What to do with the kids in Madrid this Christmas?
Madrid is the ideal city break destination for families with children, especially at Christmastime. During the festive season, the city is incredibly enchanting, with dazzling lights and hundreds of activities where children play the starring role.
In this article, we will talk about the best things to do in Madrid over the Christmas period for families with children. Here are just a few suggestions, with the whole family in mind, so you can enjoy a truly unforgettable stay at our our 5 star hotel in Madrid.
Christmas Lights
The inauguration of Madrid’s Christmas lights marks the start of the holiday season in the Spanish capital, filling its streets with excitement and that true Christmas spirit. So before you do anything else, we recommend you go for a nice family walk along one of the city’s 200-odd streets adorned with a vast array of festive decorations.
Christmas lights can be found in 21 of Madrid’s districts. The most notable festive attractions in the city include the enormous Christmas trees in Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, the giant bauble in Gran Vía and the highly impressive, and spectacularly lit, natural Christmas tree in Plaza de España, measuring a whopping 18m tall.
Both you and your little ones will also revel in the first edition of the Parque del Retiro Illuminations; never before has Madrid City Hall decided to light up this must-see Madrilenian treasure, and it’s a real sight to behold.
Cortylandia
Cortylandia is a classic Madrilenian spectacle. Now spanning over 40 years, these catchy songs performed by the giant puppets adorning the façade of El Corte Inglés in Plaza Callao are firmly rooted in Madrilenian festive tradition.
This year, take your family around the giant wooden castle, where you can watch the short animated films projected onto the centrally positioned screen while German nutcrackers prepare gifts for guests and dancers and forest animals throw a massive party.
Circo Price Christmas Spectacular
If festive family spectacles are your thing, then you cannot miss the latest volume of the Cometa trilogy at the Circo Price Christmas Spectacular.
This theatre show is perfect for the whole family. The heroine, Cometa, tries to disrupt the plans of Amargador (The Bitter One), an evil villain desperate to ruin the Christmas of every visitor at the Circo Price theatre.
Madrid’s Christmas Markets
Enjoy a wonderful day out at Madrid’s Christmas markets.
Madrid’s Christmas markets have something for everyone, such as the traditional market in Plaza Mayor, markets inspired by the classic German Weihnachtsmärkte, and even, more contemporary markets with ice rinks, including the market in Plaza de Juan Goytisolo.
Three Kings’ Factory
At the Three Kings’ Factory (Fábrica de los Reyes Magos; Pº de Juan Antonio Vallejo – Nájera Botas, 41), children can personally deliver their letters to the Three Kings from the East from 26 November 2021 to 5 January 2022. There are also live toy-making demonstrations and you will get the chance to visit the different areas of the factory, including the surveillance zone, and the sewing and wood workshops.
Visitors will also receive a code so they can play the game El Juguete Escondido (The Hidden Toy) and follow various clues to find hidden prizes throughout the city.
Playmobil Exhibition
The Moda Shopping shopping centre (Av. del General Perón, 38-40, 28020 Madrid) is pleased to present a highly entertaining exhibition, where various Christmas scenes are represented using Playmobil figurines.
Open from December 2 to 7 January, this exhibition features 11 dioramas and almost 1000 Playmobil figurines, representing scenes such as the stable of Bethlehem, the procession of the Three Kings and the Annunciation.
Nativity Scene at Madrid City Hall
The Nativity scene is one of the greatest family Christmas traditions, and that’s also the case in Madrid, which has its own municipal Nativity scene in the Patio de Operaciones at CentroCentro (formerly Cibeles Palace).
Enjoy this traditional Hebrew-style scene with 20 realistic model buildings and 200 unique figurines shaped by the artist José Luis Mayo.
Madrid’s Nativity scene spans across an area of 45 m² and represents seven classic scenes, such as the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the quest to find the inn, the embrace of the Infant Jesus and the procession of the Three Kings.
Christmas Workshops at the Planetarium
At Madrid’s planetarium (Planetario de Madrid), you will find two activities led by children aged 6-10, where your little ones can immerse themselves in the world of constellations, learn about our planet and travel through the solar system. They can also create their own moon phase simulator and visit the planetarium and projection room accompanied by an adult.
Try your hand at the Detective de constelaciones (Constellation Detective) and the Planeta Misterioso (Mysterious Planet) activities on 23, 26 and 28 December, and on 29-30 December and 4 January respectively.
