4 Fantastic Free Places To Check Out When In Madrid, Spain with the Kids

In the centre of Gran Via

My family and I absolutely loved Madrid, Spain. What a lovely city to visit and explore with the kids. Madrid was a stopover for two nights before heading down to the southeast coast of Gran Alacant. I really wanted to see Madrid for a long time, way before having kids, and even though I could have done a bit more solo or with my hubby, it still was wonderful doing what I got to do with my babies.

When I travel to a new city, I love to learn as much as I can and immerse myself in the local culture. It delighted me to see my little ones embracing Madrid and its people. My eldest (8 years old and autistic) was amazing at conversing with the locals in Spanish, and the Spaniards were wonderful interacting with him and helping him improve his Spanish skills. His favourite line to everyone he came across was, “Hola, como estas?” I can’t tell you how proud I was of my baby picking up the language and practicing what he’s been practicing consistently for the last few months. I have to say YouTube and books, Spanish for Everyone Junior 5 Words a Day and My First 1,000 Words (Spanish Edition), have helped my son out greatly.

As we are a big family (6 in total), I made sure that our spending budget was kept to a minimum by exploring the city on foot and by public transport. For the two days we explored Madrid, everywhere we visited was free and worth visiting.

Here are four fantastic free spots to check out when you’re in Madrid with the kids:

El Retiro Park

I swear, you could make El Retiro Park a full day adventure with the kids. Right in the centre of Madrid, El Retiro Park is like New York’s Central Park. The park goes on for miles allowing you to capture the beauty and essence of nature and horticulture all in one. From long scenic walks, to the ponds and children’s play areas, there is something for everyone at El Retiro Park. My kids and I walked until our feet burned. We got to see people paddling in rental boats across the massive lake, red-eared slider turtles chillin’ in the sun and amazing building structures, fountains and statues situated all around the park. We were lucky to visit the park on a gorgeous sunny and warm April afternoon where loads of people were sitting around lyming, sunbathing, walking and going for a nice run. This park is definitely a place to pack a basket full of food and drinks and set up a picnic with your family and friends. I highly recommend you check this park out.

Gran Via

A shoppers paradise, Gran Via is a street in the heart of Madrid’s shopping centre. With tons of fashion brands like H&M, Zara, UNIQLO Lacoste and more, you can either shop till you drop or enjoy a lovely stroll up and down the 1300m long street. There is even a Primark for all you Primark lovers, and this store is gigantic. I thought Primark in London Oxford Street was massive, but it ain’t got nothing on Primark Madrid, which is 133,000 sq ft with five-stories that go around in the space of an octagon.

The architecture of the buildings along Gran Via is a beauty to view as you walk along the wide sidewalks and enjoy the scenery. What’s also cool about this street are the hidden side streets that have many cafes, restaurants and shops for you to get a bite to eat or even shop and browse some more.

Now, for all you Canadians, my mouth dropped when I came across a Tim Hortons. Yes, there is a Timmy’s in Madrid, Spain. Who’d a thunk it, eh? Trust me, you won’t be disappointed in the selection of donuts, drinks and meals they have to offer.

Mercado de San Miguel

Nothing was stopping me from going to this iconic food market, so I mustered up all the energy I needed with my four kids and took them along with me to Mercado de San Miguel. With tons of tapas style vendors enticing you with their mouth watering dishes and beverages, this historic food market is the place to be. I love food and so do my children, so we made sure that for lunch we were going to eat at the market. We got to try some delicious empanadas, fresh fruits and fruit juices, but the highlight for my family and I was the thick hot chocolate with churros at stall Madreamiga. Oh my goodness, I have never seen or tried hot chocolate that was so thick and rich. It was like dipping an almost finished chocolate bar in thick liquidy chocolate. As per the locals, the way you eat this decadent dessert is by dipping the churros into the hot chocolate and when you’ve finished eating your churros, you drink what’s left of the hot chocolate. I tried that, but it was too thick for me; however, as for my daughter, she chugged that bad boy down and begged for more.

Plaza de Espana

While strolling down Gran Via, my family and I stumbled upon Plaza de España, which is a large square in the heart of Madrid next to the metro station it’s named after. My husband and I noticed a cool kids playground in the square, one of many in Madrid and Spain as a whole, so we decided to take a break while we allowed the kids to play. This playground is literally right across from the famous RIU Madrid hotel that has the cool glass balcony and walkway allowing you to see Madrid from below.

The playground was a hit with the kids, offering ample space for them to run around and interact with other kids. The fun and fast slides were a bonus, and there are also various play areas adjacent to each other that have swings and other play apparatuses that cater to children of all ages.