Best Neighborhoods in Madrid for Families
Coming up: affordable housing, top-class international schools, trees, monuments, an artificial mountain, lots of friendly faces, hacks for saving money, and the 5 best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
Spain’s capital is home to:
- A very family-friendly vibe,
- Over 50 international schools,
- A multicultural makeup (around 15% of the city’s residents are non-Spanish).
It also features high levels of safety, many family-friendly events and attractions, excellent healthcare and education, and plenty of popular parks*.
*Fun fact: for every resident, Madrid is home to 85.79 square meters (that’s 102.6 square yards) of green space. And much of this green space is made up of trees and woodland!
In short, Madrid is an excellent place for families—no matter where you’re from, or how old your kids are.
So, you’re making a good choice.
But:
Where are the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families? How much will you spend in each area? Which places are safest? Where can I find parks, playgrounds and schools? And how can I move into an apartment without endless hassle?
Coming up, all that and more—today, Homelike are taking you on a tour of the best family-friendly neighborhoods in Madrid. Vamos!
Some safety information, before we get going: soon, we’ve brought you specific safety information for individual neighborhoods. But broadly speaking, ALL of Madrid is very safe. The San Blas and Carabanchel neighborhoods have vague reputations for being slightly shady… and the very-central Sol area has pickpocketing problems. But otherwise, you’re good. On we go!
1. Retiro
The big eastern chunk of Madrid’s very center, Retiro is well-known as one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
A nice combo between residential and exciting, it’s good for those who want a fun-packed life without having to live right in the heart of the bustle.
Some of the best family-friendly attractions in and around the neighborhood include the Mint Museum, El Retiro Park (more on that place soon), Cines Renoir Retiro independent cinema, and the stadium-style concert-offering WiZink Center.
Other highlights here include more green spaces and museums, and lots of amenities and conveniences (like gyms, supermarkets, and a Crossfit Center).
Rental Prices in Retiro
For a family-sized 3-bedroom home here, you’ll likely pay between €2,700 and €3,500 per month.
Safety and Security in Retiro
Retiro is known as one of the safest neighborhoods in Madrid: crime is low, many residents are families, and El Retiro Park is one of the safest in the city.
For healthcare, it’s also one of the city’s best neighborhoods. Retiro is home to three hospitals, along with many more clinics.
Parks and Playgrounds in Retiro
Most famously, Retiro is home to El Retiro Park. An official UNESCO site, it measures in at around 350 acres (142 hectares), and takes up around a quarter of the neighborhood.
In it, you’ll find gardens, cycle routes, outdoor cafes, an artificial mountain, an observatory, a boating lake, lots of playgrounds and monuments (including one dedicated to the devil!), and Madrid’s oldest tree.
Aside from El Retiro Park, the neighborhood is also home to a Botanical Garden, some other small green spaces, and Parque de Roma (offering a climbing wall and 4 playgrounds).
In short, for lots of green space, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
Schools and Educational Facilities in Retiro
There aren’t any huge international schools in Retiro—but you have decent proximity to some, including a Montessori International School, and the American International Institute.
Two of the neighborhood’s most well-known Spanish-speaking schools are Reign of the Sacred Heart, and Colegio Agustiniano.
2. Chamartin
A massive business-based district, Chamartin is perfect for finding a job. Here, you’ll find businesses, banks, offices, and lots more employment opportunities.
Bordering Salamanca to the north (more on that neighborhood soon!), it isn’t the city’s most exciting district… but it’s safe, welcoming, and popular with families (both local and international).
It features fashionable people, wide avenues, Real Madrid’s soccer stadium, lots of shops and bistros, the EMT transport museum, classical concerts at the National Music Auditorium, and a huge number of family-friendly cafes and restaurants.
It’s also home to the much-loved Fundacion Canal, a multi-event arts space with concerts, exhibitions, workshops, high-tech displays, and more family-friendly fun. Previous exhibitions here have featured topics as vast and varied as Barbie, Alice in Wonderland, and Salvador Dali.
