10 Things to Do with Your Family in Madrid

One of the most popular amusement parks in Madrid, Parque de Atracciones de Madrid is located only 4 km west of the city centre. The park is divided into 4 zones: Maquinismo (machines), Naturaleza (nature), Tranquilidad (relax) and Nickelodeonland (for the kids). Featuring modern attractions such as Abismo, an impressive rollercoaster, the variety of the rides at hand in each zone ensures great fun for the whole family. The park also hosts 9 restaurants and 7 booths selling ice-cream and other sweet treats.

Home to over 6,000 animals from 500 different species, the 20 hectare Zoo Aquarium de Madrid is one of the largest animal parks in Spain. Installed 6 km west of the city centre, it’s fairly easy to get there by public transport. Dolphins, monkeys, wildcats and more – you’ll find all the kids’ favourite animals here. The highlight of the zoo is the chance to see giant pandas. Clean and tidy, well laid-out and featuring 6 dining and snacking options, the Zoo Aquarium de Madrid is a very pleasant place to spend the day.

Enter the extraordinary world of American movies in this great theme park located 23 km southeast of Madrid city centre. From DC Comics heroes like Superman and Batman to cartoon characters such as Scooby-Doo and Bugs Bunny, all the park’s rides, attractions and shows follow famous Hollywood’s film personalities. Over 12 restaurants and food stalls dot the park. Do not miss the parade held daily at 7.30pm on Hollywood Boulevard.

Faunia is both a zoo and a botanical garden. Established 9 km east of the city centre, it’s acclaimed for the way it treats and keep animals. Insects, mammals, birds, reptiles and fish comfortably live in their respective reconstructed ecosystems. Faunia is famous for hosting one of the largest penguin parks in Europe. Here, you can have a really close look at the animals, some of them – for instance the prairie dogs – freely roam the entire park. There are 6 restaurants and snack stalls at hand for you to take a break during your visit.

Extremely popular in Spain, churros are oblong-shaped fried dough pastry snacks, usually sprinkled with icing sugar. The most famous places in Madrid to treat your children with these delicious nibbles are Chocolateria San Gines on Pasadizo San Gines, Chocolateria Valor on Paseo de las Acacias, and Churreria Los Artesanos 1902 on Calle de San Martin. Don’t worry if you can’t get to one of these venues as churros are so sought-after that you can find them all around the city.

Buen Retiro Park (Park of the Pleasant Retreat) is a 1.4 sq km public park located near the centre of Madrid. Besides the well-kept gardens, beautiful statues and refreshing ponds, the park hosts a good choice of attractions and activities for children of all ages. Exercise areas, children’s playgrounds, puppet shows, rowboat tours or feeding the ducks on the Estanque Grande del Retiro – there are plenty of things to do for the whole family while roaming the park.

Get ready for an exciting time at one of the best kart circuits in Europe. The complex features both indoor and outdoor circuits, each of them with a length of 450 metres. Modern and extremely professional, the indoor track features a live timing system. Each session lasts 10 minutes, and you get all your performance statistics when you finish. Carlos Sainz Go-Kart Center is located a mere 2 km west of Madrid city centre. There’s a bar and restaurant on site. It’s best to make a reservation beforehand as the centre is extremely busy.

Madrid Rio is a gigantic outdoor park that stretches for 2 km along the Manzanares River, just south of Madrid city centre. Featuring a skateboard park, a football field and many play areas, it’s a great place to spend the day when the sun shines. The exciting activities at hand include ziplines, huge slides, rope bridges, log structures and more. Most of the playgrounds’ equipment is made of sustainable materials. Many bars and restaurants can be found right next to the park.

If you want to treat your children, take them to Lobo Feliz (Happy Wolf), an original, educational toy store located just north of Madrid city centre. You’ll find wooden toys that drive creativity and imagination here. None of the toys sold here work with electricity or batteries. Sustainable and stimulating, you’ll find great toys to ensure the best development of your young children at Lobo Feliz.

The National Museum of Natural Sciences is a very interesting, educational place to visit with children. Home to over 6 million pieces, it takes you through the history of Earth and its inhabitants. Stuffed animals, coins, objects, minerals and plants – there’s a lot to see in this museum. The highlights of a visit here include the skeletons of a Megatherium and of a Diplodocus. It’s easy to get to the National Museum of Natural Sciences as it’s located just north of the city centre.