Making plans with children in Madrid may seem more complicated than it really is. The capital is a city that is constantly changing, never resting and moving fast, but fortunately there are many alternatives to keep up with the pace of the little ones. Verde Zones cultural and leisure centers, cultural centers and museums which have activities designed for the little ones.
1. Mundo Pixar
Thirteen spaces, ten films, more than 3,000 square meters of life-size scenes from Pixar films. Mundo Pixar is a great immersive experience to enter the universe of UP, Finding Nemo, Monsters, S.A., Toy Story, Elemental, Ratatouille, Inside Out, Coco, Luca and Cars.
Space 5.1 of the IFEMA Madrid Trade Fair Center: Parthenon Avenue, 5.
General admission tickets: 17,20€
2. Retiro Puppets
If there is one classic plan for children in Madrid, it is the Retiro Puppets. Since the 1950s, generations of children have gathered at this spot in one of Madrid’s most emblematic parks. They have grown up and now accompany their children or grandchildren to see the same shows they enjoyed as children.
Every Saturday and Sunday, very close to the ticket entrance from the Plaza de la Independencia, where the Puerta de Alcalá is located, the puppets are once again the center of attention with their varied program and companies from all over Spain.
Avenida México, 4 (Retiro)
Free tickets
3. Jurassic World by Brickman
did you know that Madrid hides more than 50 dinosaur replicas created with 6 million LEGO® pieces? This absolute madness can be found at IFEMA, in an exhibition that recreates the universe of Jurassic World with millions of blocks recreates the universe of Jurassic World with millions of Blocs.
📍 IFEMA Madrid. Avenida del Partenón, 5 (district of Barajas)
4. Casa de Campo lake boats
Although the boats of the retiro Park although they are more famous, those of the Casa de Campo lake have an advantage: they are less saturated and there is more space to navigate.
This is an ideal plan to spend the day and get to know some of the 1,700 hectares that make up the park. After the boat tour, it is a good time to sit back and enjoy the sun, food and flowers. The surroundings of the lake are ideal for picnic and you can also observe the emblematic Edificio España from some points.
Lake of the Casa de Campo
5. Playgrounds in Alcobendas
Playgrounds are no longer metal slides and wooden swings, they are now more creative playgrounds with rubber flooring to avoid the scratches of the past. In this sense there is a Zone in Madrid that has passed the game, never better said. Alcobendas has parks inspired by the ocean, space, a huge ship or even a giant anthill (for children, of course). Best for encouraging imagination and time outdoors.
Different locations
6. Genesis
Genesis has just opened its doors in Madrid in one of the most special (and hidden) locations in the center of the city: the German-speaking Evangelical Community (Comunidad Evangélica de Habla Alemana). Inside, an immersive video mappingexperience depicting the origin of the Earth is being installed during these months. Genesis is recommended for children from 5 years of age. In this charming church, different evocative and impressive images will be projected on the appearance of water, sky, vegetation… to enjoy comfortably seated in chairs or on large poufs.
Paseo de la Castellana, 6 (Serrano)
Tickets: from 11€ (children from 5 to 9 years old, 7€)
7. Railroad Museum
The Delicias station became the Railway Museum in 1984, and since then this clear example of late 19th century industrial architecture has housed trains from all eras.
Its central nave is a journey through railway history through which children will be able to understand the evolution of trains from steam to diesel. There are also three rooms dedicated respectively to the Reloj of the stations, the modeling -with animated models-, and another one in which it is explained how the railway infrastructures work. In addition, this museum, which is aware of its public, has Educa-Tren, a special Program for schoolchildren and families with activities designed for children.
Paseo de las Delicias, 61 (Delicias)
General inquiry: 7€. Reduced: 4€
8. Quinta de los Molinos open space
Espacio Abierto Quinta de los Molinos is a cultural center to encourage creativity among children and families. Thinking, play, coexistence, empathy, art and knowledge of nature are worked on through theater, music, film, dance and other activities that fill the days of this innovative institution. There are different rooms for each age range. La urbanoteca, is a playroom for children from 0 to 12 years old; while in the #PalayQuinta room, designed for an age range from 13 to 18, there are spontaneous activities and artistic proposals are also programmed.
The fall Program is now available and there are new plans every weekend.
