Top 10 Kiddie Places to Visit in the city centre of Madrid

Ever since I became a mom, every vacation, travel always takes into account kid friendly places.  My kid deserves his own itinerary in our travel and holiday plans!! My kid collaborates and behaves exemplary everytime we would go on an out of town trip.  He deserves his own itinerary in our travel plans where he be himself – run around, walk freely, hop/jump, roll-over and simply enjoy the kiddie stuff!!!

As we live in the city centre of Madrid, I love the feeling that we just keep in exploring the touristic part of Madrid and everytime, we have a different

For those of you who will be going to Madrid, Spain (in the city center) here is a recommendation to what I think are the best kiddie places to visit!! Even us, parents can have a great time here!! The kids, the peter pans in us will surely have a great time!

I hope you will find this useful! Thank you for your time!

• Museo de Ferrocarril:  This is a historical train museum with artifacts of the trains (steam engines, diesel trains) as early as the 1940s!! This is like a travel back in time!! There are 4 hallways filled with old trains.  In some of the old trains, the visitors can actually explore the interior!!  Both parents and children can enjoy the natural feeling of high just by looking at the trains remembering that those seemingly old looking trains were the mode of transportation by our great grandparents and grandparents!! There are also several showrooms displaying various collectors´ rich collection of trains and railways!! During the 1^st 2 weekends of the month, the Museo de Ferrocarril organizes a flea market (Mercado de Motores) where there is a very festive ambiance! There is live band, food trucks, artisan items for sale and good, organic food!! Entrance is fee during the Mercado de Motores weekends.  On regular weekends, there is a regular rate of 2,50€ per adult and child 4 years old and above. 

• Museo de Nacional de Ciencas Naturales:  This is located near the business district of Madrid.  This is a historical museum that tackles about our rich mankind and living evolution.  A visit in our Natural Science museum will give you a walk down the dinosaur era, evolution of mankind, the animal and plants kingdom!  There is also a section about fossils and other relics!! Kids here have fun especially as they are able to appreciate the skeleton system!  

• Templo de Debod:  This is an open space near the area of Plaza de España, Madrid.   It is famous for the special stones which originated from Egypt and they were presented as gifts to the Madrid town office!  The original Egypt stones are in the middle of a fountain.  It is an open space, free of vehicles where the parents and children can have a good run, good walk, good time simply lying on the grass or sitting on the benches enjoying the majestic panoramic view of Madrid (Principe Pio) and the Royal Palace.  As this is a free, public space, children can actually bring their rollerblades, bicycles, trolleys, etc.  There is a variety of crowd here so it serves us right to be mindful of our belongings. 

• Jardin de Sabatini: This is an open space garden beside the Royal Palace.  This is very “green”, very “nature” where you have a feeling of breathing fresh air within the city! There are statues and monuments within the garden, which adds up to the views and tranquility of the place!  This is free of vehicles so our lovely children can jump, run, sit down on the bench, enjoy a good book!!  

• Campo del Moro: Very similar to the Jardin de Sabatini, this is a very big gated garden where the trees, flowers, grasses offer a great deal of nature and tranquility!  

• Cable Car (teleferico from Pinto Rosales to Casa de Campo):  For the adventurous, you can try the cable car.  It is an approximately 10 minute trip that takes you to the South part of Madrid.  You will have a panoramic, aerial view of the city and appreciate the nature (the green trees) and also, the dry parts of the city.

• Cuesta de Moyano y Parque del Buen Retiro:  Cuestra de Moyano is a short uphill walk in the heart of the center which will take you directly to the Parque del Buen Retiro (Retiro Park).  During spring, Madrid holidays and the merry occasion of Christmas, there are kiosks within the hill that doubles as stores and food stores! There is also a big carousel which the children can enjoy! The Parque del Buen Retiro is like the Central Park of Madrid.  There is a man made lake where you can enjoy a quick boat ride.  There are various man made lagoons where the children can enjoy a sight of beautiful fishes and ducks! There are many fountains within this big park.  It is very green, very nature and kid friendly and because it is free from any vehicles (except the roving security surveillance cars) you have that liberating feeling of breathing fresh air! In here you will also see the Palacio de Cristal and several playground where the children and children at heart can enjoy a good see saw or swing ride! 

• Royal Botanical Garden This is within the Paseo del Prado Area, very central.  You can enjoy here a very methodical visit and appreciation about plants and flowers.  There are also benches where you can sit. During summer, it can get pretty hot so make sure that you are well hydrated! 

• Madrid Zoo As the name indicates, this is a zoo!! Madrid has a very big zoo and has a variety of animals to be seen! Elephants, Lions, Panda, Birds are properly taken cared of!! There is also a farm for the kids where they can actually play and touch and feed the farm animals – goats, chickens! This is an amazing experience for the kids!! Make sure though that you bring your hygiene kit here! 

• Parque de Atracciones This is a theme park but not as flamboyant and as grand as the Six Flags! Hahaha This is a kid,  teenager and adult friendly theme park.  It is advisable to bring your own food unless you want to queue for a minimum of 30 mins (depending on the season) to eat fastfood. J hehehe hehehe There is a Nickeledeon area where the kids can enjoy the treats of trains, Sponge Bob, kiddie circuit, small roller coaster, Dora the Explorer, etc!

Other recommended places: 

Atocha Railway Station: Atocha is the biggest and an important intercity station that connects the N/E/S/W parts of Spain! It has a beautiful interior garden!

La Caixa Forum: Another modern, contemporary museum in the area of Paseo del Prado.  There is a kiddie section where the children can have a better understanding of history!