Madrid and Barcelona with teens
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Anonymous
| DCUM-ers are always so helpful. Would love recommendations for 3 days in each city. Been to both cities before kids a few times but now taking our teens. Anything not obvious to recommend? Yes, we are going in summer as it is the only week of the year we can go. |
Anonymous
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The Prado, Museo Reina Sofia, and other museums are free for kids under 18 and students up to 25 years old. Many museums in Madrid (maybe BCN too?) also have a deal where if you have a long distance train ticket, you get free admission to various museums 48 hours before/after travel--just present your ticket.
Renfe, the spanish version of amtrak, is running their summer 15 euros a ticket sale for several destinations, including Barcelona, from Madrid. For an extra euro, pick Elige class which allows you to make changes to your ticket. You simply cannot beat that price, book directly on renfe.es. Sale ends July 1, travel between july 22 and sept 8. https://www.renfe.com/es/en I like checking out the cultural offerings at the Matadero de Madrid, they have a lot of avant-garde exhibits, concerts, theater performances, etc and it's a nice space (although can be verrrrrry hot outside, so better visited in the evening). Madrid puts on a lot of cultural programming in summer called Veranos en la Villa, a good opportunity to take in some great flamenco at cheap prices: https://www.veranosdelavilla.com/en In Madrid, the "empanada de hojaldre" (flakey pastry empanada) at the Antigua Pastelería del Pozo off the Puerta del Sol is the very best empanada I've ever eaten. All their pastries are very good. https://antiguapasteleriadelpozo.com |
Anonymous
| We did all the usual sights and museums. My teens loved shopping, and Madrid was so safe and they could walk alone. They loved the Rastro flea market. Ds is into rollercoasters so went to the Parque de attractiones. |
Anonymous
| I would do 3 days in Madrid and then two in Seville, and one in Barcelona though I would skip Barcelona all together. |
Anonymous
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My teenager who is in to art loved the Moco Museum in Barcelona. It’s small and easy to take in pretty quickly. Nice for a blast of air conditioning if you’re sweaty in the Gothic Quarter.
She also loved shopping in the Gracia neighborhood. It’s a little off the beaten path and has cute little stores. Not so many tourists. Sagarada Familia and Parc Guell are obvious tourist recommendations, but my kids really loved both of these despite the throngs of people. Just really unique places. |
Anonymous
| Sorry to hijack the thread…Is it easy to travel to Madrid and Barcelona if you don’t speak Spanish. Is it fairly easy to travel knowing only just English language? |
Anonymous
Yes. Most people know some English, and almost everyone at tourist-oriented places will. Most written things like signs in the airport will have English below Spanish. And of course you probably know enough basic Spanish (or the shared Latin roots that are in English also) to understand things only written in Spanish. |
Anonymous
NP- My teens loved Barcelona. I personally thought it was nowhere near as nice as Madrid which was gorgeous, so safe, so clean, so much to do and see. The pickpocket fear in Barcelona was real, the city really crowded, grittier, the beach is not good...But it was still fun for teens and it is a "younger" city in a sense, which is perhaps why I preferred Madrid! |
Anonymous
The Rastro is great but be careful with pickpockets, it is a classic spot to be pickpocketed in Madrid. |
Anonymous
It's helpful to learn hello/goodbye/thank you/excuse me in the language of any place you plan to visit though! Even if most know English, you don't want to clarify that you don't speak Spanish in the brief encounters of passing someone on the sidewalk or greeting someone at a store. |
Anonymous
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OP here, thanks all!! Esp. for the tip on the train tickets.
Has anyone been to any of the public pools in Madrid? How about side trips to Toledo or Sitges? |
Anonymous
| Just did a 2 day trip to Stiges in May!! First time there and it was fantastic. We took the train from Barcelona, easy ride. As it was a last minute side trip, we found a hotel a block off the beach. Obviously not as crowded as I imagine it will be now. Walking through town was great, with so many little shops and eateries. Highly recommend!! |
Anonymous
I lived in Madrid 25 years ago. I loved day trips to Toledo and Segovia |
Anonymous
Yes, I am the most paranoid person so I had a hidden money belt under my clothes. My kids didn't bring money or credit cards. |
Anonymous
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Avila is another solid choice for a day trip from Madrid - some tour operators combine Segovia and Avila as a one day trip from Madrid but that seems a little rushed to me.
Between Segovia and Avila I’m not sure which I’d pick. Toledo probably beats both of them unless it is very hot — I think Avila and Segovia are a little cooler but someone should correct me if I’m wrong. |