Paseo y Pista

Christmas lights walk

A clue walk through central Madrid for children aged 6 to 9 with a grown-up.

Start: Plaza de Callao (Callao metro)
Finish: Plaza Mayor (Sol metro, 5 minutes away)
Distance: About 1.5 km, flat
Time: 60 to 90 minutes with stops
Best time: Just after dark, on a weekday

Before you go

Everyone picks a colour before you set off. Agree a meeting point, such as the clock on Puerta del Sol.

Plaza de Callao
Look along Gran Vía: it is usually brightly lit at Christmas.
Everyone counts the lights in their colour from here. Who's winning?
Calle de Preciados
A pedestrian street. At Christmas, the front of a department store fills with moving, singing figures at set times (Cortylandia).
Find a star. How many points does it have?
Puerta del Sol
The clock on the Real Casa de Correos rings in the New Year. At Christmas there's usually a big tree and a nativity scene.
Find the big Christmas tree. What colours are its lights?
Calle del Arenal
At number 8 there's a plaque for Ratoncito Pérez, Spain's tooth mouse.
Find the plaque and read it together.
Calle Mayor
A historic street linking Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.
Invent a name for your favourite decoration.
Plaza Mayor
Christmas market and nativity scene. A good place for a snack.
Count the balconies on one side of the square. Back home, draw the square all lit up.

At the end

Who found the most lights in their colour? Everyone shares their favourite moment of the walk.

Safety: Busy streets: hold hands in crowded spots, cross only at pedestrian crossings and put the grown-up's phone number on a note in each child's pocket.

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