Favorite places/activities in Madrid with kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some more details about kid-friendly activities in Madrid: https://atotalguirimove.blogspot.com/2023/08/kid-friendly-activities-in-madrid.html

Some notes:

-Yes, Madrid is super stroller friendly. Wide sidewalks (in general). Some streets are quite steep. You will be happy to have a stroller.

Public transit: busses have stroller parking zones so you don't have to collapse your stroller (although they can get very crowded). The Madrid Metro has come a long way toward accessibility, many stations now have elevators, this is indicated by the handicap sign on maps/those lists of stops on the metro line. You can also take cabs but like NYC sometimes it's a lot faster to take the metro. Watch your bags/pockets on metro.

Playgrounds: the website above has several listed, plus Madrid in general has lots of playgrounds so you don't really have to look
for them, they will find you!

In response to your questions:

-El Retiro Park (it sounds like there are tons of great playgrounds, what are your favorites??? Any cafe's in there?) : There is a cafe near the Estanque. The best bathrooms to use are the ones in the cafes. Bring your own toilet paper and soap if that's important to you (in spain in general this is good advice).

-Zoo and take the cable car: the cable car may not be working right now?

-Raton Perez museum (Maybe??): definitely skip this, it's kind of a tourist trap and it's like, exhibits behind glass. Not interactive at all.

-Prado Museum (I wonder about kid-friendly tours): Depends on your kid but I'd visit during the free hours every evening, less pressure in case your kids aren't interested. Pro budget tip: go at 6:30/5:30 pm when the line has died down (Monday to Saturday between 6 PM to 8 PM and on Sundays and public holidays from 5 PM to 7 PM.)

-Obviously visit some top sites like Royal Palace (I think I read maybe there's a nice playground nearby?), Plaza Mayor, Puerto del Sol, etc....: Royal Palace is like walking through a stuffy old palace with lots of furniture, it's not super interesting? The Royal Armory has a lot of armor and knights, that may be of more interest. Honestly you might be more interested in taking a cercania train out to El Escorial and checking out that nice palace. Yes, there is a nice playground in the Plaza del Oriente, and there is a playground with a massive (3 story?) slide in Plaza de España (easy walk from Palace). I personally won't let my kid go to the Plaza de España playground because it looks so dangerous, but that's me.

The city renovated the Puerto del Sol and it's kind of desolate now--just a lot of empty space and no seating/shade. Plaza Mayor is fun. Obviously you gotta check both out, though. Watch your bags/pockets walking from Puerto del Sol to Plaza Mayor.

OP here- wow, thank you!! This is all great. I just googled the playground at Plaza de Espana and it looks like a really cool playground, but the slides do look huge.

OMG. You are going to Madrid to spend time at their playgrounds? Why?

Probably because she wants her kids to have a good time too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some more details about kid-friendly activities in Madrid: https://atotalguirimove.blogspot.com/2023/08/kid-friendly-activities-in-madrid.html

Some notes:

-Yes, Madrid is super stroller friendly. Wide sidewalks (in general). Some streets are quite steep. You will be happy to have a stroller.

Public transit: busses have stroller parking zones so you don't have to collapse your stroller (although they can get very crowded). The Madrid Metro has come a long way toward accessibility, many stations now have elevators, this is indicated by the handicap sign on maps/those lists of stops on the metro line. You can also take cabs but like NYC sometimes it's a lot faster to take the metro. Watch your bags/pockets on metro.

Playgrounds: the website above has several listed, plus Madrid in general has lots of playgrounds so you don't really have to look
for them, they will find you!

In response to your questions:

-El Retiro Park (it sounds like there are tons of great playgrounds, what are your favorites??? Any cafe's in there?) : There is a cafe near the Estanque. The best bathrooms to use are the ones in the cafes. Bring your own toilet paper and soap if that's important to you (in spain in general this is good advice).

-Zoo and take the cable car: the cable car may not be working right now?

-Raton Perez museum (Maybe??): definitely skip this, it's kind of a tourist trap and it's like, exhibits behind glass. Not interactive at all.

-Prado Museum (I wonder about kid-friendly tours): Depends on your kid but I'd visit during the free hours every evening, less pressure in case your kids aren't interested. Pro budget tip: go at 6:30/5:30 pm when the line has died down (Monday to Saturday between 6 PM to 8 PM and on Sundays and public holidays from 5 PM to 7 PM.)

