The best Parque Warner Madrid rides: a guide by area and age

The most famous Parque Warner Madrid rides are its roller coasters: Superman: la Atracción de Acero, Batman Arkham Asylum and Stunt Fall for thrill-seekers, and Coaster Express, a big wooden roller coaster. For family fun, the highlights are Río Bravo and the Cine Tour, two water rides, and the interactive Scooby-Doo Aventura Misteriosa, while the youngest have their own area, Cartoon Village, with the Looney Tunes characters. The park, located in San Martín de la Vega, south-east of Madrid, is divided into five themed areas inspired by Warner films and cartoons.

Bear in mind that the park adds, refurbishes and sometimes withdraws rides from one season to the next. Before you go, check on its official website which ones are running and the height requirements for each.

For the bravest

• Superman: la Atracción de Acero: a floorless roller coaster, with your feet dangling, big drops and inversions. For many fans, the best in the park.
• Batman Arkham Asylum: an inverted roller coaster, with the seats hanging below the track and a route full of twists, themed on Gotham's famous asylum.
• Stunt Fall: a there-and-back ride, forwards and backwards, with an almost vertical climb that looks impressive from below.
• La Venganza del Enigma: a tower that shoots riders vertically. A few seconds of pure adrenaline.
• Coaster Express: the big wooden roller coaster in Old West Territory, with the rattle and thrills of classic roller coasters.

For family fun

• Río Bravo: rapids in round boats. It is almost impossible to come out dry, which makes it the favourite ride on hot days.
• Cine Tour: a boat ride through film sets, with the odd soaking.
• Scooby-Doo Aventura Misteriosa: an interactive ride through a haunted mansion where you compete for points. Children and adults alike love it.
• Correcaminos Bip, Bip (Road Runner): a family roller coaster, perfect as a first roller coaster for children who are tall enough.

For the youngest

Cartoon Village is their territory: gentle rides made to their size and a small Tom and Jerry roller coaster, plus meet-and-greets with the Looney Tunes characters. It is a good idea to spend the middle of the day there, when the big rides have the longest queues. If you are travelling with children, travelling with children in Madrid has more ideas for the rest of your trip.

1. Arrive at opening time: the first hour has the shortest queues. Head straight for the ride you most want to try, usually Superman or Batman.
2. Group rides by area: DC Super Heroes World has three of the most intense; Old West Territory, the wooden coaster and the rapids. That way you avoid crossing the park several times.
3. Save the water rides for the heat: Río Bravo and the Cine Tour are best around midday in summer. Bring a change of clothes or a rain poncho.
4. Check the show times when you go in and fit the ones you like into the busiest queuing periods.
5. Consider a fast-track pass if you go in high season or at the weekend; the park offers paid options to cut waiting times.

What to bring

Comfortable shoes, a cap and sunscreen in the warmer months, a small rucksack and a bottle of water. Some roller coasters do not allow loose items on board, and there are usually lockers to leave them in.

The park opens seasonally, with a calendar that changes every year, and tends to open daily in summer and at weekends for the rest of the season. In autumn it is transformed for the Halloween season, with decorations and horror walkthroughs, and in winter for Christmas. Next to the main park is Parque Warner Beach, a separate water park that opens in summer, with its own ticket.

The park is in the municipality of San Martín de la Vega, beyond the reach of the metro. You can get there by car or by combining Cercanías commuter rail and a bus, although with children and bags the logistics get complicated. If you are flying in or staying in Madrid, a taxi transfer to Parque Warner takes you door to door at a fixed price; if there are five or more of you, a 7-seater vehicle lets you all travel together, and if you have little ones with you, check the rules on children in taxis beforehand. The price for each area is in our fares.

Got more days in the city? If you are looking for more out-of-the-ordinary things to do, five little-known places in Madrid has ideas such as Parque Europa or the Bosque Encantado, which are also perfect for families.