Madrid with DS 14. Ran out of ideas and now regretting booking holiday!

[sunshinechaser]

We (me, DH and DS age 14) usually go on holiday to London every Easter and we absolutely love it. Love the shopping, Thames boats, going to see shows and eating out. However after going to the same place every year for the last 3 or 4 years I suggested we broaden our horizons and go somewhere different for a city break. After a little research I decided on Madrid.
However I’m now slightly regretting this as I can’t really find a lot of activities that DS might enjoy. He isn’t into museums/art galleries or football so most of the big tourist attractions in Madrid are out!
I’ve got the following loosely planned but would love any more ideas if anyone has been to Madrid with teens and enjoyed it-

Day 1
Retiro Park. Get rowing boats and maybe rent a bike.
Crystal Palace
Visit Mercado San Anton in Chueca
Walk around Chueca

Day 2
Visit the Royal Palace and possibly cathedral next door.
Visit La Latina and Plaza Paja
See Plaza Mayor and Sol. See kilometer zero.
Chocolateria San Gines
Mercado de San Miguel
Rooftop drinks at Palacio de Cibales

Day 3
nothing!

Any ideas welcomed. Thanks

Good day trips by train - Alcalá de Henares (birthplace of Cervantes), Segovia, Toledo, Ávila.

@sunshinechaser We're going next week, actually, so I'll keep my eyes open for anything cool for you. We're just going for all the food!

@OneLilacEagleoh fab. I am looking forward to the food too! Have a great time.

We always do a food tour when we go to a new city, the teens love them and it's a good way to see places you may not otherwise have found.

@MyMachinelooking into food tours now thanks!

I used to live in Madrid and your itinerary looks great so far. If you're there on a Sunday the Rastro Market is good. A day trip to Toledo is very much worth it. Have you allowed for some shopping if he is into trainers etc? My nephew loved the different styles and brands he hadn't seen in the shops at home. Just walking around thr city and people watching is delightful. There was a really great flamenco show in Plaza Santa Ana. Tablao Flamenco 1911. I wonder if it is still available? My visitors always loved it. It lasted about an hour and was wonderful. Not choreographed at all. Really raw and powerful performances from musicians and dancers sometimes from the gypsy community. You can have tapas while you watch.

We went on a trip to Toledo from Madrid it was very interesting, the land train and the views were amazing

@AnneShirley18he is obsessed with trainers and I presume we’ll be getting dragged round trainer shops that he will have found recommended on TikTok!
That flamenco show is still
showing in Plaza Santa Ana and I think I could talk them into it if it only lasts an hour. I do think if we’re in Madrid we should see a flamenco show!

Train trip to Toledo, lovely town and my 10/10 cathedral of all time, more lived in and interesting than it sounds

You will have a great time. Madrid will always be very special to me. I’m excited for you!
You’re used to London so I’ll not patronise you about advice on vigilance with your bag but please, I beg of you DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PHONE ON THE CAFE TABLE. I lived with two Irish girls for 2 years. From our family and friends who came to visit, there were 7 stolen phones during that period. When did this happen? When the three of us were at work and not there to tell them off. I cannot stress enough. Put them out of sight. The queue in the police station is brutal.

@AnneShirley18I have heard so much about pick pockets. We will definitely be vigilant. I also have a nice Cartier watch and engagement ring and I’m going to leave these at home too.

I had a look a few days ago thinking about a guided tapas tour but it was a fortune!

Make your own unguided tapas tour. Go into one or two ordinary-looking bars and order something random (often the tapas are in a chiller cabinet under the bar, so you can point). Make a minor fool of yourself. It will create terrific memories.

Madrid is one of our favs!

I would split day 2 as the palace and then major will use a lot of time. The market next to major has some of the most amazing food!

also not a big footie fan but we have done the tour twice it is something to see and is a huge.

hop on hop off is brilliant

Toledo is only half an hour roughly on the bus. I love it. I did the zip line across the river open year round!

Boys seem to love the swords making workshops there. It’s worth considering.

There’s Segway tours in the main square in Madrid that I’ve been on that teens loved.

Temple of Debod was great

The prado is a FANTASTIC gallery and they do all sorts of “top ten things to see” style tours that are quick and accessible.

I LOVE a walking tour. A really great way to get an overview of the city.

How about a good walking tour if he likes eating out.

I’ve done cycling tours before which have been fun. Or walking or Segway tours too.

good ideas above. If he’s a bit of a foody then you can enjoy trying out lots of different tapas too.

Have you considered a more entertainment style walking tour such as “The DARK side of Madrid, Terror, Ghosts and more”. https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/47773-the-dark-side-of-madrid-terror-ghosts-and-more

I use Viator for idea, (google and it will come up) and have booked different tours with them in cities when needed. You can book and cancel up to the day before, and they usually only charge you a day or so before the tour. often do walking tours etc, but usually give you a good idea of things to do

My DC and I love doing an escape room in different cities. These all seem to be available in English:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g187514-Activities-c56-t208-Madrid.html

Do at least one of the art galleries even if just for an hour: Prado Museum for classic history of art masterpieces, Reina Sofia or Thyssen-Bornemisza for modern/contemporary masterpieces, also very food across the road from Reina Sofia is the Caixaforum which hosts good exhibitions. And also near the Atocha grain statin has a cool indoor pond with terrapins. Into football? Take the Santiago Bernabeu stadium tour. The Las Ventas bullring tours are also fantastic, you get to learn so much about the bullfighting tradition. How about a theatre/musical performance? I think they have the Lion King among others. Into history? Royal Palace and Almudena cathedral. Into shopping? Gran Via for international brands. If all else fails, there is a Warner Bros theme park nearby. Or for a more cultural experience you can t ake a day trip by train to the city of Toledo. I hope you find enough that appeals as there is definitely so much to do for teens beyond walking around and sightseeing!

Look for a street art tour - ours loved the one we did on Lisbon at 15 yo. Street art is cooler for teenagers and good insta material if he is into that.

I want to go back to Madrid! Fabulous ideas here.

I echo what others have suggested about visiting Segovia or Toledo, both are on the high speed train line and can be reached in about 30 mins. However, the high speed station in Segovia is about 2 miles outside of town. Toledo's station is much closer to the historical centre, about a 10-15 min walk away.