Alcobendas, on Madrid’s metro line 10, has seven free themed playgrounds, and most of them are open 24 hours. The Océano playground, with a steel submarine and a giant whale, won Spain’s Premio Columpio de Plata in 2016 for design, accessibility and safety. Indoors, the MUNCYT science museum is free, its planetarium costs 3 euros, and a mini-planetarium runs sessions for children aged 6 to 8. From central Madrid you change at Tres Olivos. On Sundays from 11:00 to 13:30, the town’s Patrulla Peque Parques runs play workshops for ages 0 to 12 in the park its programme sets, and the Área del Espacio playground stays open until 23:00.
Is Alcobendas worth a trip with kids? For children up to 12, yes: Alcobendas has seven free themed playgrounds, such as the Océano submarine and the moon-surface Área del Espacio, and the free MUNCYT science museum, whose planetarium costs 3 euros. On Sundays from 11:00 to 13:30, the town runs drop-in play workshops in a park, no booking needed.
- Free: all seven playgrounds and the MUNCYT exhibitions.
- Ages 6-8: the 45-minute mini-planetarium, 3 euros.
- Rainy day: MUNCYT, open until 18:00 at weekends.
- Warning: two slides at the new forest park are closed.
Which playground for which child?
Each of the seven playgrounds has its own theme, so pick by what your child likes. All are municipal and free.
| Playground | Theme | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bosque Encantado | Storybook forest with walkways and slides | Ages 6 to 12 |
| Área del Espacio | Moon craters, spaceships, a lunar buggy, a zip line | Climbers; open 9:00-23:00 |
| Océano | Steel-arch submarine, giant whale, rope nets | Award-winning design |
| Poblado del Oeste | Wild West saloon, jail, train and a fort with two slides | Slide fans |
| Hormiguero Atómico | A 1,500-square-metre metal wall shaped like an ant nest | Explorers |
| Submarino Inclusivo | Designed so children of all abilities play together | Mixed-ability groups |
| Barco de Aventuras | Play ship in the Jardín de la Vega | A stop beside the bonsai museum |
The Parque de la Comunidad de Madrid, which holds the Bosque Encantado and two more play areas for ages 0 to 12, is 772 metres from Marqués de la Valdavia metro.
What ages are the planetarium films for?
The MUNCYT Alcobendas has free entry to all its exhibitions, but the planetarium charges 3 euros for a 45-minute session, and each film has a minimum age. Under-3s go in free on an adult’s lap, and children under 14 must be accompanied in the museum.
For children aged 6 to 8, the Nanoplanetario is a separate 45-minute, 3-euro session held without parents; book online for weekends, public holidays, July and August. Film times and the full schedule are in our MUNCYT Alcobendas guide.
What to do with kids on a rainy day
The MUNCYT is the easy answer: free, indoors and open until 18:00 at weekends, with the ticket desk closing at 17:40. On weekday afternoons, the children’s media library at the Centro de Arte Alcobendas opens from 17:00 to 20:00; under-7s must come with an adult.
For more indoor ideas in the city, see what to do in Madrid on a rainy day and Madrid with kids, what is free.
The new forest park, and the closed slides
The Parque Forestal Princesa Leonor, opened in September 2026, has the town’s largest playground, the Peque Bosque, at about 700 square metres, with sand play, raised walkways, a climbing tower and hillside slides. Its 2.5 km step-free path suits pushchairs.
The catch: in early October 2026 the town sealed off the playground’s two main slides after several children were cut and bruised, and no reopening date has been given. If your child wants slides, the Poblado del Oeste fort or the Bosque Encantado are the alternatives.
Getting there, and where to eat
Take metro line 10 and change at Tres Olivos. Children under 4 travel free without a ticket; older visiting children pay, because the free children’s card is only for registered residents, as our guide to free public transport for kids in Madrid explains.
For lunch, where to eat in Alcobendas and the set lunch guide compare prices, and things to do in Alcobendas covers the adult sights. Next door, San Sebastián de los Reyes with kids adds more options.
In summer, Alcobendas swimming pools run slides in two daily slots, and at weekends La Moraleja Green puts up bouncy castles.
Questions about Alcobendas with kids
Is Alcobendas good for kids?
Yes, especially for under-12s. Alcobendas has seven free themed playgrounds, most open around the clock, and the MUNCYT science museum is free with a 3-euro planetarium. It is on metro line 10 from central Madrid, with a change at Tres Olivos.
What is the minimum age for the MUNCYT planetarium?
It depends on the film: Eclipse is for all ages, Polaris from 6, 3CLIPSE from 8 and Cielo Profundo from 12. Under-3s go free on an adult’s lap. Each session lasts 45 minutes and costs 3 euros.
Which Alcobendas playground is best for older children?
The Bosque Encantado, or Enchanted Forest, in the Parque de la Comunidad de Madrid, is built for ages 6 to 12, with walkways and slides. The Área del Espacio has a zip line and a cratered moon surface, and opens 9:00 to 23:00.
Do kids pay on the Madrid metro to Alcobendas?
Children under 4 travel free without a ticket. From 4, a visiting child needs a ticket; the free children’s travel card is only for children registered as residents in the Madrid region.
Pick by age: playgrounds for the little ones, the planetarium for the older ones.