Our trip to Madrid, to the capital of Spain was fascinating, vibrant and filled with lots of emotions. I can firmly say that we felt Madrid with all our five senses. Madrid is a city that bursts with intensity: art, culture, food, weather, a mix of new and old that makes you feel the full vibration of the city.
We spent four days in Madrid in spring 2022, a big family trip: my husband and me, both sets of grandparents, and our boys, Damian (8) and Marc (5). We came from Barcelona by high-speed train, stayed in an apartment next to Atocha station, and did the city at a pace that worked for a 5-year-old and for the grandparents. This is that trip as an itinerary you can copy, with 2026 prices.
Short on time? Where to stay in Madrid with kids
Apartments around Atocha – next to the station, walking distance to the Prado and Retiro.
Eric Vökel Atocha Suites – 40 m² apartments for 4 with a kitchen, 2 minutes from Atocha station.
Hotels by Retiro Park – the leafy Jerónimos area, between the Prado and the park.
4 days in Madrid with kids: at a glance
- Day 1: Retiro Park: boats, picnic, playgrounds. We stayed until evening.
- Day 2: hop-on hop-off bus, then the Prado until closing.
- Day 3: Cibeles, Almudena Cathedral, Gran Vía.
- Day 4: the Royal Palace, tapas, Puerta de Alcalá, train home.
- Money-saver: under-18s are free at the Prado, and under-5s free at the Royal Palace.
Day 1: Retiro Park
We meant to spend a morning in Retiro and ended up staying the whole day. We rowed a boat on the big lake, had a picnic on the grass, and walked the paths between the statues and fountains. Look for the old Montezuma cypress, a tree protected since the 17th century. By evening we just went home. Nobody had the energy for anything else, and that was fine.
Tip: Retiro is free and has shade, toilets and cafés. On a first day after a train journey, it’s the perfect low-effort start.
Day 2: Hop-on hop-off bus and the Prado
The bus
With a 5-year-old and grandparents, the red hop-on hop-off bus was the best decision of the trip. From the top deck you see Plaza de Neptuno, Plaza de Colón, Gran Vía, the Templo de Debod, the Real Academia Española and the church of San Jerónimo el Real (where we happened to watch a wedding). When we booked, the 2-day ticket cost only €5 more than the 1-day ticket, children under 6 rode free and 6–12s paid half. Book online for a discount, and check this year’s prices when you book.
The Prado with kids
We got off at the Prado and stayed until it closed. Even a whole day isn’t enough: only a fraction of the collection is ever on display. With kids, pick three or four famous paintings (Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights, a Goya) and make it a hunt.
- 2026 tickets: €15, reduced €7.50. Under-18s free.
- Free hours for the permanent collection: Monday–Saturday 18:00–20:00, Sundays and holidays 17:00–19:00. Expect a queue.
- Hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00–20:00, Sundays 10:00–19:00. Closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December.
Day 3: Cibeles, Almudena Cathedral and Gran Vía
Day two of the bus ticket. Palacio de Cibeles, once the main post office and now the City Hall, is one of the most beautiful buildings in Madrid. Almudena Cathedral, next to the Royal Palace, was only finished in 1993. Go down to the neo-Romanesque crypt underneath. Then Gran Vía, Madrid’s great avenue of theatres, lights and shops, busiest and best at dusk. The bus stopped running at 6 pm, so we walked back, which is the way to see Gran Vía anyway. Don’t miss the bear and strawberry tree statue, Madrid’s symbol, in nearby Puerta del Sol.
Day 4: The Royal Palace, tapas and Puerta de Alcalá
The Royal Palace with kids
Built for Felipe V on the site of the old Moorish fortress, which burned in 1734, it’s the largest royal palace in Western Europe, with thousands of rooms. You visit a route through the state rooms, full of Goya, Velázquez and Caravaggio, royal tapestries and the Royal Armoury, which is the part most kids like best. Photos are only allowed at the entrance.
- 2026 tickets: €18, reduced €9 (ages 5–16, 65+, students). Under-5s free.
- Free for EU citizens and residents: Monday–Thursday 17:00–19:00 (16:00–18:00 in winter), with ID.
- Hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00–19:00 (18:00 in winter), Sundays 10:00–16:00.
Afterwards we ate tapas in the streets around the palace: cheap and very good. Then a last look at the Puerta de Alcalá, the city’s triumphal arch, before the train home.
Where to stay in Madrid with kids
With eight of us, an apartment made far more sense than hotel rooms. We stayed at Eric Vökel Atocha Suites, a couple of minutes’ walk from Atocha station. Our reasons:
- You step off the train and walk to your door.
- Retiro is about 5 minutes away and the Prado a short walk further.
- The apartments have kitchens: 40 m² one-bedrooms with a sofa bed for four, or two-bedroom apartments for six.
- Restaurants and supermarkets are all around.
For a family of four, the area between Atocha, the Prado and Retiro is the most practical base in Madrid: flat, green and central.
Getting to Madrid from Barcelona
We took the high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid-Atocha (we booked Avlo, the low-cost AVE). It arrives right in the centre, which is why we chose it over flying. Book early: last-minute train tickets can cost two or three times as much as a flight. Flights plus the airport bus or metro work too, and buses (6–8 hours) are the cheapest and slowest option.
Getting around
From a central base you walk most of it. The metro sells tourist tickets for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days. With young kids and grandparents, a 2-day hop-on hop-off bus ticket covers most sights without tiring anyone out.
Planning more of Spain? See our 3 days in Seville and 4 days in Lisbon with kids.
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4 days in Madrid with kids: FAQ
Is 4 days in Madrid enough with kids?
Yes. Four days covers Retiro Park, the Prado, the Royal Palace, Gran Vía and the main squares at a relaxed pace, with time for playgrounds and rest.
Is the Prado free for children?
Yes. Under-18s enter free. Adults pay €15, and the permanent collection is free for everyone Monday to Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays from 17:00 to 19:00.
How much is the Royal Palace of Madrid for kids?
Children under 5 enter free and ages 5 to 16 pay the €9 reduced rate. Adults pay €18. EU citizens and residents enter free Monday to Thursday in the late afternoon.
Where should families stay in Madrid?
Between Atocha, the Prado and Retiro Park: central, flat and green. We stayed in an apartment at Eric Vökel Atocha Suites, a couple of minutes from Atocha station.
How do you get from Barcelona to Madrid with kids?
By high-speed train to Madrid-Atocha, which arrives in the city centre. Book early, as last-minute train fares can cost more than flying.
