Things to Do in Madrid with Kids: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary
Three days in Madrid with kids is the perfect amount of time to see the city’s must-see sights while still having time for the experiences that make a family trip memorable.
I’m Samara, the founder of Madrid with Kids, and I’ve called Madrid home since 2000. After more than 26 years exploring the city, first as a student and now as a mom, I’ve learned that Madrid is one of the best European cities to enjoy as a family.
Madrid is one of the most family-friendly cities in Europe! There are so many fun things to do in Madrid with kids.
Madrid has everything you need for the perfect family getaway: world-class museums and landmarks, parks for all ages, plazas with tons of atmosphere, wonderful and unique food, and a laid-back atmosphere that makes exploring Madrid with kids surprisingly easy.
This 3-day itinerary combines some of my favorite must-see sights in Madrid with several family-friendly experiences I think are truly worth your time, so you can see the best of the city without trying to do everything.
Day 1: Classic Landmarks And Tapas in Madrid with Kids
Start your adventure with a little local food culture, a good mix of the city’s landmarks, and plenty of time to wander.
Today’s itinerary takes you from a family-friendly tapas tour in Malasaña and a wander around the Plaza Mayor to Madrid’s most famous park and dinner among locals.
Discover Family-Friendly Tapas
Start off the day right with a Neighborhood Market Tour for Families with Walk and Eat. You’ll explore the neighborhood of Malasaña with an expert guide while tasting a selection of the foods that locals actually eat. You’ll also learn what they are, how they’re made, and how to order them.
A family-friendly food tour is a great way for kids to experience Madrid through its food and culture.
This tour is created specifically for families and is fantastically fun for kids. Not to mention it is an excellent introduction to Spanish food culture. By the end, you and your family will feel much more confident ordering food on your own for the rest of your trip.
Take a Stroll Through Historic Madrid
After the tour, take a leisurely stroll through Madrid’s historic center. This very easy, family-friendly walk introduces you to some of the capital’s most iconic sights while letting you soak up the atmosphere.
First, wander down to the Royal Palace of Madrid, one of the largest royal palaces in Europe. Then make your way to the beautiful Plaza Mayor.
Plaza Mayor is one of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks and an easy stop to include in a family itinerary.
Continue through the lively streets to Puerta del Sol, the heart of the city and home to some of its most famous landmarks. Be sure to see the Oso y el Madrono statue (the bear and the strawberry tree) which is the symbol of Madrid. Also don’t forget to get a photo by Kilometre Zero plaque, the official starting point from which Spain’s roads are measured.
Take a walk through Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s busiest and most iconic squares, when visiting Madrid with kids.
Wander through Retiro Park and Dine with Locals
Hop on the metro (or walk, if everyone’s up for it!) to Retiro Park, where you can let your kids run off some energy and see a different side of Madrid.
Take a row boat out on the pond, explore the playgrounds, visit the Crystal Palace, and stop at one of the park’s outdoor cafés for a post-lunch snack, a drink, or an ice cream.
Retiro Park is a great place to take a break from sightseeing, with beautiful gardens, plenty of playgrounds to explore, and the lovely Crystal Palace at its heart.
If it’s a weekend, you’ll likely see puppet shows and entertainers throughout the park. They are one of my kids’ favorite parts of Retiro!
For dinner, I always recommend a visit to Taberna El Sur for a taste of traditional Spanish cooking in a relaxed atmosphere. Be sure to try the ham croquettes, and the garlic prawns are to die for!
Taberna El Sur is a great spot for authentic Spanish eats and a nice way to end your first day in Madrid. It has the kind of flavors and ambiance that make eating in Madrid with kids such a fun experience.
End the day with traditional Spanish tapas at Taberna El Sur, a welcoming spot for enjoying some of Madrid’s classic flavors that the whole family will love.
Day 2: Traditional Breakfast, Science, Parks & Flamenco
Today’s plan combines a morning of science, an afternoon of outdoor fun, and a taste of Spanish culture to finish the day.
Pan con Tomate Breakfast
Start your morning like a local, with breakfast at a Spanish café in your neighborhood.
Order pan con tomate (toasted bread rubbed with tomato and drizzled with olive oil) with your coffee. This is a simple, delicious Madrid breakfast that’s more authentic than a hotel buffet. For kids, try a grilled croissant and some Cola Cao, a powdered chocolate milk drink similar to American-style hot chocolate that’s popular with many Spanish kids. It can be served hot or cold!
