Staying in Madrid
Madrid is like a giant outdoor playground for families. Adults and kids alike can enjoy exploring all the fun the city offers. Explore the expansive Retiro Park with its lake filled with rowboats, peruse the incredible artwork and statues at El Prado Museum, feel like kings and queens at the impressive Royal Palace, and enjoy the endless stalls of goodies at El Rastro Flea Market on Sundays. As these activities are some of the best things to do in Madrid, you know it's a kid-friendly place—not to mention that the little ones always seem to love tapas!
When deciding how many days to spend in Madrid while traveling with your family, give yourself enough time to enjoy the city without feeling rushed. A great strategy to help maintain a calm vibe is to stay at a centrally located hotel with kid-friendly amenities. Some of the best family-friendly hotels in Madrid have plenty to keep your entire crew entertained, including swimming pools, onsite eateries, large bedrooms, and cool historical elements. Bonus—our picks cover a range of budgets, so you'll find family-friendly options regardless of how much you want to spend.
Wellington Hotel & Spa
LUXURY
You'll find Wellington Hotel & Spa in Salamanca, a perfect location for kids, as you'll be just down the street from El Retiro Park, the Prado Museum, and Gran Vía. And though Wellington Hotel & Spa opened in 1952, it sits in an older protected building, showcasing the city's architectural heritage. You can't help but notice its uniquely layered top-floor structure and iconic vintage signage.
Wellington Hotel & Spa is one of the few accommodations in the city with an outdoor pool, making it one of the best luxury family-friendly hotels in Madrid. Kids and adults alike can relax with a swim, nap on a sun lounger, or enjoy snacks from the bar. Of course, the hotel also features a beautiful spa for when the parents need some relaxation on their own, complete with a treatment menu, fitness center, Finnish sauna, hydrotherapy soaking pool, and Hammam. There are also three themed restaurants, two bars, and a bakery, plus options for Sunday brunch, a gourmet picnic basket (perfect for family outings to El Retiro), and English tea. Essentially, you and your family never have to leave!
Rooms offer classy decor that channels the building's past. If you'd like more space for your family and a sense of exclusivity, book a suite within the hotel's "Wellington Club," set on the top floor with a private lounge, bar, outdoor terrace, breakfast service, cigar cellar, and library.
Hotel Villa Real
LUXURY
Enjoy a historical and picturesque location right on Plaza de las Cortes, putting you within walking distance of sites like Neptune Fountain, El Retiro Park, and Puerta del Sol. Besides its great location, families also love that Villa Real is known as a "museum hotel" and features an art and archeology collection you can enjoy in its common spaces. Kids enjoy observing the Roman mosaics and statues, plus Apulian vessels from Magna Graecia. This exhibition is one of Spain's most important private collections.
You and your kids can enjoy an extensive breakfast buffet downstairs in an elegant dining room. For other meals, you may appreciate the convenience of dining at the onsite gastro bar, which features Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and traditional tapas and drinks out on the terrace. The tapas culture is part of what makes Madrid gastronomy so kid-friendly, so it's a nice perk to have it right at your hotel! Though not at the property, guests can access an outdoor terrace and pool two blocks away at Villa Real's sister property–perfect for a little extra entertainment.
Choose from superior rooms and suites, all following the hotel's theme of timeless decor that channels the building's 19th-century history. Some overlook the plaza below, while others add private terraces with sun loungers. The family room is ideal for those traveling with their brood, as it sleeps up to four and has a split-level design.
Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid
MID-RANGE
Yes, you can stay directly on Plaza Mayor at Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid hotel, which occupies part of the famous square's perimeter—cool history that kids tend to love. Unsurprisingly, the views of the city's most celebrated square are incredible. You can enjoy them from your room (if you request one with plaza views), the large library lounge, the outdoor terrace on the square, or the rooftop terrace.
Even the standard rooms feel bright, colorful, and plush, though the bathrooms are small with a sink inside the bedroom. We recommend a slight upgrade to a superior room or higher category for families that prefer more space. Suites add nice perks like soaking tubs, sofas, and exposed brick walls.
