Things to Do with Kids in Vallecas

Titirimadroño is Madrid's international puppet theater festival, held each fall in Puente de Vallecas. Much of the week is for adults, but the closing weekend is made for families: puppet shows in a park and indoors, a hands-on puppet-making workshop, and play installations built from recycled materials.

Some shows add Spanish Sign Language or live audio description, and every space is wheelchair accessible.

The youth academy of Rayo Vallecano, based at the club foundation's sports complex in Ensanche de Vallecas. Boys' and girls' teams run from the youngest group, Debutantes, up to under-19, and every team plays in the official Madrid federation leagues. New players are placed in groups by level and coached in the club's own training method.

The play hill in Parque de la Gavia is the Colina del Reciclaje, built partly from old tires found on the site: a rocket-shaped climbing tower, slides running down the slope and a climbing wall with routes at different heights.

A few minutes' walk away, the Bosque de los Sentidos adds zip lines, adventure slides, an inclusive play zone and outdoor musical instruments.

La Dama del Manzanares, a 13-meter woman's head in bronze crowned with loops of steel, sits on top of a 21-meter grass pyramid, and kids climb the long stairway for a view across the city. Below, the park follows the Manzanares River south with a riverside bike path, big lawns, small mazes and play areas.

On a separate hill by San Fermín, Mirador Caracola has a giant T-Rex climbing frame.

Parque del Cerro del Tío Pío is a run of rounded grassy hills, the reason locals call it the Siete Tetas. Kids race up and roll down the slopes, ride the bike lane and picnic on the lawns. The lookout at the top faces the whole city skyline, a popular spot at sunset.

Three playgrounds sit around the edges, and a kiosk with a terrace serves drinks.