Madrid · With kids
WITH KIDS
A vast park, a serious zoo and a theme park on the edge of town — Madrid holds children for a week.
Parque del Retiro
Rowing boats on the lake, weekend puppet shows near the Puerta de Alcalá gate, the Palacio de Cristal and room to run. Free; any age.
Zoo Aquarium de Madrid
Pandas, dolphins and an aquarium in the Casa de Campo, reached by metro or cable car. A full day out; ages 2+.
Parque de Atracciones
The city's own funfair in the Casa de Campo: a Nickelodeon zone for small children, proper coasters for teenagers. Weekends only outside summer.
Teleférico de Madrid
The cable car crosses from Rosales over the Casa de Campo in about eleven minutes. Short, cheap and reliably popular with under-tens.
Late nights, late starts
Madrid families eat at nine and bring children with them; restaurants have high chairs and no eyebrows. The metro is largely step-free, with lifts marked on maps.