Calle Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena, 20 (San Blas)
Tickets for activities starting at 4 €
9. House-Museum of the tooth fairy
In January 2003, the Madrid City Council institutionalized the number 8 of Arenal Street as the residence of the Pérez Mouse, unveiling a commemorative plaque in his honor, on the facade of the building. (The Rhombus Plaque reads: Here he lived inside a box of cookies in the Prast confectionery, tooth fairy, according to the story that Father Coloma wrote for the child king Alfonso XIII). And five years later his Casita-Museo opened its doors to the public and can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, mornings and afternoons, Monday mornings only.
Calle del Arenal, 8 (downtown)
The ticket: 5€ from 3 years old.
10. Slaughterhouse: Youth Program
Matadero, in the district of Arganzuela is one of the most important cultural centers of the city. And it has a program of activities for children and young people throughout the year that includes a wide variety of educational projects: theater in English, creative reading workshops or fanzines that will make the afternoons very entertaining.
Plaza de la Independencia, 5 (Arganzuela)
11. Museum of Happiness
The first museum in the city that analyzes happiness does so through interactive, fun, engaging rooms. This is one of the family experiences of the year with more than 600 m2 in which we will find a ‘risódromo’), the cashier of happiness or the Auditorium, with a show of ‘Happy Magic’ by the magician Miguel de Lucas.
📍 Ronda de Valencia, 8 (Embajadores)
12. Museum of Natural Sciences
From paleobiology and geology to ecology and climate change, as well as environmental biology and biodiversity, they coexist in the Natural Science Museum, which features numerous activities for children. There are camping trips at the museum, dinosaur workshops and extracurricular activities throughout the school year to bring science closer to the little ones.
Calle de José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2 (República Argentina)
13. Climbing walls
Most of the city’s climbing walls have special children’s zones for the little ones to start practicing the sport. Even special plans for birthdays and special events for children. Some climbing walls such as Sputnik Climbing, Urban Monkey, Indorwall o Sharma Climbing have taken advantage of the wave of climbing enthusiasts and have all these perfect options to introduce them to the sport from the early years.
14. Multi-adventure parks in nature
Zip lines, archery, paintball… a complete plan to discharge energy and awaken adrenaline. In Madrid there are several options of multi-adventure plans for children such as Multiaventura Park, in Las Rozas and Pozuelo de Alarcón, or some as exciting as Tirolinas Go! In the reservoir of Las Encinillas in Guadarrama, where you can see the mountains from another perspective.
15. Hiking trails
Going out to the countryside, feeling the wind in your face, not seeing a single modern building on the horizon. All of this is recommended for any human being, but for children this plan is a must. The Sierra Norte of Madrid offers routes for all levels, such as the schmidt path or the ecological path of Canencia. Another less mountainous option and 20 kilometers from the center of the capital is the road to Laguna del Campillo in the Southeast Park. And one to learn birdwatching and canyoning is the route through the canyons Sickles of the Duratón River.
16. Children’s Theater
Greek myths have been an inexhaustible source of entertainment since long before Christianity. Off Latina Teatro rescues this part of our culture with the adaptations of Héctor Urién. In a minimalist format, it manages to capture the most classic adventures and challenges for young and old alike.
📍 Calle Mancebos, 4 (La Latina)
Tickets from 8,4€
17. Musicals
There is a wide range of musicals in Madrid, and there are almost always several options to share with the family. There are already classics that repeat season after season like The Lion King and others that you have to hurry to see. This season is full of proposals for children, such as Aladdin, which complete a very attractive billboard for a plan with children in the center.
18. Micropolix
In Micropolix there are streets, squares, traffic lights, city hall, market, hospital and everything a city needs to function, only here its inhabitants (always passing through) are from 4 to 14 years old. Its 12,000 square meters are designed for educational leisure, a great plan for children. There are 30 themed spaces where they learn social norms while they play.
Upon arrival, they receive a passport, a map of the city and 50 Eurix (official currency of Micropolix), from then on, they will have to manage their own money. Some activities will earn you Eurix and others you will have to pay to enjoy. The lines of leisure and work will be theirs.
📍 Calle de Salvador de Madariaga, S/N (San Sebastián de los Reyes).
Price varies according to days and age.
19. Ball parks and trampolines
The classics ball parks have evolved, it now has giant foam rubber pools from which you can jump off a trampoline. The little ones share space with those who are not so young, because now indoor multi-adventure parks such as JumYard and Altitude Madrid have zip lines and Grand Prix-style competitions where everyone fits.
📍 Various locations.