Madrid for Families
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The Funfair
Madrid's green and shady Parque de Atracciones in the Casa de Campo park offers 40 different rides, ice-cream stalls, restaurants, bars and late-night opening hours in summer. A cable car (teleférico) takes you from the Paseo del Pintor Rosales over the adjacent Parque del Oeste, and into the heart of the Casa de Campo, offering panoramic aerial views of the city (tel: 91-541 7440).
The park, an enormous heathland of pines, shrubs, gulleys and grassy slopes, was once a royal hunting ground for wild boar (jabalí), but today is sometimes used for rock concerts. The main entrance is located by the El Lago metro station. The funfair is open June-September daily, noon-1am, October-June Fri-Sun, noon-11pm; admission charge; a teenager's delight.
Aquapolis waterpark
In summer the wave-pools, cascades, slides and other water-rides at Aquapolis, one of Europe's largest open-air aquatic parks, are irresistible to kids - once a day a fast free bus operates from Avenida de América in central Madrid. Avda de la Dehesa s/n, Villanueva de la Cañada; tel: 91-815 6911.
Boats and puppets in El Retiro
Rent a rowing boat on the park's lake (daily 10am to sunset) or, at weekends, watch the lunchtime puppet-shows and all-day performers near the lake.
In 2003, after having been drained, fenced in and closed for over a year, the lake reopened with sparkling new moorings, neatly reinforced borders and a fresh supply of carp (no fishing allowed). On New Year's Day a few brave souls take a dip in the water.
Dolphins and sharks
The combined Zoo and Aquarium in the Casa de Campo includes a fine shark tank and dolphin shows. The zoo houses over 3,000 animals and also includes a Children's zoo where kids can feed and pet the goats, sheep, deer, squirrels and pigeons.
Open Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat-Sun & holidays 10.30am-6pm; admission charge; metro: Batan; tel: 91-510-33770; www.zoomadrid.com.
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Sweet treats at Caramelos Paco
A child's dream-shop, where you can buy every kind of boiled sweet as well as giant sugary clowns, cars, flowers and cakes
Calle Toledo 55; metro: La Latina; tel: 91-365 4258.
The Train Museum
The Museo del Ferrocarril, near Atocha station, has a restored 19th-century station. It includes a café in a 1930s dining car and good museum shop. 61 Estacion Delicias; open Tues-Sun 10am-3pm; tel: 902-228822; www.museodelferrocarril.org