phyllis_stein

I'll be in Madrid for a week this fall with my 6-year-old; we're accompanying my husband who is there for work.

I confess, I'm not sure how to fill the whole week.

I know we'll go to the Palacio Real, the Museo del Ejército, the Naval Museum, and the Prado. I know we'll compare a few places for their churros and chocolate.

We're staying in an apartment near Plaza Santa Ana, so neighborhood walks ought to be interesting in themselves.

Do you have any other ideas?

Are there good playgrounds for older kids?

Is the hop-on, hop-off bus a good idea?

We'll have been in London, and seen the zoo there, will Madrid's be worth a visit, too?

There's a nice website called travelforkids.com, which had some fun ideas, but I'd love more firsthand advice. Thanks!

amsdon

Phyllis

You child should have a blast in Spain if he/she is not used to having "entertainment" or being catered to 24 hrs per day. This is not meant to sound harsh, please do not take it that way. But how would your child be spending the week at home? It is not so much different.

I think the in off is a great idea for a kid, the top is the fun part. I would buy a two day pass at least (I did)

Retiro park should be fun too. There were puppet shows here & there in Spain at Plaza Mayor...would that be fun for them at age 6? The human statues are fun for kids to see.

Try to get to the Palace for the changing of the guard too.

Molloy95

We've not taken the kids when we've gone but our friends who live there typically have their kiddos (similar ages to yours) in tow at some point when we see them. Spain in general is very kid friendly/tolerant and Madrid is no exception.

Sounds like you've done your research. Here's a NYTimes article that I remember thinking was helpful when I first read it, hopefully it will give you some good ideas:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...amp;sec=travel

And another article that popped up when I googled to find the NYTimes article above:
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/spain/madrid/
The Teleferico mentioned in this one would be fun.

dmlove

The 2-day on/off bus is the most economical - one day (per adult) costs 16.50 Euros, but two days costs 20.50 Euros. I don't know how much a 6-year old is (maybe free?)

Maribel

phyllis,
The Museo del Ejército is now closed.
A new military museum will be opening sometime soon to be housed in Toledo's Alcázar.

Ditto to what amsdon has told you-
I'd take them to Retiro park on Sunday and also to the Templo del Debod. Maybe a ride on the teleférico (cable car) and a visit to the zoo. And definitely the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace on Wed.

lincasanova

i think anybodyīs kids would have fun here one day.

skiing, mini karts.. shopping, etc

http://tinyurl.com/6xpkyt

Maribel

phyllis,
lincasanova's reco of Xanadu is a great choice for kids, and it's also listed on the Delicious Baby page (really good info here) that Molloy gave you-I like that list. A poster not long ago took his kids to Xanadu and had a great time (although it can be an expensive day out).

And you can reach it by bus 528 or 534 from Príncipe Pío (metro line 6 or 10)

phyllis_stein

Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful replies.

I'm sorry about the Museo del Ejerico being closed; I'd seen it in an old guidebook. Thats what I get for using an old guidebook.

And that deliciousbaby.com site IS good; I'd actually recommended it to someone else and forgotten to bookmark it -- I really need to start writing things down.

If we were staying at home, my son would be in school for six and a half hours of his waking day. The schoolwork won't take us that long though, and I'd lke to have a big list of things to do and places to go, even if I end up with more plans than we have time for.

I haven't been to Madrid before, and for some reason, I feel a little intimidated by it. I wish my six-year-old enjoyed downtime as much as I do.

I hope the weather will permit lots of time in parks like Retiro; we're there in early November.

Thanks again for everyone's advice. You've all been really helpful.

dmlove

One thing I can assure you - Madrid is NOT intimidating! I was just there (for the first time since 1972) a few weeks ago, and it is very very "manageable".

amsdon

Phyllis one more thing,

Do not be put off by places that look more like "bars" than restaurants from the outside. There are lots of good places to eat that look like kind of like this.
And you will find children out quite late with their parents everywhere.

I found that in Madrid more than anywhere.

phyllis_stein

Thanks again for the continued input.

One reason I think I feel intimidated by Madrid is that I was given one of those souvenir books, "All Madrid" or something, to get an idea of what Madrid looks like, and all of the pictures show big bustling traffic centers, like Puerta del Sol, rather than any of the smaller streets and squares. So I have the equivalent view of Madrid that someone looking at a similar book on London would have: all Picadilly Circus, and no Pelham Crescent.

I look forward to having my preconceived ideas shattered.

Thanks for the tip about the bars; I'm slightly worried about food issues, too, so I'm glad you mentioned that. My little boy is, unfortunately, a tremendously picky eater, and although we'll have a kitchen, I'D like to eat out a couple of times and I don't anticipate it will be easy.

