10 Things to do in Segovia with Kids

The city of Segovia is located at the foot of the Guadarrama mountain range, 90 km from Madrid. It is renowned for its monuments and ancient castles such as the Alcazar of Segovia, the Cathedral and the Roman Aqueduct, which are some of the best things to see in Segovia.

Children will love seeing the medieval castles and coming across the Aqueduct, a marvel of ancient engineering, or strolling through the gardens of the Granja San Ildefonso Palace. You can also see the great collection of puppets of Francisco Peralta, bathe in natural pools in the Duratón River, or play sports at the La Punilla resort, among many other activities that I will tell you about in this article.

If children (or adults) are not afraid of heights, they will love to know Segovia flying in a balloon. From the air they will have a privileged view of the city with its low houses, ancient monuments, and the surrounding hills and green meadows.

Usually these flights are made for a few people, about 15, depending on the size of the balloon, but you can also opt for a private flight with your family. It is advisable for children over 5 years old.

As for the route, the wind is the guide, so it may vary from one day to the other. However, you will enjoy everything you see as there are ancient buildings such as the cathedral of Segovia, the Roman Aqueduct and some castles that are very visible from the air.

Hot air balloon flights are made early in the morning, because it is when the wind is calmer and the atmosphere is more stable. They usually last about an hour. Keep in mind that you will be standing still during the flight, so it is best to wear comfortable clothes.

One of the most interesting things you can do in Segovia with children is to see the Francisco Peralta puppet collection, which will undoubtedly motivate the imagination of young and old with puppets that are true works of art.

The collection is made up of 38 pieces that were donated by Francisco Peralta, one of the best puppeteers in Spain. The puppets represent characters from traditional stories, classic literature and children's tales. Visiting the exhibition is also an opportunity for children to learn about the different mechanisms that bring puppets to life.

Puppeteer Francisco Peralta was one of the promoters of the international puppet festival Titirimundi, which you can attend if you go to Segovia in May. He received the silver medal of merit in Fine Arts in 1990.

Information of interest

• Hours: Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm and from 3 pm to 5.30 pm; and Sundays from 11 am to 2 pm.
• Location: Puerta de Santiago, 36, 40003 Segovia
• Ticket price: admission with audio guide costs about 2€.

In your visit to Segovia you can not miss a tour of the Roman Aqueduct, which is one of the best tours you can do in Segovia. Children are usually very interested in it, not only for its striking construction, but also for the history and the complex design that gave rise to it.

The Roman Aqueduct of Segovia was built in the 2nd century A.D. and functioned as an aqueduct until 1973. Its purpose was to transport water from the Sierra de Guadarrama to the city of Segovia, taking advantage of the unevenness of the ground.

It islocated in the center of Segovia, very close to the Alcazar of Segovia, and its visit is included in all walking tours of the city, along with the Cathedral and the Alcazar.

It is a great work of engineering that comes from the past. It is 30 meters high and has 1677 arches, and in the past it had 15 km of subway channels. The water ran along the top of the aqueduct and even had a sand trap to clean the water of impurities.

• Location: Plaza del Azoguejo, 1, 40001 Segovia, Spain.

There are 74 castles in Segovia, and those that have been preserved are truly an architectural marvel that children will love. The must-see castles in Segovia are the Alcázar of Segovia, the Castle of Turégano, the Castle of Coca, the Castle of Pedraza and the Castle of Ayllón, among others.

Alcazar of Segovia

The Alcázar of Segovia is one of the most famous medieval castles in the world and is located in the center of Segovia. Its construction dates back to the 12th century and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A fortification may have existed on the site as early as Roman times, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1862.

The shape of the Alcázar of Segovia is said to have inspired Snow White's castle in the Disney movie. The castle is located on top of a hill and its shape is reminiscent of a ship.

Something the kids will love is crossing the 24-meter moat to enter the castle, seeing ancient armor inside, the panoramic view of Segovia from the 80-meter high Juan II Tower and the curious sundial in the Patio del Reloj (Clock Courtyard).

