We planned our trip to Madrid because we really wanted to visit Parque Warner Madrid, the Warner Bros. theme park with rides based around DC Superheroes, Looney Tunes and more. We didn’t know much about Parque de Atracciones de Madrid at all. In fact, we almost didn’t bother going because we assumed it wouldn’t stack up against the big movie rides at Warner Bros.
It ended up being the biggest surprise of the holiday. While it doesn’t have the massive appeal that a brand like Warner Bros. has, it does have a completely different charm that we fell in love with. It feels less corporate, more relaxed and the coaster lineup is actually way more intense than we expected! If you’re looking for the best amusement park in Madrid or just a thrilling day out that’s easy to reach, this place is a hidden gem that often gets overlooked by tourists.
Parque de Atracctiones is located right in the heart of the city so it’s really easy to get to. It opened way back in 1969 and is a lot more open than you’d expect from a European city park. We were expecting a standard amusement park but it was much more than that.
It’s definitely worth visiting both parks when you’re in Madrid. Parque Warner was obviously our big main event, but Parque de Atracciones was just pure fun. It was nice to just hop on the Metro and be riding coasters 20 minutes later without having to plan a long journey across the outskirts of the city!
Where is Parque de Atracciones Madrid?
It is literally in Madrid. It’s located in the Casa de Campo which is a public park just west of the city centre. You’ll also find Zoo Aquarium here too. Unlike many resort-style parks that are miles from anywhere, this one feels like it’s a part of the city.
Because of its location, you don’t need to plan a massive journey to get here. It’s as easy as hopping on the Metro. One of the coolest parts is that you can actually see the Royal Palace and the Madrid skyline from the top of the rides like the drop towers and roller coasters!
Getting There
This must be one of the easiest theme parks to get to in Europe. No shuttle buses, no expensive taxis and no confused train connections.
The only way we recommend getting there is by Metro. You just need to hop on Line 10 (Dark Blue) and get off at Batán station. It couldn’t be easier because as soon as you walk out of the station doors, you’re staring directly at the entrance turnstiles. It takes about 15 minutes from the city centre (Plaza de España) and costs less than €2. Ideal!
We’d avoid driving in Madrid if you can! The traffic can be a nightmare, it’s stressful and parking here is limited anyway. The Metro is so fast and cheap that driving just doesn’t make sense unless you have no other choice.
Parking & Arrival
If you really do need to drive, there’s a dedicated car park but it’s not that big. It’s paid parking and can fill up pretty fast on weekends and public holidays, so if you’re driving, make sure you get there well before opening time to grab a spot.
It’s worth knowing that the park actually has two entrances depending on how you arrive.
If you come from the car park, you’ll enter via the Main Entrance in the Zona de la Naturaleza. However, if you take our advice and use the Metro, you’ll come in via the Batán Entrance. This gate drops you straight into the action right beside Nickelodeon Land.
Once you’re through security, the vibe is instantly more relaxed than the major resort parks. There’s lockers at both entrances which we’d recommend using so you don’t have to carry your bags around all day, especially in the Madrid heat.
Where to Stay
Because the park is right inside the city, you really don’t need to hunt for specific hotels near the park. It’s best to just stay in Madrid City Centre and enjoy the nightlife and culture there after the park closes.
Our best advice is to pick a hotel near a Line 10 Metro station (the dark blue line). Areas like Plaza de España, Tribunal or Alonso Martínez are perfect but really, anywhere near a Metro station in Madrid is fine because the transport network is so efficient.
Getting Your Tickets
Save yourself the hassle (and the extra cost) of buying tickets at the ticket booths. It’s pretty much always cheaper to book online in advance, plus you don’t have to waste twenty minutes standing in a queue before you even get inside.
We find GetYourGuide good for theme park tickets generally. We grabbed ours in advance so we could head straight for the turnstiles and scan the code on our phones. It makes the whole arrival process much smoother.
Useful Info
- Speedy Pass: If you’re visiting on a really busy weekend or during the peak summer months, they have a fast track system called Speedy Pass. We got the pass for our visit but the queues weren’t actually too bad, so we could have done without it. Check the crowds before buying!
- Height Restrictions: Keep a close eye on the height signs here. They’re pretty strict about checking and they use standard European centimetre measurements!
- Ride Access Pass: If you need disability access, head straight to Guest Services (Atención al Cliente) at the entrance with your documentation to get your pass sorted.
- Download the App: Definitely download the official park app before you go. It has live wait times and a park map. There are no paper maps available at the gate, so you’ll need your phone to navigate.
Themed Areas & Attractions
The park is split into four distinct zones. It’s smaller than some of the giant resort parks in Europe, which is a blessing because you can easily walk between them without your feet hurting too much by lunchtime. Here are our highlights from each area.
Zona del Maquinismo (The Thrill Zone)
This is where we headed first. It has all the biggest rides in the park and features some of the best roller coasters in Madrid.
- Abismo: We loved this. It’s a Maurer Sky Loop coaster that lifts you up vertically to 49 metres high. It then leaves you hanging upside down before twisting you into a massive dive. It’s short but intense and one of the most unique coasters we’ve ever been on. It’s actually the only model of its type ever built!
- Tarántula: A massive spinning coaster that’s longer than you expect and reaches heights of 25 metres. We usually aren’t big fans of these but the longer, more open layout improves it a lot. It’s brilliant fun and has a lot of wild mouse style turns that catch you off guard.