From top to bottom, the district measures in at around 5 kilometers (3 miles), so there’s plenty of variety. If you want to live close to the city center, head south. But for a quieter life, a decent selection of international schools, and close proximity to a major railway station, head north.
Overall, for many reasons, Chamartin is one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
Rental Prices in Chamartin
For a 3-bedroom house here, you’ll pay between €2,000 and €4,000 per month.
Surprisingly, the more affordable homes are found in the southern part of the district (the half closer to the city center). The homes in the northern part of the district tend to be a little larger and fancier.
Safety and Security in Chamartin
As we’ve covered, all of Madrid’s neighborhoods are safe. But this is one of the safest—a middle-to-high-class neighborhood, crime rates are very low.
Parks and Playgrounds in Chamartin
For parks, this isn’t one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
That said, you get some smaller green spaces… including Berlin Park (featuring many playgrounds) and the little Parque Orlando Zapata Tamayo. For indoor fun, head to the well-known Kangaroo’s Playground.
For adults who like to play, you’ll find lots of fitness facilities. Highlights include BollBox CrossFit, Rocktown Climbing, and many gyms, boxing classes, and pilates and yoga studios.
Schools and Educational Facilities in Chamartin
Here, you’re in a great location for education.
Top international schools in the neighborhood include Willoughby International College, Hastings School, and Maxwell School.
… and if you live in the southern part of Chamartin, you’re also close to the international schools in and around Chamberí (another neighborhood coming up soon).
And to the eastern outskirts of Chamartin, you’ll also find Numont School Madrid.
3. Salamanca
One of Madrid’s most expensive districts, Salamanca is calm and cozy.
While Madrid’s population is pretty young, many of Salamanca’s residents are a little older…
… so if you’re looking for a quiet life (and if you want to feel like a local), this is one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
Sitting between Charmartin and Retiro, Salamanca is in many ways a blend of both districts. It features fine-dining restaurants, many museums, an upmarket vibe, lots of cultural venues and events, and good proximity to all the city’s most fun-packed places.
But it’s only a good option for high earners—life here is expensive.
And just like its two nearby neighbors, it’s safe, it’s family-friendly, and you’ll find lots more families here (with kids of all ages).
Rental Prices in Salamanca
For a 3-bedroom home in Salamanca, you could be paying anything from €3,000 to €12,000 per month (and no, you didn’t read that wrong!).
That said, the average price typically sits between €4,000 and €6,000.
Because Salamanca is a densely-packed largely-residential district, you’ll find a HUGE number of homes here. So if you want a wide selection of potential properties, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
Safety and Security in Salamanca
Again, this is one of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in Madrid.
But because it’s home to high-earners and big-spenders, you’ll sometimes find pickpockets here. So keep your valuables close!
Parks and Playgrounds in Salamanca
Bad news: Salamanca isn’t particularly green.
But the southern part of the neighborhood borders El Retiro Park, and the eastern side of the neighborhood is close to the quiet and leafy Parque de La Elipa.
The neighborhood’s biggest green highlight is Parque de la Quinta de la Fuente del Berro, home to a fish-filled lake, and lots of frogs and birds.
There are also many playgrounds in the neighborhood, but nothing noteworthy or special.
Schools and Educational Facilities in Salamanca
There aren’t any international schools in the district…
… but you’re close to Brewster Madrid, and the American International Institute. Both lie in neighboring Chamberí (more on Chamberí soon!).
4. Chamberí
Bordering Chamartin to the southwest (and Salamanca to the west!), Chamberí has diverse homes, a wide range of residents, and an alluring combo of city life and suburb-style vibes.
Here, you’re only a 30-minute walk from the very center of Madrid’s center, but it feels much more ‘local’.
Big perks here include family restaurants, many museums, lots of excellent international schools, and surprisingly-affordable housing. In European capitals, districts this central aren’t usually this affordable.
And for young parents, this is a great location. Bordering the neighborhood to the south, you have both Justicia and Malasaña, the city’s two most hip and happening nightlife areas. Both are home to bars, clubs, thrift stores, young bohemians, and lots of brunch and events. And it’s not all clubbing and drinking—many of these events and multi-purpose hangouts are family-friendly.
