Looking for the best place to stay in Madrid?
Follow the guide, we have tested, listed and detailed for you the best areas to sleep in Madrid as well as the best accommodation in this city that we love so much to visit.
⏰ Don’t have time to read everything?
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations sorted by price category:
🚨 These hotels are among the most popular, so don’t delay in booking. Plus, they offer free cancellation, so don’t worry if you change your mind.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
Table des matières
Best area to stay in Madrid: the Centre
In this district for sleeping in Madrid, corresponding to Madrid’s official city centre, you’ll admire the larger-than-life squares, street performers, crowds of local and international tourists, and countless eateries, serving the city’s best paellas.
The wide pavements and pedestrianised streets of this shopping district will delight shopaholics. The Puerta del Sol, one of the most popular attractions not only in the district but in the city as a whole, is a huge crossroads and meeting place, and a must-see at any time of day.
The Plaza Mayor, meanwhile, is the ideal place to settle down for a quick lunch, amidst the old buildings with their red-tinted facades that surround and colour the square.
Public: All types of travellers looking for accommodation in Madrid
Highlights: Basilica of Saint Francis the Great, Church of Saint Peter the Elder, Puerta de Toledo, Basilica of San Miguel, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.
Here are our favourite hotels in the best area to stay in Madrid
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
Madrid’s family district: Chamberí
Popular taverns, humble stalls and tall residential buildings with elegant balconies make a visit to the friendly neighbourhood that is Chamberí an experience steeped in tradition.
Spared the contemporary standardisation of city centres, the area is home to many small bakeries, modest cafés, hardware stores and tobacco shops. The Plaza Olavide, a circular square in the centre of the district, is one of the liveliest and greenest spots in the area.
It’s a great place to relax, so bring your newspaper and morning coffee to enjoy the slow passage of time and the street musicians who fill the air with their Spanish rhythms.
Public: All types of travellers looking for a nice, quiet place to stay in Madrid
Highlights: Andén 0 (Pier 0), Sorolla Museum, Geominero Museum, Enrique Herreros Garden, Palace of the Marquis of Fontalba, Chancellery of the Attorney General, Spanish National Museum of Natural Sciences.
Here are our favourite hotels in the Chamberí family district to stay at in Madrid
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
The area to go out and stay in Madrid: Argüelles
This district for accommodation in Madrid is located to the south of the mythical and lively campus of the Complutense University of Madrid. Argüelles is a dynamic district, characterised by a decidedly student vibrancy.
Calle Princesa, the district’s main thoroughfare, is lined with students and young graduates, who love this area for its nightlife: tapas bars and cheap nightclubs, as well as green spaces where you can enjoy a stroll.
Home to many of the capital’s tourist attractions, Argüelles is renowned for its typically Spanish clothes shops and ready-to-wear boutiques. The Plaza de España, one of the district’s public gardens, is famous for its regular craft fairs.
Target group: All types of travellers looking for a lively area to stay in Madrid.
Highlights: Victory Arch, Parc de l’Ouest, San Antonio de la Florida church, Temple of Amon, Príncipe Pío shopping centre.
Here are our favourite hotels in the best district for going out in Madrid
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
The best district for eating tapas in Madrid: La Latina
Famous for its two very contrasting personalities, La Latina is Madrid’s ‘tapas centre’ where you absolutely must go if you like to eat good tapas.
At first glance, the district is marked by old stones, narrow streets and an old-fashioned charm. However, it also has a bohemian atmosphere, with lots of young people coming and going between the many shops, restaurants, bars and coworking spaces that occupy this district.
If you’re here on a Sunday or public holiday, be sure to pass through the streets south of the main metro station, which are transformed into a gigantic open-air flea market, with a variety of stalls selling antiques, clothes and art.
Public: All types of travellers (not just fans of good tapas in Madrid!)
Highlights: Basilica of Saint Francis the Great, Plaza de Los Carros, Campo de la Cebada, Museum of Origins (Museo de San Isidro), Jardin de las Vistillas.
Here are our favourite hotels in the best area for tapas in Madrid
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
Madrid’s gay-friendly neighbourhood: Chueca
Madrid’s elegant gay quarter, Chueca, is a densely populated area with narrow streets and eclectic shop fronts. Steeped in a very special atmosphere, Chueca immediately gives you a glimpse of another facet of Madrid’s culture.
Dotted with bars and restaurants bearing the rainbow flag of the LGBT community, the area is hip, young, warm and welcoming.
Whatever your preferences, an evening out with your new friends in the Plaza Chueca is likely to be one of the best memories of your stay in the Spanish capital.
Public: All types of travellers looking for a gay-friendly district in Madrid
Highlights: Museum of Romanticism, Madrid History Museum, GranVía.