- Tornado: This is a rare Intamin Inverted coaster. It loops through the treetops and picks up some serious speed. We found it enjoyable and smooth, especially considering it’s an older ride from the late 90s.
- La Lanzadera: A classic drop tower. It gives you an incredible view of the city skyline for about 5 seconds before dropping you 63 metres at speeds up to 80km/h.
@curioustourists He loves a drop tower! La Lanzadera in Madrid is 63 metres high! #themepark #madrid #spain @parquedeatraccionesmadrid @Denis Ryan-Byrne
Zona de la Tranquilidad (Tranquility Zone)
As the name suggests, this is a more chilled-out area where you can take a break from the screams…or can you?
- La Jungla: This is a classic slow boat ride that takes you through a jungle filled with animals (that don’t move). It’s very old-school and peaceful, making it a nice break from the heat and the intensity of the big coasters.
- The Walking Dead Experience: This is a paid extra (usually around €5) but it’s worth the upcharge, especially if you’re a fan of the show. It’s a fantastic, well-themed scare maze with great live actors and plenty of jump scares.
- Zeppelin: A relaxed monorail ride that gives you a tour of the park from above. It’s a great way to rest your legs for ten minutes while seeing the sights and planning which ride to hit next.
Zona de la Naturaleza (Nature Zone)
To us, this area felt like the real hub of the park. It connects all the other zones together and always feels busy and vibrant. It’s also where you’ll find most of the water rides.
- TNT Tren de la Mina: Don’t skip this thinking it’s just for kids. It’s a really solid mine train family coaster that’s fast and intense. It’s got a few surprising drops and is great fun for all ages.
- Vértigo: This is a Wild Mouse style coaster with tight hairpin turns. To be honest, we found this one very rough. It really throws you around the corners so brace yourself if you decide to ride it!
- Los Rápidos: A standard river rapids ride that winds through the trees. It’s a great way to cool off, though you might get more of a spray than a soaking!
Nickelodeon Land
If you have young kids or are looking for family-friendly things to do in Madrid, this area is brilliant. It’s brightly coloured and features all the characters they know from TV. We may have been a little too excited about seeing some of the characters we grew up watching!
- La Aventura de Dora (Dora’s Jeeps): A gentle ride where little ones can hop in a jeep and go on an adventure through the forest with Dora the Explorer. We’re not exactly little ones but gave it a go anyway!
- Nickelodeon Express: A mini train ride that takes you on a tour around the area. It’s perfect for families to ride together and very cute for photos.
Food & Drink
The food here is really good compared to what you’d normally get in a standard amusement park.
- El Mercado de San Isidro: This is easily the best place to eat. It’s an authentic-style Spanish market square with a lovely outdoor terrace. We got really lovely sandwiches that were huge and very filling. It feels like a real restaurant and not a standard cafeteria.
- Nickelodeon Café: If you’re stuck in Nickelodeon Land with the kids, this is the main spot. It serves standard fast food like burgers and hot dogs but the location is convenient if the little ones are having too much fun to leave the area.
- The Chains: If you have picky eaters or just want something familiar, the park has a proper Burger King and a Domino’s Pizza inside. It’s nothing fancy but it’s reliable and often has shorter queues than the Spanish-style outlets.
Shopping
To be honest, shopping isn’t a huge part of the day here compared to the stores at bigger parks, but there are a few spots worth checking out if you want a souvenir.
The highlight for us was definitely the Nickelodeon Shop. If you’ve got kids (or just love 90s cartoons), it’s packed with SpongeBob, Paw Patrol and Dora merch that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Other than that, you’ve got the Main Entrance Shop over by the car park entrance. It has your standard magnets, mugs and park-branded t-shirts but it’s a bit of a trek if you’re planning on leaving via the Metro exit so hit it up before walking that way!
Tips for Your Visit
- Watch Out for Spanish Holidays: Since this is a city park, it gets absolutely jammed when the locals are off work or school. We were warned that it gets very busy on Spanish public holidays. If you can, try to visit mid-week or check the local holiday calendar first.
- Water Rides Might Be Closed: One big disappointment for us was that all the water rides were closed during our visit. They usually only open them in the busy Summer season or during warmer weather, so factor that in if you’re visiting in Spring or Autumn.
- Watch the Weather: We got caught in some serious rain right at the end of the day! Madrid weather is usually great but when it turns, it really turns. It’s worth checking the forecast or throwing a cheap poncho in your bag just in case.
- Bring a Water Bottle: There are fountains dotted around the park where you can refill your bottle for free. It saves a fortune on drinks, especially when the temperature starts to climb.
@curioustourists Abismo in Parque De Atracciones de Madrid is the only roller coaster of it’s kind in the world! #madrid #spain #rollercoaster @parquedeatraccionesmadrid
Final Thoughts
We’ll be honest, we only went to Parque de Atracciones because we had a spare day in Madrid. We didn’t really expect it to compete with Parque Warner.
But we’re so glad we went. It ended up being a really great day out with a completely different vibe. It’s relaxed and charming in a way that the big corporate parks just aren’t. It was probably worth the ticket price for Abismo alone!
If you’re heading to Madrid and wondering if you should squeeze this in alongside the bigger attractions, do it. You’ll have great fun and it’s easily one of the most accessible theme parks we’ve ever visited.
