Palacio Real de Madrid

Still used for state dinners and housing countless royal artifacts in its 2,000+ rooms, the Royal Palace of Madrid is open for tours or self-guided exploration.
We recommend a divide and conquer strategy for a family with toddlers or unpredictably mobile children. The Plaza de Oriente is a pedestrian zone right outside the Palace and is a perfect place to tap out and leave one adult behind with the children. This will take some planning as tickets can (and should) be purchased for specific hour blocks during the day. There are options for guided tours, but unencumbered and with a rented audioguide, the palace tour can be completed in as little as 45 minutes. In the meantime, the kids can check out the 44 monarch statues and take advantage of the playground in the Plaza de Oriente.