I recommend that you buy your ticket in advance and read this guide to buy tickets to the Alcazar at a discount, where you will surely find tips to make the most of your visit.

Useful information

• Winter opening hours: daily from 10 am to 6 pm (from November to March)
• Summer opening hours: daily from 10 am to 8 pm (from April to October)
• Location: Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia, s/n, 40003, Segovia
• Entrance fee: around 10€.

Coca Castle

The Castle of Coca was built in the 15th century by the master builder Alí Caro, commissioned by Don Alonso de Fonseca, nephew of the Archbishop. It is of Gothic-Mudejar style and one of the few that was not built on top of a hill, but over a wide and deep moat.

This castle immediately makes us think of a military fortress and what life was like in medieval times. It is striking for its brick construction, its towers, its 40 meters high viewpoint and the brick bridge at the entrance, among others. Today it houses the Forestry Training School.

Information of interest

• Hours: every day from 11 am to 5 pm
• Location: Castillo de Coca, s/n 40480 Coca
• Entrance fee: around 3€.
• Recommendations: you must buy the ticket 48 hours in advance

Visiting La Pinilla ski resort is perfect if you go to Segovia in winter, as children can play with the snow or learn to ski in a special school for them. It is located in the massif of the Sierra de Ayllón, 8 km from the town of Riaza.

In addition, in summer, the station also has proposals to enjoy with the family, as it has a children's multi-adventure park, where there are swings, a zip line 60 meters high, a Tibetan bridge of 120 meters and more. They also rent bicycles and quads, organize guided trekking, have archery facilities and a golf course.

Information of interest

• Location: Ski resort La Pinilla, s/n, 40500 La Pinilla, Segovia
• Admission fee: from 35 EUR in high season and 25 EUR in low season adults, and children from 26 EUR in high season and 20 EUR in low season. The chairlift costs around 7 EUR and equipment rental around 20 EUR per day.
• Opening hours: from 9 am to 5 pm.

The Granja San Ildefonso Palace is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama and is one of the residences of the Spanish royal family that is open to the public. Children will enjoy strolling through the garden, which is reminiscent of Versailles, and learning about its fountains, ponds and bridges, as well as visiting the beautiful palace.

Among the fountains that can be seen in La Granja are Los Baños de Diana, the Fuente de las Ranas, the Fuente de Neptuno and La Fama, which raises the water to a height of 40 meters. Inside the Palace, the Marble Room and the Tapestry Museum are beautiful.

You can download an audio guide from the National Heritage website so you don't miss anything during your visit.

Something good for you to keep in mind is that there are several trails in the surrounding area, in case the kids are not interested in the garden or seeing the Palace inside, as La Granja is located north of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, where there are beautiful places to visit such as the Boca de Asno and the Chorro Grande. On the National Park website you can take a look at the recommended trails for children and choose the most suitable one for them.

Useful information

• Winter hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm (November to March)
• Summer hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. Mondays and most holidays are closed (April to October)
• Location: Plaza de España, 15. 40100 Real Sitio de San Ildefonso - Segovia
• Ticket price: around 9€ and 13€ for the guided tour of the Palace. Tickets can be purchased on the National Heritage website.

During your stay in Segovia, you can intersperse visits to castles and historical sites with a visit to the Luis Miguel Leisure Center, where children can do activities such as kart driving and quad biking, play paintball, go hiking and practice different sports such as volleyball, basketball, beach soccer, handball, and more.

The Luis Miguel Leisure Center has a swimming pool, a 1 km long karting track, natural areas for paintball practice, a restaurant, a hostel and free parking. The Center organizes guided bicycle tours, hiking in the Hoces del Duratón, tours to collect and recognize different species of mushrooms, and many other activities that are sure to interest children.

