Kids and Family in Madrid

As the largest city in Spain, Madrid draws international families and their children from all corners of the globe. Living in Madrid with children offers families an exceptional quality of life in one of Europe’s most welcoming capitals.

Moving to the Spanish capital with children, you can take comfort in the warm-natured approach that Spanish residents have towards children in Madrid.

The city’s climate also makes for great family outings. Long spells of sunny skies and dry seasons are perfect for enjoying outdoor play dates and easy activity planning for the budget-conscious.

Education and schools in Madrid

International schools

Madrid is not short of private international schools and houses German, French, English and even Swedish schools. Parents who would prefer to integrate their children into a Spanish public school will, on the other hand, have to come to grips with the points system used for applications.

Bilingual schools

The Madrid region has significantly expanded its bilingual programme, with over 400 primary schools now offering bilingual education. At least 30 percent of lessons are taught in English each week, covering subjects like art, science, arts and crafts, and physical education, while other subjects are taught in Spanish. The British Council partnership has improved teacher quality, although you may still encounter varying levels of English fluency among teachers across different schools.

English-speaking playgroups

If you have children younger than three years of age, you may wish to take them along to one of the English-speaking playgroups in Madrid. These playgroups are usually formed by international and Spanish parents wanting to introduce their little ones to English at an early age. These are great places to start meeting other international residents, swapping advice and making friends.

Education and Schools in Madrid
International Schools in Madrid 

Eating with children in Madrid

Cooking for your children can become difficult if the little ones happen to be hung up on their favourite foods from home. Luckily for you, there are many international shops in Madrid, including English shops, American delis, Swedish, Arabic, Hindi, Asian and Italian shops.

Family restaurants in Madrid abound. The city is big on family dining culture, and plenty of establishments have children’s menus and welcoming atmospheres, high chairs and space for pushchairs.

Parks in Madrid

Children can burn off some of their ample energy with a picnic and some playtime in any of Madrid’s beautiful parks.

Madrid’s most emblematic park, El Retiro, is located in the city centre and features 11 dedicated children’s play areas. Casa de Campo is a lot of fun for kids, not only because of the zoo and amusement park, but also because of the lake, refreshment stands, and multiple playgrounds scattered throughout the vast green space. There is always plenty going on at the park, such as free puppet shows for children on weekends, seasonal rowing on the lake, and several exhibition halls showcasing interesting and unusual sculptures and art installations throughout the year.

Activities for children in Madrid

There are plenty of attractions both nearby and just outside the city limits for parents who would prefer to take their children on a field trip to explore the surrounding countryside. Not to mention, Madrid is a mere 45-minute drive from winter ski resorts like Navacerrada if a family holiday is on the cards.

Parque de Atracciones

The Parque de Atracciones (Amusement Park of Madrid) is in Casa de Campo, well within the city limits. It can be reached by metro, bus or car. Even though it is labelled as a theme park, it is valued for its classic fairground atmosphere. The great thing about the amusement park is that you can pay a small fee to accompany and observe your children having fun, or pay for a full-price ticket and participate in some of the many gravity-defying rides.

La Cripta Magica

La Cripta Magica, located close to Atocha, draws adult audiences during the week with magnificent magic shows, but on weekends it dedicates two shows in the afternoons specifically for children aged two to 12 years. Children can sit right in the centre of the theatre for a full view and a truly magical experience.

Madrid Planetarium

For a more educational experience, head to Madrid’s Planetarium near Méndez Álvaro. This facility offers children an extraordinary journey through the solar system with immersive shows and interactive exhibits. The planetarium runs special programmes for families and children of different age groups.

El Tren de la Fresa

For something a little out of the ordinary, you can take your children on one of the themed train rides that run from several different train stations in Madrid. One of the favourites is El Tren de la Fresa, which allows children and their parents to enjoy local strawberries en route while listening to tales of the past all the way to Aranjuez in medieval style.

The Golden Triangle of Art

The art walk is one activity in Madrid that is as enjoyable for adults as it is for children. The Reina Sofia, El Prado, and Thyssen museums are all within a 20-minute walk of each other along the UNESCO-listed Paseo del Prado, each offering guided tours as well as family workshops that can be booked in advance.

Royal Tapestry of Madrid

You can even visit places such as the Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid. If arriving at the right time, you might just catch a glimpse of traditional weaving techniques being demonstrated on the premises.