-Obviously visit some top sites like Royal Palace (I think I read maybe there's a nice playground nearby?), Plaza Mayor, Puerto del Sol, etc....: Royal Palace is like walking through a stuffy old palace with lots of furniture, it's not super interesting? The Royal Armory has a lot of armor and knights, that may be of more interest. Honestly you might be more interested in taking a cercania train out to El Escorial and checking out that nice palace. Yes, there is a nice playground in the Plaza del Oriente, and there is a playground with a massive (3 story?) slide in Plaza de España (easy walk from Palace). I personally won't let my kid go to the Plaza de España playground because it looks so dangerous, but that's me.

The city renovated the Puerto del Sol and it's kind of desolate now--just a lot of empty space and no seating/shade. Plaza Mayor is fun. Obviously you gotta check both out, though. Watch your bags/pockets walking from Puerto del Sol to Plaza Mayor.

OP here- wow, thank you!! This is all great. I just googled the playground at Plaza de Espana and it looks like a really cool playground, but the slides do look huge.

OMG. You are going to Madrid to spend time at their playgrounds? Why?

Probably because she wants her kids to have a good time too?

Take them to a local playground then. FFS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some more details about kid-friendly activities in Madrid: https://atotalguirimove.blogspot.com/2023/08/kid-friendly-activities-in-madrid.html

Some notes:

-Yes, Madrid is super stroller friendly. Wide sidewalks (in general). Some streets are quite steep. You will be happy to have a stroller.

Public transit: busses have stroller parking zones so you don't have to collapse your stroller (although they can get very crowded). The Madrid Metro has come a long way toward accessibility, many stations now have elevators, this is indicated by the handicap sign on maps/those lists of stops on the metro line. You can also take cabs but like NYC sometimes it's a lot faster to take the metro. Watch your bags/pockets on metro.

Playgrounds: the website above has several listed, plus Madrid in general has lots of playgrounds so you don't really have to look
for them, they will find you!

In response to your questions:

-El Retiro Park (it sounds like there are tons of great playgrounds, what are your favorites??? Any cafe's in there?) : There is a cafe near the Estanque. The best bathrooms to use are the ones in the cafes. Bring your own toilet paper and soap if that's important to you (in spain in general this is good advice).

-Zoo and take the cable car: the cable car may not be working right now?

-Raton Perez museum (Maybe??): definitely skip this, it's kind of a tourist trap and it's like, exhibits behind glass. Not interactive at all.

-Prado Museum (I wonder about kid-friendly tours): Depends on your kid but I'd visit during the free hours every evening, less pressure in case your kids aren't interested. Pro budget tip: go at 6:30/5:30 pm when the line has died down (Monday to Saturday between 6 PM to 8 PM and on Sundays and public holidays from 5 PM to 7 PM.)

-Obviously visit some top sites like Royal Palace (I think I read maybe there's a nice playground nearby?), Plaza Mayor, Puerto del Sol, etc....: Royal Palace is like walking through a stuffy old palace with lots of furniture, it's not super interesting? The Royal Armory has a lot of armor and knights, that may be of more interest. Honestly you might be more interested in taking a cercania train out to El Escorial and checking out that nice palace. Yes, there is a nice playground in the Plaza del Oriente, and there is a playground with a massive (3 story?) slide in Plaza de España (easy walk from Palace). I personally won't let my kid go to the Plaza de España playground because it looks so dangerous, but that's me.

The city renovated the Puerto del Sol and it's kind of desolate now--just a lot of empty space and no seating/shade. Plaza Mayor is fun. Obviously you gotta check both out, though. Watch your bags/pockets walking from Puerto del Sol to Plaza Mayor.

OP here- wow, thank you!! This is all great. I just googled the playground at Plaza de Espana and it looks like a really cool playground, but the slides do look huge.

OMG. You are going to Madrid to spend time at their playgrounds? Why?

Probably because she wants her kids to have a good time too?

Take them to a local playground then. FFS

FFS yourself. You are obviously are the person who wrote the last 4 posts. The OP wants to go to Madrid. She is bringing her kids. There is plenty to do in any city for kids and adults to enjoy. Stop the snark and don't bother replying if you don't have anything useful to say.

[Anonymous]

If you hate kids maybe dont reply to this thread? 🙄🙄🙄