Paseo del Prado Playground

Address Paseo del Prado, Madrid,

Walking from the Banco de Espana metro stop towards the Prado museum, you will pass an excellent (and clean) playground with activities for different ages. This is the place to stop and let your kids have some fun (and wear themselves out) before you enter the museum.

Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado)

Address Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23, Madrid 28014, Tel 34 91 330 2800 Call, Hours Tues to Sat 9am-7pm; Sun 9am-2pm; Mon closed, Cost Free Tue to Sat 6pm-8pm. Every Sun 5pm-8pm, Tickets tickets may be purcased by email to the address cav@gtp.es, Metro Banco de Espana

If you don't have advance tickets (or a Paseo del Arte combined ticket 14.40€), we recommend that you enter through the Murillo (South) entrance which often has shorter lines than the main entrance.

Keep in mind that the Goya paintings and drawings are dark and scarey, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the age and temperment of your child. Our kids loved the huge and beautiful Italian Renaissance paintings.

Parque del Retiro

Address parque de retiro, madrid,

Bring a picnic lunch over to Retiro Park, or head to one of our lunch suggestions first and enjoy a walk through the park before returning to your hotel.

This huge park has a lot to enjoy, especially on weekends when pavement artists, puppet shows, fortune tellers, musicians, and street performers distribute themselves around the park (and especially near the lake)

Rowboat rentals are available every day at the lake.

La Taparia del Prado

Address Paseo del Prado 22, Madrid, Tel 91-429-4094 Call, Notes tapas $4 to $23

This popular tapas restaurant has outdoor seating in a small square, the perfect place for the kids to move their legs a little while you wait for lunch to arrive. Dishes are more artful than traditional, using very high quality ingredients, and everything we tried was delicious. The menu is big enough to find something for everyone, but please make sure to try the mushroom confit with garlic mayonnaise and honey.

Taberna de Dolores

Address Plaza de Jesús 4, Madrid, Tel 91-429-2243 Call, Hours daily 11am-midnight, Notes tapas $3 to $22

This classic tapas restaurant is a great place to stop in and have a traditional Spanish meal. There are a few tables at the ack, but seating is mostly at the bar (kids allowed). Favorites include the tuna (bonito en escabeche) and the anchovy-stuffed pickels.