Madrid, capital of Spain! Often associated with hot weather, Madrid is often neglected by families. Spring is therefore the best time to discover the Spanish capital. From Marseille, Montpellier and many other cities in the south of France, hop on board Renfe trains and let yourself be carried all the way to Madrid. Child's play!
Family tourism in Madrid is an ideal way to keep the children busy. They are spoilt for choice: gardens, amusement parks, playgrounds, activities with animals, theatres and museums for younger visitors, restaurants with special menus, including tapas and churros that children will love, shops, strolling through the streets at the end of the day, etc.
Most activities are geared towards children and are either free or very affordable.
Madrid is a city full of green spaces where your children can play and exercise. Discover some of these parks and gardens here.
Located in the Casa de Campo, it's the perfect place for children to burn off their excess energy! There's a whole host of attractions on offer to keep young and old alike entertained! Roller coasters, haunted houses, thrill rides. The choice is yours!
If you love nature, take a stroll through the Faunia biological and theme park. Divided into 13 separate areas, you will discover details about the lives of the species that live there: European lynxes, cranes, tiger fish, king penguins, etc.
Also situated in the Casa de Campo Park, the zoo is home to around 2,000 animals of over 500 different species. There you can spot pandas, koalas, the Atlas lion, a white rhinoceros, emperor scorpions and Nile crocodiles, to name but a few.
Less than 30 kilometres from the city centre of Madrid, Parque Warner is located in San Martin de la Vega. You'll be greeted by cartoon characters… kids love it! The park boasts some breathtaking attractions and some very entertaining shows. One of the star attractions is "La aventura de Scooby-Doo" (Scooby-Doo's adventure), a house haunted by ghosts that you have to catch! Thrills and laughter guaranteed!
In Madrid, there's no need to look for historic monuments: there are so many castle-like buildings that you'd think you were walking through a fairytale. Come and marvel at the large statue of the Oso y el Madroño (Bear and the Strawberry Tree) in Puerta del Sol, right in the centre of the city. It's a great starting point for a stroll through the heart of the city.
Then take a stroll around the Royal Palace district before being surprised by the natural beauty of Retiro Park, where you can hire a boat or watch a puppet show at the weekend. The City Hall is also striking, with its white pinnacles and neo-Gothic features.
In the afternoon, continue your visit to the air-conditioned museums so as not to be overwhelmed by the heat. And why not round off the day with a paella accompanied by a glass of rioja (for adults, of course!).
Round off your trip by admiring the stars at the Planetarium and discovering the Micropolix children's city in San Sebastián de los Reyes, on the outskirts of Madrid.
Give in to temptation! Enjoy churros con chocolate for just a few euros. Delicious, fresh, crispy churros dipped in thick, creamy chocolate... Mmm... it's really good! In Madrid, Chocolateria San Ginés is a genuine institution.
And the famous tapas bars! They're everywhere! You'll only pay for your drinks while the tapas are unlimited. You can have dinner for four for around 15 euros. At this price, it would be a real shame not to try this local speciality!
In the morning, if you fancy a good breakfast, there are a number of small restaurants offering snacks for less than 10 euros for four people, notably at "Las Rotos calle de la Huertas".
Fancy a family trip to Madrid? Book your direct tickets to Madrid with Renfe trains now.
Mug of hot cocoa
Eager to hop on a train to Madrid? Now you can do just that on AVE France, our international high-speed trains between France and Spain. The most comfortable, fastest and sustainable way to travel is by train! You can also take advantage of our discounts and get the best price.
Did you like our suggestions? Well, there is a lot more where that came from! Discover other original things to do in Madrid with Renfe.