Overall, one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families—but especially good for young families.
Rental Prices in Chamberí
For a family-sized home here, you’ll pay between €1,300 and €2,100 (usually towards the upper end of that scale).
Yep, the apartments here are typically smaller than those you find in other districts… but they’re still homely, safe, and modern.
So: to live centrally without spending lots of money, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
Important note: because it’s so appealing to live in Chamberí, you’ll probably struggle to find a nice home here—and locals who speak Spanish have a big advantage over you. If you can’t find a place to live, we have loads of fully-furnished homes in the area (and all over Madrid!). They’re all comfy and cozy, they’re ready to move into today, and all utilities (including internet) are included and covered. Easy!
Safety and Security in Chamberí
In terms of safety, Chamberí is ANOTHER of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in Madrid.
Yep, the close-by Parque del Oeste can be a little sketchy at night, and you might find some pickpockets close to the city center…
… but otherwise, you and your kids will be super safe!
Safety and Security in Chamberí
In terms of safety, Chamberí is ANOTHER of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in Madrid.
Yep, the close-by Parque del Oeste can be a little sketchy at night, and you might find some pickpockets close to the city center…
… but otherwise, you and your kids will be super safe!
5. Las Tablas
Sitting a 30-minute drive northeast of Madrid’s center, Las Tablas isn’t particularly exciting.
But if you want to save some money, it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for families.
Here, prices are low, many homes are big, and you can live a nice quiet life.
It’s close to two great international schools, and you get good proximity to both a major train station and the city’s biggest airport. And because many large businesses have their offices here, it’s a good place for finding a job.
(top tip: we also covered Las Tablas in our guide to Madrid’s best neighborhoods for students).
Rental Prices in Las Tablas
Again, Las Tablas is one of the city’s most affordable areas. Here, a 3-bedroom house will cost you between €1,300 and €1,900 per month.
Safety and Security in Las Tablas
Overall, most Las Tablas dwellers are office workers, middle-class professionals, and families. So, yep, it’s a very safe area.
If you want to be super-careful, avoid the Fuencarral railway station area late at night—but most locals would tell you that’s overcautious.
Parks and Playgrounds in Las Tablas
There aren’t any huge parks in Las Tablas itself (although the Monte Las Tablas viewpoint is great; and the surrounding park is home to a playground).
… but because Las Tablas sits on the city’s outskirts, it’s good for venturing outside the city. From here, you can easily reach Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park (home to hikes, forests, falcons and wild boar), and the dam and forests of El Pardo.
And if you hop on a train here, you can head out on many exciting weekend trips.
Las Tablas is also home to a couple of playgrounds… while the neighboring Tres Olivos district is home to plenty of them!
Schools and Educational Facilities in Las Tablas
For schools, Las Tablas is one of the most underrated family-friendly neighborhoods in Madrid.
Both St. George’s School and the International School of Madrid sit right beside the neighborhood…
… and you’re also relatively close to the schools of Chamartin.
Also: the center of Las Tablas is only a 10-minute drive from International College Spain, one of the city’s best-known international schools.
Best neighborhoods in Madrid for families: final thoughts
And that’s us done—they’re the 5 best neighborhoods in Madrid for families!
To sum up: Chamberí is the most fun choice, Salamanca is the most exclusive option, and Las Tablas is best for living on the outskirts.
But it’s not all good news: as we’ve mentioned, you might struggle to find a place to live. Madrid is one of the most well-known relocation hubs in Western Europe, these neighborhoods are very popular, and Spanish-speaking locals have an advantage over you.
So you have lots of competition.
If you do struggle, we have plenty of comfy and affordable apartments. They’re available today, we have big homes for families, and they’re all fully-furnished… and because all utilities are provided and covered under one fee, you don’t have to deal with any annoying bureaucracy (which makes your move to Madrid nice and easy).
For more on moving to Madrid, here’s the ultimate guide on relocating to Madrid—and here’s help for digital nomads in Madrid.
Thanks for reading, thanks for choosing Homelike, and we’ll see you again soon. Adios amigos!