Visit the Science Museum
Spend the morning at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales where you can get up close to fascinating exhibits from the natural world. My kids can’t get enough of the fossil collection. They’re also slightly obsessed with the animal taxidermy at this museum.
The museum organizes workshops on the weekends for kids. If you’d like to find out about those activities, and tons of others around the city for families, subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, Madrid with Kids!
For lunch, head to Taberna Peñalaver for a Spanish classic: Alicante-style paella. This is your chance to try a regional Spanish rice dish, which often goes down very well with children!
Experience One of Madrid’s Best Parks
After lunch, make your way to Madrid Río, a fantastic park where your crew can run around while you enjoy a relaxed stroll along the river.
The park is packed with playgrounds, ziplines, and famously fast metal slides that kids will want to race down again and again.
See a Flamenco Show
In the evening, head to the Centro Cultural de Flamenco for a taste of one of Spain’s most iconic art forms. A flamenco performance is a memorable way to experience the local culture of Madrid with kids, not to mention a welcome change of pace after an afternoon of running around.
A flamenco show is a great way for the whole family to experience the energy and tradition of Spanish music and dance.
After the show, make your way to Plaza de Olavide for dinner at one of the outdoor restaurants surrounding the square.
Order some Spanish dishes and relax while the kids play in the plaza’s playgrounds. Plaza Olavide is one of the best places in town to experience one of the things Madrid does best: leisurely evenings where nobody is in a hurry to go home.
Plaza de Olavide is a relaxed neighborhood square where families can enjoy dinner while the kids have space to play and soak up the local atmosphere.
Day 3: Art, Gardens & Alternative Museums for Kids in Madrid
For your final morning, keep breakfast simple and local with a stop at a bakery or café near your hotel or Airbnb.
If you’re staying in the Chamberí neighborhood, Alma Nomad Bakery is a lovely option for fresh pastries and coffee. Try the pistachio croissant (you can thank me later)!
Start the day with a relaxed breakfast at Nomad Bakery, a family-friendly spot for fresh pastries, good coffee, and a delicious introduction to Madrid’s café culture.
Visit the Prado Museum
Spend the morning getting a taste of Madrid’s art scene with a short visit to the Prado Museum. This is Madrid’s flagship museum and is home to masterpieces by Spain’s famous artists like Goya, Velázquez and El Greco.
You definitely don’t need to see the entire museum with kids, though. Pick just a few highlights you want to see and give your kids things to look for: a funny face, a strange animal, or the most dramatic painting, effectively turning the visit into a treasure hunt!
Then head next door to the Royal Botanical Garden for a stroll among the incredible collection of plants and flowers.
For lunch, head up to Mercado de San Miguel, where you can sample Spanish flavors in a very lively market setting.
Mercado de San Miguel is a lively spot where families can sample a variety of Spanish foods and let everyone choose something they like.
The market can be a bit crowded, but that’s part of its charm. Plus it’s got plenty of food options, so even picky eaters are sure to find something, and you don’t need to commit to a sit-down meal.
With so many food stalls to choose from, Mercado de San Miguel makes it easy for everyone in the family to find something delicious to try.
Enjoy an Alternative Museum
In the afternoon, switch gears from art and history to something a little more fun at the Museo de las Ilusiones or the IKONO museum.
I love the Museo de las Ilusiones! It gets kids looking at the world differently. They can touch, experiment and try to figure out how their eyes are fooling them.
IKONO is a contemporary art and technology museum with loads of fun, interactive experiences.
Museo de las Ilusiones is a great museum to visit with kids in Madrid. They can explore interactive optical illusions and see the world from a completely different perspective.
Both museums are interactive, colorful experiences where kids can explore, play, and take plenty of fun photos. They’re a great way to keep the energy up after a morning of museums and sightseeing.
Build Your Own Tapas Crawl
The best way to end your Madrid adventure is with a tapas crawl through the La Latina neighborhood. Here you can put all those tapas-ordering tips from your family food tour to good use!
Start at Mesón del Champiñón, a fun, cave-like restaurant famous for its mushrooms. Then wander along Cava Baja, stopping wherever looks good (because, really, that’s half the fun!).
Finish your final evening in Madrid in Plaza de la Paja. Here parents can enjoy one last drink while the kids have room to play and soak up the lively local atmosphere.
Three Days in Madrid with Kids Is Just the Beginning
Madrid makes it surprisingly easy to combine sightseeing with the things kids actually enjoy.
Three days is just enough to get a taste of what makes this city so special for families, but chances are you’ll probably leave with a list of reasons to come back!