For grocery shopping, is El Corte Ingles food hall a good bet? I have heard there is a food shop somewhere north of the Grand Via that caters for British and American expats. We will have been away from home for a month by the time we get to Madrid; maybe I can pop in there for some kind of treat.

I do appreciate your help.

amsdon

Yes Corte Ingles will be a great place for you to go with him. They have a market, delicounter where you can get sliced meats & cheese, and a bakery.

Some Corte Ingles are better (larger) than others but they are all good. Also the Corte Ingles restaurante is pretty good and in your case it may be just be the ticket.

We got the two day hop on/off bus pass. Then we used it to go all around several times (it's a nice way to rest & see the city all at once.

Don't worry many feel intimidated..they just don't all admit it..you will do well.

dmlove

<i>Thanks for the tip about the bars; I'm slightly worried about food issues, too, so I'm glad you mentioned that. My little boy is, unfortunately, a tremendously picky eater, and although we'll have a kitchen, I'D like to eat out a couple of times and I don't anticipate it will be easy.</i>

My daughter who was with me is not a &quot;tremendously picky eater&quot; (that's my son, who was not with us LOL) but she isn't adventurous either -- no octopus for her (in fact, no fish or seafood). There are plenty of places to eat in Madrid anyway. Cafes such as the Cafe Europa off the Puerta del Sol (and I'm sure you'll find more that are not &quot;touristy&quot serve decent meals with a more varied menu - grilled ham and cheese, roast chicken, spaghetti bolognese, hamburguesa, that kind of thing. Also, we popped into Cafe &amp; Te (all over the city -- their Starbucks equivalent, but better) for fresh pastries every morning, and once for lunch. The chicken salad I had was delicious.

Maribel

phyliss,
In addition to the Caf&eacute; y T&eacute; chain, which now sells yummy Giangrossi ice cream, there are also 2 Spanish pasta and pizza chains for very inexpensive and very casual dining-Gino's and Pinocchio, which has a branch on S&aacute;nchez Bustillo 5, in front of the Reina Sof&iacute;a Museum, not too far from Plaza Santa Ana.

For Madrid locations of the above see-

www.giangrossi.es
www.ginospizza.com
www.pinocchio.es

plus Pans &amp; Co. for Spanish fast food (baguette sandwiches) and Rodilla (regular white bread sandwiches with yummy fillings).

www.pansandcompany.com
www.rodilla.com

And there's a VIPS-a kind of 7/11 meets Denny's-handy for a sandwich between Spanish meal hours or buying drug store supplies after regular stores close--there's one below the Hotel Westin Palace, next to Starbucks, 5 blocks below the Plaza Santa Ana.

And the basement supermarket at El Corte Ingl&eacute;s at the Puerta del Sol sells everything under the sun, snack-wise, for picky eaters.

lincasanova

thereīs an american mini market on the castellana, sorry i canīt even remember the name nor the exact corner it is on. i know how to get here. but that is about it.

hopefully you can find it if you might like to get american peanut butter, special cookies, candies and drinks.

Maribel

Hi lin,
Is the American store you're referring to &quot;Taste of America&quot;. It's moved from its former location near Plaza Col&oacute;n on the Castellana to Serrano 149.

ECI should sell peanut butter in the supermarket, but if not, you can find it at the Hespen &amp; Su&aacute;rez on Plaza de Herradores 4, off Calle Mayor, between Sol and Opera.

I found a web page Kids in Madrid that might be useful-

http://tinyurl.com/3r2g7q

Maribel

Hi lin,
Speaking of American food stores in Madrid, here's another:

The American Store
San Francisco de Sales 3
(they even sell Pop Tarts)

www.theamericanstore.es

phyllis_stein

You are all so kind!

I feel I can relax over the logistics and concentrate on the fun.

I read in the NYTimes article that for kids, the Prado is &quot;sombre&quot;, and to skip it in favor of the Reina Sofia. I'm inclined to ignore that advice because 1) my son is more interested in history than most six-year-olds and because I'd like him to &quot;meet&quot; Velasquez and 2) he is freaked out by images he has seen of &quot;Guernica&quot; and has said it is the one thing he refuses to go see. I am hoping to create some sort of a scavenger hunt for him in the Prado, if I can see enough of the collection online before we leave.

I am really grateful for the advice you've given. I'll have to report back, won't I?

amsdon

Phyllis the Prado gift shop has a section for kids that's got some neat things.

dmlove

<i>read in the NYTimes article that for kids, the Prado is &quot;sombre&quot;</i>

Actually, I have to agree.