paradise in this decommissioned station filled with historic locomotives, carriages, and memorabilia spanning Spanish railway history.
Children board many trains, exploring interiors and imagining journeys across Spain. Weekend steam train rides provide the ultimate thrill—actually riding historic locomotives. Model train displays, interactive exhibits, and a cafe housed in a vintage dining car complete the experience.
An off-the-beaten-path location means fewer crowds. The specific focus appeals strongly to transportation-loving kids, though others enjoy climbing aboard massive engines as well.
Address: Paseo de las Delicias, 61
Website: www.museodelferrocarril.org
Metro: Delicias (Line 3)
#13. CosmoCaixa Madrid Planetarium
Planetarium shows introduce children to astronomy through immersive dome presentations. Exhibitions about space exploration, physics, and scientific discovery make abstract concepts tangible.
Shows run in Spanish, but visuals transcend language—stars wheeling across the dome, planetary motion animations, simulated space travel captivate regardless. Special children’s programs present the solar system at age-appropriate levels.
Check schedules—show times vary and programs target specific age groups. Located within Enrique Tierno Galván Park for outdoor pre- or post-show activity.
Address: Parque Tierno Galván, Avenida del Planetario, 16
Website: www.planetmad.es
Metro: Méndez Álvaro (Lines 6), Pacífico (Lines 1, 6)
December in Madrid: Festive Season Magic
Spanish families treat Christmas as a month-long celebration rather than a single day, creating extended windows for visitors to experience traditions without the concentrated chaos of a single day. Madrid is one of Europe’s most captivating capitals, and when wrapped in Spanish holiday tradition, it creates memories children carry into adulthood.
#14. Plaza Mayor Christmas Market
December transforms Plaza Mayor into Madrid’s Christmas heartbeat. This 17th-century square hosts one of Spain’s most atmospheric holiday markets—wooden stalls selling nativity figurines, traditional decorations, joke novelties, and Three Kings parade costumes.
Children fixate on the endless variety: whimsical caganers, elaborate belén pieces, wigs and fake beards, every imaginable ornament. The market specialises in nativity scene items—a Spanish Christmas tradition. Unlike northern European markets, Plaza Mayor emphasises gifts and decorations over food and drink.
Weekend evenings peak with families crowding the square, street musicians performing carols, and surrounding cafes overflowing with hot chocolate drinkers. Runs late November through early January.
Address: Plaza Mayor
Website: www.esmadrid.com/en/christmas-madrid
Metro: Sol (Lines 1, 2, 3)
#15. Gran Vía Christmas Lights
Madrid takes Christmas illumination seriously. Gran Vía becomes a tunnel of light—elaborate displays suspended overhead transform the boulevard into an enchanted passage. Recent themes range from cosmic designs to cascading light curtains.
December evening walks become rituals. Children gaze upward at shimmering displays stretching block after block. The experience costs nothing but delivers genuine magic. Neighbouring streets—Calle de Alcalá, Paseo de la Castellana, Calle de Serrano—mount competitive displays. The official lighting ceremony occurs in late November.
Combine with window shopping—El Corte Inglés and boutiques create elaborate holiday displays.
Metro: Gran Vía (Lines 1, 5), Callao (Lines 3, 5), Plaza de España (Lines 2, 3, 10)
#16. Ice Skating at Matadero Madrid
Matadero Madrid is a converted slaughterhouse turned cultural centre. The outdoor rink, surrounded by brick buildings and festive lights, offers ample space for beginners and veterans alike.
Matadero maintains authenticity—local families outnumber tourists, prices stay reasonable, and surrounding cafes and galleries accommodate non-skating family members. Rentals include children’s sizes. Weekend afternoons get crowded; weekdays offer elbow room.
Operates early December through early January with extended holiday hours. Combine skating with Matadero’s exhibitions, bookshop, and restaurants. Located along Madrid Río park for extended outings.
Address: Plaza de Legazpi, 8
Website: www.mataderomadrid.org
Metro: Legazpi (Lines 3, 6)
#17. Cortylandia Holiday Show at El Corte Inglés
Since 1980, El Corte Inglés has mounted Cortylandia, a festive, animated holiday display on the facade of the El Corte Inglés department store in Madrid, during the Christmas season.
Shows run continuously throughout December, each lasting about 10 minutes. Crowds gather before the store, children on shoulders or claiming curb positions. Productions embrace classic Christmas themes while incorporating contemporary characters and technology.
The communal viewing experience—hundreds of families watching together, children exclaiming at mechanical reindeer or dancing snowmen—captures pure holiday spirit.
