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Madrid

Spain

Madrid keeps a well-guarded secret: it is one of the easiest capitals to live in with children. Sunshine, terraces where little ones are kings, and the largest French lycée of our fifteen cities, with nearly 4,400 pupils.

Currency
Euro (€)
Language
Spanish
Time vs Paris
None
Emergencies
112

FIAFE network

The Accueil for French-speaking families

In each city, a volunteer-run association from the FIAFE network welcomes, informs and helps French-speaking families settling in.

Madrid Accueil

Since 1973

Since 1973, Madrid Accueil has helped francophone families discover the capital: neighbourhood coffees, guided "Madrid Flâneries", activities in Spanish to progress, and a professional network (Madrid Accueil PRO) for spouses relaunching their careers.

Where to meet them

First and third Thursdays of the month, 11am to 1pm (Calle Marqués de la Ensenada 12, near Colón).

Visit the association's website Email the association See the FIAFE page

What they offer

  • Neighbourhood coffees and Madrid by night evenings
  • Guided visits, talks and Madrid Flâneries
  • Activities in Spanish: tertulia, film club, theatre
  • Madrid Accueil PRO network to relaunch your career

Other support networks

Two large national networks also support the French abroad, each with its local chapter.

  • UFE

    UFE Espagne

    The Spanish chapter of the Union des Français de l'Étranger, based in Madrid: welcome, mutual aid and advocacy for the French in Spain.

    Visit the website
  • Français du monde – ADFE

    Français du monde – ADFE Madrid

    The Madrid section of Français du monde - ADFE supports French residents of the capital with their paperwork.

    Email the chapter

The French business network

The local French chamber of commerce (CCI France International network) is a real asset for work: networking, job offers and help to restart a career or start a business locally.

CCI France International

La Cámara Franco-Española (CCI France Espagne)

The Franco-Spanish chamber, headquartered in Madrid, has supported families and companies since 1894: networking, advice and practical help to find a job or settle professionally in Spain.

Visit the website CCI country page

AEFE network

Accredited French schools

Schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education follow the French curriculum: your child can continue their schooling seamlessly, abroad and back in France.

💰 Compare school fees
  • AEFE direct management

    Lycée français de Madrid (et son annexe Saint-Exupéry)

    Nursery to final year (ages 3 to 18)

    📍 Conde de Orgaz (Hortaleza) · 4,370 pupils

    School website 📅 2026-2027 calendar
  • AEFE partner

    Union chrétienne de Saint-Chaumond

    Nursery to final year (ages 3 to 18)

    📍 Chamartín · 750 pupils

    School website
  • AEFE partner

    Lycée français international Molière

    Nursery to final year (ages 3 to 18)

    📍 Villanueva de la Cañada (west of Madrid) · 690 pupils

    School website
  • AEFE partner

    École Saint-Louis des Français

    Nursery to age 15 (end of collège)

    📍 Pozuelo de Alarcón · 240 pupils

    School website
  • AEFE partner

    École maternelle française Pomme d'Api

    Preschool (ages 3 to 6)

    📍 Conde de Orgaz (Hortaleza) · 175 pupils

    School website

Source: official AEFE directory, verified June 2026. aefe.gouv.fr

Tutoring and private lessons

To support your children's schooling across two systems, two solutions designed for expat families.

  • Axiom Academic

    Private lessons and tutoring for expat families: French curriculum, IB and British curriculum, at home or online, with teachers who know the schools in your city.

    Discover Axiom Academic

  • IB Tutor

    Tutors specialised in the International Baccalaureate: online lessons in every IB subject, to aim for top grades from MYP to the diploma.

    Discover IB Tutor

Schools and education

The Lycée français de Madrid, directly managed at Conde de Orgaz, is the largest French school across our cities. Around it: Saint-Chaumond, the Molière to the west, Saint-Louis and the Pomme d'Api preschool.

Good to know

  • The LFM and its Saint-Exupéry annexe teach nearly 4,400 pupils: a city-campus.
  • Pomme d'Api, next door to the LFM, is the classic preschool gateway before the big lycée.
  • Saint-Chaumond (Chamartín) and the Molière (Villanueva) offer more human-sized alternatives.
  • Spanish public school is free and accessible: immersion works well for younger children.

Children's healthcare

The Spanish system is twofold and complementary: public healthcare (via the empadronamiento and the centro de salud) and affordable private insurance most expat families add.

Good to know

  • The empadronamiento at the town hall is the first step: it conditions healthcare and schooling.
  • Each centro de salud assigns a free local paediatrician.
  • Private insurers (Sanitas, Adeslas...) offer fast appointments for a few dozen euros a month.
  • 112 is the single emergency number; the Niño Jesús hospital is the big paediatric reference.

French-speaking community

The French community of Madrid gravitates around Conde de Orgaz and Chamartín, in the wake of the lycée. Madrid Accueil, one of the oldest Accueils in the network, has animated it since 1973.

Good to know

  • Madrid Accueil (FIAFE network) holds drop-ins two Thursdays a month near Colón.
  • Conde de Orgaz, Chamartín and the Retiro area concentrate the French families.
  • UFE Espagne and Français du monde complete the associative network.
  • The Institut français and the French bookshops keep the cultural link alive.

Family outings and events

Madrid lives outdoors and late, children included: the Retiro by bike, free museums at the end of the day, the sierra an hour away for skiing or hiking, and terraces where nobody minds a running child.

Good to know

  • The Retiro park (rowing boats, puppet theatre) is the Sunday ritual.
  • The Prado is free at the end of the day; CaixaForum and the planetarium captivate children.
  • Parque Warner and the Parque de Atracciones cover the birthdays.
  • The Guadarrama sierra, an hour away, offers winter skiing and summer river swims.

These landmarks change fast: the MumExpat community will keep them up to date.

Coming soon: the full Madrid guide.

Verified addresses, paediatricians recommended by mums, a family agenda updated every week. Join the waitlist to discover the Madrid page first.

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