Family Hotels in Madrid

Many of Madrid’s attractions are close together and, happily for tourists, there are abundant hotels in all price ranges located in the central part of the city. It is a particularly easy city to get around, with an excellent Metro and bus system and reasonable taxi rates. So wherever you choose, you can reach the highlights easily.

The main tourist area, which stretches from Retiro Park on one end to the Royal Palace on the other, includes the historic old town as well as several broad boulevards and lively plazas. Near Retiro, the park-like Passeo del Prado is known as the Mile of Art for all the major art museums that lie along it. Just beyond it, the old city center is filled with narrow streets of shops and restaurants, with its two main squares, Plaza Mayor and Plaza del Sol. At the northern edge of the old city, Gran Via is a busy shopping street.

The Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Stillman Rogers

In the heart of the historic city, about halfway between the Royal Palace and Puerto del Sol, Hotel Francisco I is a family-friendly boutique hotel with nicely furnished rooms and small balconies overlooking a pedestrian-only street. Spacious family rooms are moderately priced, and the location is perfect for sightseeing. Right on Puerto del Sol, the Hotel Europa has family rooms with balconies overlooking the lively square. Choose a room on the top floor for the views, or one lower down to feel part of the busy scene below, where the kids will love watching street performers.

In a quiet neighborhood four blocks from Retiro Park, Novotel Madrid Center has a small rooftop pool open June–September. Family rooms have refrigerators and there is an on-site restaurant. The hotel is convenient to the metro and close to a stop for the airport express bus. Surrounded by the museums on Paseo del Prado, the recently opened Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza is in a restored 19^th

-century building. Along with its excellent location and reasonable rates, the Petit Palace offers complimentary tablets and free bike rentals, good for exploring nearby Retiro Park.

Fountain in Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain. Photo: Stillman Rogers

Across the street from Atocha station, especially handy for those arriving by train or bus from the airport, the hospitable Hotel Mediodia offers comfortable rooms at budget prices. The entrance to Retiro Park is across the plaza, and the art museums and botanic garden are up the street (Reina Sofia is next door).

A short walk from Gran Via and the Metro, L&H Gran Via Selection offers apartments with well-equipped modern kitchens and plenty of space for families. Luxury details include high-end toiletries, Nespresso machines and fresh flowers, and there is a bright playroom for kids with toys and games for all ages.

At the end of the gardens, beside the Royal Palace, ApartoSuites Jardines de Sabatini is within walking distance of the palace and on a bus line. Breakfast is included, and the apartments have kitchens, a nice plus for young families who may wish to shop at the nearby grocery store and prepare their own dinners. It’s good to note dining begins late in Madrid, but at any time of the day or night you can get tapas, which can easily amount to a full meal.