Address: Plaza del Callao, 2
Website: www.elcorteingles.es
Metro: Callao (Lines 3, 5)
#18. Belén at Plaza de España
Madrid’s municipal nativity scene reaches monumental proportions—an elaborate installation with life-sized figures, architectural elements representing Bethlehem, and intricate landscaping. Traditional Spanish belén elements include shepherds with sheep, villagers in daily activities, and flowing fountain water features.
The recently renovated plaza provides ample running space. Surrounding cafes offer hot chocolate and churros. The belén represents Madrid’s Christmas traditions at their most accessible—no tickets, reservations, or excessive crowds. Accessible throughout December into early January, illuminated nightly, free to visit.
Address: Plaza de España
Website: www.esmadrid.com
Metro: Plaza de España (Lines 2, 3, 10)
#19. Puerta de Alcalá Christmas Projections
The iconic neoclassical Puerta de Alcalá becomes a canvas for spectacular light projections during December evenings. Multimedia shows transform the 18th-century gateway into kaleidoscopes of colour, animation, and music—Christmas narratives, abstract designs, seasonal imagery dancing across the facade.
Free shows run every 30 minutes from early evening through late night, each lasting 10-15 minutes. Families gather in the plaza around them on blankets, watching the monument come alive. Projections change annually; technology impresses screen-saturated kids.
The central location makes it easy to incorporate projections into evening plans. Catch shows en route to dinner or build entire evenings around the experience, combined with nearby Retiro Park.
Address: Plaza de la Independencia
Website: www.esmadrid.com/en/christmas-madrid
Metro: Retiro (Line 2), Príncipe de Vergara (Lines 2, 9)
#20. Christmas Concert at Auditorio Nacional
Auditorio Nacional hosts family-friendly Christmas concerts throughout December—traditional carol sing-alongs, orchestral seasonal classics, and children’s operas with holiday themes. These productions introduce young audiences to live classical music in festive, accessible formats.
Many concerts cater explicitly to children with shorter durations (60-75 minutes), interactive elements, and familiar repertoire. Nutcracker performances combine orchestral music with ballet spectacle. Other programs feature Spanish villancicos performed by professional choirs or youth orchestras.
Modern facilities include comfortable seating, excellent acoustics, and family-friendly amenities. Many concerts offer reduced children’s pricing. Live performance creates memories beyond typical tourist activities.
Address: Calle del Príncipe de Vergara, 146
Website: www.auditorionacional.mcu.es
Metro: Cruz del Rayo (Line 9), Prosperidad (Line 4)
#21. Feria de Artesanía de la Comunidad de Madrid
Madrid’s regional craft fair at Paseo de Recoletos showcases artisanal work from throughout the Comunidad de Madrid. The market emphasises handmade quality—ceramics, textiles, jewellery, woodwork, leather goods, and gourmet foods —created by local artisans who demonstrate traditional techniques.
Children find the craft fair educational and engaging. Many vendors demonstrate crafts—potters throwing clay, glassblowers shaping molten glass, leatherworkers tooling designs. Kids often try simple crafts or receive small handmade tokens. The emphasis on handcrafted goods provides a tangible counterpoint to mass production.
Operates weekends throughout December into early January, with extended hours before Three Kings Day. Food stalls offer regional specialities—Manchego cheese, Spanish honey, turrones, and traditional pastries. The tree-lined setting makes browsing pleasant with space for strollers.
Address: Paseo de Recoletos
Website: www.artesania-comunidaddemadrid.com
Metro: Colón (Line 4), Banco de España (Line 2)
#22. New Year’s Eve at Puerta del Sol
For families with older children willing to brave crowds and stay up late, experiencing Madrid’s New Year’s Eve at Puerta del Sol creates unforgettable memories. Tens of thousands gather to watch the clock tower’s illuminated ball drop and eat twelve grapes—one for each midnight chime—a ritual believed to bring good luck.
Preparation required: purchase twelve grapes (preferably seedless) in advance, arrive hours early for viewing position, and embrace chaotic energy. Children old enough to appreciate spectacle find it thrilling—countdown tension, midnight eruption, grape-eating scramble, subsequent street party extending into early morning.
Many Spanish parents bring their children to experience this quintessential Madrid tradition. Surrounding streets host celebrations beyond the square itself. Television broadcasts nationally, meaning you can watch from comfortable bars or restaurants while participating in the grape ritual.
Address: Puerta del Sol
Website: www.esmadrid.com
Metro: Sol (Lines 1, 2, 3) - Note: Extremely crowded; may close access during peak hours