There's a lot to keep you and your crew busy at Pestana Plaza Mayor. To start, enjoy your daily breakfast in the airy inner courtyard, which feels more like a garden terrace. Then head to the rooftop pool and lounge overlooking the historic skyline. When hungry, grab a meal at the onsite restaurant or lobby bar. All of these fun perks are what make this property one of the best mid-range family-friendly hotels in Madrid.
Only YOU Boutique Hotel
MID-RANGE
Only YOU Boutique Hotel has won several international design awards, and the moment you step into the lobby, you'll understand why. This might be Madrid's coolest boutique hotel, a 19th-century mansion converted into a stylish, hip, and eclectic accommodation that feels like its own city with many eateries and common spaces—perfect for curious little kids who need a range of entertainment. For example, the lounge was once the old Padrino book shop, and the property maintains that cozy past with bookshelves, sofas, and a grand fireplace.
The rooms at Only YOU Boutique Hotel definitely match the property's colorful, bold, and eclectic style. You'll find ten room categories, all offering bright and spacious units with large bathrooms. Some have iron balconies overlooking the neighborhood, while the loft category features sloping wood-beamed ceilings. Upgrade to superb rooms or suites to add fireplaces, separate living rooms, private terraces, libraries, and even the option for multi-level units, which families might enjoy most.
The hotel has a little bit of everything, including a Thai spa and four eateries offering different menus and ambiance. Celicioso is the onsite gluten-free restaurant (popular with the locals at lunch), whereas the YOUnique Restaurant puts a spin on classic regional dishes and offers an extensive drink menu. Head to cozy El Padrino for kid-friendly tapas and craft beer, and hang out in the colorful YOUnique Lounge with a light snack and drink.
Petit Palace Posada del Peine
STANDARD
If exploring the city with your short-legged crew is at the forefront of your mind, you might appreciate a hotel right in the action. Petite Palace Posada del Peine offers an affordable option nearly on Plaza Mayor, as you can see one of the square's arched entrances right in front of you as you leave the hotel. The property is 400 years old and is the city's oldest boutique hotel. Enjoy being surrounded by buzzy cafés, traditional restaurants, and shops in a very active part of Madrid—perfect for kids. You'll also be within walking distance of family-friendly sites like Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace, and Gran Vía, plus down the street from one of the best places to get chocolate and churros, Chocolatería San Ginés.
As a Petit Palace property, you'll find a similar aesthetic to the brand's other locations with small, simple rooms that are clean and comfy. Double and family rooms include desks, and some are split-level or have balconies with views of the bustling street below. Other family options have bunk beds and can sleep up to six people. Though they kind of give off a hostel-room vibe, this option allows you plenty of space to spread out, and kids love sleeping on the bunk beds.
The hotel serves a pretty decent breakfast buffet in the dining area, offering a historic vibe with exposed brick walls. Besides the usual selection of cold cuts, cheese, fruits, and pastries, you can create your own granola or salad bowl. The hotel offers bike rentals if you'd like to cycle while exploring the city.
Francisco I Boutique
STANDARD
Right on Calle del Arenal (a popular pedestrian street) and not far from the famous Chocolatería San Ginés, Francisco I Boutique Hotel is stylish and comfy yet kid-friendly. Rooms are bright and colorful, with decorative nods to the building's historical past, including exposed brick, wood-beamed ceilings, arched windows, and iron balconies. Book a suite or family room for a bit more space and seating areas, or choose a deluxe top-floor room for a private terrace.
As one of the best standard family-friendly hotels in Madrid, you and your crew will enjoy a daily breakfast buffet downstairs in the beautiful inner courtyard, though you can always opt for "breakfast in bed" with a morning delivery to your room—perfect for days when some are feeling a little extra sleepy. Relax in the spacious bar/lounge on the ground floor, or find one of the other little lounges hidden in the corners of each floor. If you'd like to sleep in or just need a little more time to get everyone ready, you can checkout as late as 2:00 pm as long as there's availability.
Almost directly between the Royal Palace and Puerta del Sol, the hotel is in a prime location for exploring the city on foot. You'll really be in the center of it all the moment you walk out of the hotel, just minutes from Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol, and Gran Vía—the city's biggest attractions.