Is Madrid a good place to raise a family?

Schooling is usually the decision that shapes everything else, so start it early. Public schools in Madrid teach in Spanish, and children pick the language up fast. Many state schools also run a well-known bilingual programme, begun in 2004, where a good part of the timetable, and at least two subjects, are taught in English. That makes Madrid an easy place for a child to become bilingual inside the free public system.

There are three kinds of school. Public schools are free. Concertado schools are state-funded and free in principle, but most ask families for a monthly contribution. Across Spain that voluntary fee averages roughly €680 to €860 a year, about €60 to €70 a month. Treat it as a guide, not a fixed price, because it changes a lot from school to school. Private and international schools charge full fees.

Madrid has about 73 international schools, the largest choice in Spain, with British, American, French, German and International Baccalaureate options. Treat the search as a project you begin before you move. Shortlist several, apply in parallel, and check each school's curriculum, language of instruction and waiting list, because the best-known names fill up early.

On fees, plan with a range rather than a single figure, and treat every number here as an estimate, not an official price. International school tuition in Madrid runs roughly €4,100 to €27,000 a year, depending on the school. A typical place sits around €9,500, which is why the figure we show is a mid-range estimate and not the cheapest. On top of tuition, expect a one-off registration fee, usually non-refundable, plus recurring costs for lunch, school transport and uniforms that each school sets on its own. Always confirm the exact figures with each school before you commit.

Madrid has about 6,304 transit stops, the densest network in Spain, across the Metro, city buses, light rail and the Cercanías commuter trains. Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport sits in the city's north-east, on the Metro. Most families cross the city every day without ever needing a car.

Madrid does not have a beach, but it makes up for it with space to run and things to do. The Retiro is the family park, with a boating lake, puppet shows and open lawns. Casa de Campo, far bigger, has the zoo and a cable car, and Madrid Río has turned the riverbank into miles of playgrounds and cycle paths. On a hot day there are public pools all over the city. Add the free children's workshops at the big museums, and a wet Sunday is never a problem.