The Center offers a wide variety of options to enjoy the space. For example, you can go on a 10-minute go-karting trip or stay several days at the lodge and do different activities. You can also book a menu or use the kitchen to cook for yourself.

In addition, the center offers driver's education for children from 8 to 16 years old with theoretical and practical karting lessons. There are also karting tracks for adults.

Useful information

• Location: Carretera Grajera (Fresno de la Fuente, Segovia) Exit 123 N-1
• Ticket price: from 25€ depending on the activities you do. Reservations can be made on the Luis Miguel Leisure Center website.

In the town of Navafría, 30 minutes from Segovia, there is an area of natural pools surrounded by meadows and forests that is perfect for you to spend a day with your children and take a dip, especially if you travel to Segovia in summer, although if you go at other times of the year you can take advantage to go hiking.

In addition to the natural pools bathed with the waters of the Cega River, you can see a waterfall of 20 meters high taking a path of one kilometer along the side of the river. This is the El Chorro waterfall, which also forms a small natural pool where its waters fall.

If you like walking, near the natural pools of Navafría you can hike to the Pico del Nevero (2209 m) or the Pico de Picardeñas (1850 m). And if you prefer to stay in the area of the pools, there are areas with tables and barbecues, and also a restaurant.

Useful information

• Hours: from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 8 pm.
• Location: 40161 Navafría, Segovia. Two kilometers from the town of Navafría.
• Admission fee: you only pay for parking, which costs about 5 EUR.
• Observations: It is not always allowed to use the barbecues.
• How to get there: From Segovia you must take the N-110 road to Cegilla and then take the SG-612 to go to Navafría. You can also go by bus.

The Natural Park of the Duratón River Gorges is a protected natural environment located in the middle section of the Duratón River. There the whole family can take a dip, go bird watching, hiking, water sports such as canoeing, or simply enjoy the contact with nature.

The Park is located 1 hour from the center of Segovia, going NE. In this section of the river is the Duratón canyon, rock formations that reach 100 meters high. There is a large population of griffon vultures in the Park, and also peregrine falcons and eagle owls.

In Sepulveda is the Interpretation Center of the Duratón River Gorges where they can tell you how this place was formed, and give you maps and tips for touring it. You can also visit the Refugio de Rapaces de Montanejos de la Vega, which carries out an important task of protecting griffon vultures and other birds of prey.

Information of interest

• Opening hours: from 10 am to 3 pm from Wednesday to Sunday and holidays; and from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and eves of holidays.
• Location: Sepúlveda, NE of Segovia
• How to get there: From Segovia you must take the CL-603 road to Cantalejo and there take the SG-V-2323 to the Natural Park, which is 5 km from the hermitage of San Frutos. You can also go by bus to Sebúlcor and there take a cab to the Park.

40 minutes from Segovia is the Cueva Los Enebralejos, next to Prádena de la Sierra, where the little ones can see stalactites, stalagmites and other rock formations that will leave them amazed. You can also see paintings and engravings from prehistoric times.

It is an ideal place to awaken children's curiosity for history, in a place of great beauty. In addition, outside the cave you can see the recreation of what life was like in a village in the Chalcolithic period, and how they made the tanning of skins and the manufacture of copper instruments, among others. The visit lasts approximately 45 minutes.

The cave has a height difference of 13 meters, is about 3670 m long and consists of 3 levels. It was used as a necropolis between 2000 and 1800 BC. Inside the cave the temperature is always 15 °C, so it is advisable to bring a coat.

Information of interest

• Location: Tr.ª Cueva, S/N, 40165 Prádena, Segovia
• Admission fee: the guided tour of about 45 minutes costs about 8.50€ for adults and about 6.50€ for children. It can be purchased on the website of Los Enebralejos or at the ticket office.
• Opening hours: from 11 am to 7 pm.
• Observations: Bring a coat because the temperature inside is always 15 °C.
• How to get there: From Segovia you must take the N-110 road to Prádena. You can also go by bus.