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 ancient monuments and castles such as the Alcázar 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 **Francisco Peralta'**s great collection of puppets, bathe in natural pools in the Duratón River, or play sports at the La Punilla ski resort, among many other activities that I will tell you about in this article.

If the kids (or adults) are not afraid of heights, they will love getting to know Segovia flying in a hot air 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.

These flights are usually made for only 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 can vary from one day to the next. However, you will enjoy everything you see as there are ancient buildings such as Segovia Cathedral, the Roman Aqueduct and some castles that are very visible from the air.

Hot air balloon flights take place early in the morning, as this is when the wind is calmer and the atmosphere is more stable. They usually last about an hour. Please note that you will be standing still during the flight, so it is best to wear comfortable clothing.

One of the most interesting things to 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 of 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.

The puppeteer Francisco Peralta was one of the driving forces behind the international puppet festival Titirimundi, which you can attend if you go to Segovia in May. He was awarded the Silver Medal of Merit in Fine Arts in 1990.

Useful information

• Timetables: Monday to Saturday, 11am-3pm and 3-5.30pm; and Sundays, 11am-2pm.
• Location: Puerta de Santiago, 36, 40003 Segovia
• Entry fee: admission with audio guide costs around 2€.

A tour of the Roman Aqueduct is a must on your visit to Segovia and is one of the best tours you can do in Segovia. Children tend to be very interested in it, not only for its striking construction, but also for the history and complex design that gave rise to it.

The Roman Aqueduct of Segovia was built in the 2nd century AD 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 is located in the centre of Segovia, very close to the Alcázar of Segovia, and its visit is included in all the walking tours of the city, together with the Cathedral and the Alcázar.

It is a great work of engineering that comes from the past. It is 30 metres high and has 1677 arches, and once had 15 km of underground 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 centre of Segovia. Its construction dates back to the 12th century and it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A fortification may have existed on the site as far back as Roman times, but it 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 film. The castle sits on top of a hill and its shape is reminiscent of a ship.

Children will love crossing the 24-metre moat to enter the castle, seeing the ancient armour inside, the panoramic view of Segovia from the 80-metre 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 discount tickets to the Alcázar, where you will surely find tips to make the most of your visit.

Useful information

• Winter opening hours: daily from 10am to 6pm (November to March)
• Summer opening hours: daily from 10am to 8pm (April to October)
• Location: Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia, s/n, 40003, Segovia
• Ticket price: 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 Gothic-Mudejar in style and is one of the few castles 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-metre high lookout point and the brick bridge at the entrance, among other things. Today, it houses the Forestry Training School.

Useful information

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

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

In summer, the resort also offers activities for the whole family, with a multi-adventure park for children, with swings, a 60-metre high zip line, a 120-metre Tibetan bridge and more. They also rent out bicycles and quads, organise guided walks, have archery facilities and a golf course.

Useful information

• Location: La Pinilla Ski Resort, 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 hire around 20 EUR per day.
• Opening hours: from 9.00 am to 5.00 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 seeing the fountains, ponds and bridges, as well as visiting the beautiful palace.

Among the fountains that can be seen at 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 metres. 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.

A good thing to bear in mind is that there are several trails in the surrounding area, in case the children are not interested in the garden or seeing the Palace from the inside, as La Granja is located to the 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 opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 6pm (November to March)
• Summer opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm. Closed on Mondays and most public holidays (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 combine visits to castles and historical sites with a visit to the Luis Miguel Leisure Centre, where children can enjoy activities such as kart driving and quad biking, paintballing, hiking and different sports such as volleyball, basketball, beach football, handball, and more.

The Luis Miguel Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, a 1 km long karting track, natural areas for paintballing, a restaurant, a hostel and free parking. The Centre organises guided bike tours, hiking in the Hoces del Duratón, routes to collect and recognise different species of mushrooms, and many other activities that are sure to interest the children.

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

In addition, the centre offers road safety education for children aged 8 to 16 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. Bookings can be made on the Luis Miguel Leisure Centre website.

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

As well as the natural pools bathed by the waters of the river Cega, you can see a 20-metre high waterfall by taking a kilometre-long path alongside the river. This is the El Chorro waterfall, which also forms a small natural pool where its waters fall.

If you like walking a lot, 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, as well as a restaurant.

Useful information

• Opening hours: from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 8 pm.
• Location: 40161 Navafría, Segovia. Two kilometres from the village of Navafría.
• Entry fee: You only pay for parking, which costs around 5 EUR.
• Observations: You are not always allowed to use the barbecues.
• How to get there: From Segovia take the N-110 road to Cegilla and then take the SG-612 to Navafría. You can also go by bus.

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

The Park is located 1 hour from the centre of Segovia, going NE. On this stretch of the river is the Duratón canyon, rock formations that reach 100 metres in height. There is a large population of griffon vultures in the Park, as well as peregrine falcons and eagle owls.

In Sepúlveda you will find the Centro de Interpretación de las Hoces del Río Duratón where they can tell you how this place was formed, and give you maps and advice on how to get around. You can also visit the Montanejos de la Vega Bird of Prey Refuge, which plays an important role in protecting griffon vultures and other birds of prey.

Useful information

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

Los Enebralejos Cave is 40 minutes from Segovia, 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 arouse children's curiosity for history, in a place of great beauty. In addition, outside the cave you can see a recreation of what life was like in a village in the Chalcolithic period, and how they tanned skins and made copper instruments, among other things. The visit lasts approximately 45 minutes.

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

Useful information

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