Here are our favourite hotels in Madrid’s gay-friendly district
Note: Don’t delay as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
The cultural quarter for art fans in Madrid: Paseo del Prado
No visit to Madrid is complete without a visit to the Paseo del Prado. And if you’ve missed out on the “Golden Triangle of Art and Culture” that stretches the length of this fascinating district, you’ll definitely want to come back.
This area of Madrid is visited by record numbers of locals and tourists alike, and is home to a number of other notable art centres. And don’t hesitate to come here in the evening, when you can opt for one of its many panoramic bars to enjoy a delicious cocktail and a breathtaking view of the city and its skyline.
Public: All types of travellers who love art galleries and rooftop bars.
Highlights: Neptune Fountain, Velázquez statue, Prado National Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Monument to those who fell for Spain.
Here are our favourite hotels in the Cultural Quarter to stay at in Madrid
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
The trendiest area to sleep in Madrid: Malasaña
A mix of trendy bars and opulent art galleries, Malasaña is the meeting place for anyone looking for a good time – young and old, artists and even pets and their owners.
A quiet, ordinary neighbourhood by day, Malasaña is transformed into a thriving nightlife centre by nightfall. The Dos de Mayo square is the meeting place for night owls of all kinds.
The Conde Duque, to the east of Malasaña, is a renowned cultural and performing arts centre, named after the massive pink fort that originally occupied the area. Interestingly, the district is home to a large part of Madrid’s international community.
Public: All types of travellers wanting to stay in a trendy area of Madrid.
Highlights: ABC Museum, Conde Duque Cultural Centre, Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans.
Here are our favourite hotels in the trendy district to stay at in Madrid
Note: Don’t delay as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
Where to sleep in Madrid? The smart district: Salamanca
Not sure where to stay in Madrid? Try the middle-class district of Salamanca. Its wide, tree-lined streets and charming lampposts give this district a delightfully old-fashioned charm. Comparatively quieter than other parts of the city, this district stands out for its seductive and sumptuous buildings, with their singular architecture.
If you’re in town to indulge your compulsive shopping habit, take a stroll down Jose Ortega y Gasset or Serrano, where you’ll find a host of small boutiques and haute-couture shops.
For a lazy day in the area, or a morning jog, head for Retiro Park, which is always beautifully maintained.
Public: All types of travellers, especially those looking for a chic area to shop in upmarket boutiques.
Highlights: Retiro Park, National Archaeological Museum, National Library of Spain, minaret of Madrid’s Casa Arabe
Here are our favourite hotels in Madrid’s chic district to stay at
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
Madrid’s literary quarter: Huertas
Once home to many illustrious literary figures, Huertas, also known as the “Quarter of Letters”, is Madrid’s old literary quarter.
A truly off-the-beaten-track experience that you absolutely cannot miss, the cobbled streets of the district are covered with quotations from the country’s leading authors and writers.
Needless to say, you’ll find plenty of bookshops here, selling both new and second-hand books. If devouring a brilliant novel is the best thing to do in Huertas during the day, don’t hesitate to visit at night too. You’ll be delighted to join the locals and other tourists in a wonderful mix of cocktails and music sessions.
Public: All types of travellers.
Highlights: Plaza Santa Ana, Teatro de la Cruz, Viva Madrid bar, Cardamomo, Casa de Cervantes.
Here are our favourite hotels in the Literary Quarter to stay at in Madrid
Note: Don’t delay booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
The cosmopolitan area to stay in Madrid: Lavapies
This is probably one of the most cosmopolitan areas to stay in Madrid. In fact, it’s almost hard to tell which part of the world it belongs to, as you pass the many Indian restaurants on one side and the men in traditional African dress sitting in front of their shops on the other.
As well as a variety of shop windows, which demonstrate the multicultural identity of this part of the city, Lavapies is also home to two gigantic art and culture centres, the charming Casa Incendida and the famous old tobacco factory. On Rue Argumosa, young people sporting dreadlocks meet up for a drink, or to hold passionate conversations about art.
Public: All types of travellers looking for a place to stay in Madrid
Highlights: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Plaza Nelson Mandela, Tabacalera.
Here are our favourite hotels in the cosmopolitan district where to stay in Madrid
Note: Don’t delay in booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Madrid.
(€) Ayre Gran Hotel Colón. Modern and inexpensive hotel in Madrid located in a peaceful setting, 700 metres from Retiro Park and 15 minutes from the centre by metro. Book here.
(€€) Oriente Palace Apartments. Stay in the heart of the city! This charming hotel with beautifully decorated rooms is located in Madrid city centre, just 1 min walk from the Royal Palace and 400 m from Plaza Mayor. Book here.
(€€)❤️Only YOU Hotel. Magnificent hotel in a 19th-century building, located in the traveller’s favourite district. The restaurant-bar on the rooftop is top-notch! Book here.
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