Where to stay in Madrid

Quick picks

Hotels around Sol

Live prices from Booking.com, Expedia and more. Move the map to explore other areas.

The 5 best areas to stay in Madrid

1. 1. Sol

   Mid-range prices

   The beating heart of old Madrid

   Puerta del Sol is kilometre zero, surrounded by pedestrian shopping streets, Plaza Mayor and the Opera district. It is busy and touristy by day and lively late at night, so ask for an interior room. Sol station links three metro lines and the Cercanías trains.

   Best for: First-timers who want to walk everywhere · Near: Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, Sol metro station

   Pros

   • + Walk to almost every major sight
   • + Excellent metro and train connections
   • + Huge choice of hotels at every price

   Cons

   • − Crowded, touristy and noisy at night
   • − Restaurants right on the square are poor value

   Where to stay in Sol

   BudgetThe Hat MadridStylish hostel near Plaza Mayor with private rooms and a great rooftop bar.Check prices →Mid-rangeHotel EuropaFamily-run classic on a pedestrian street, metres from Sol.Check prices →LuxuryFour Seasons Hotel MadridPalatial Canalejas complex with superb spa, rooftop restaurant and service.Check prices →
   See all hotels in Sol

2. 2. Barrio de las Letras

   Mid-range prices

   Literary lanes between Sol and the Prado

   Also called Huertas, this is where Cervantes and Lope de Vega lived, now full of tapas bars, taverns and small theatres around Plaza de Santa Ana. Calle Huertas gets rowdy on weekends, but the side streets are calmer. Antón Martín and Sevilla metro stations are on the doorstep.

   Best for: Couples and art lovers who want character · Near: Prado Museum, Plaza de Santa Ana, Antón Martín metro

   Pros

   • + Walk to the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía
   • + Fantastic tapas and wine bars
   • + Charming, historic streets

   Cons

   • − Weekend noise around Plaza de Santa Ana and Calle Huertas
   • − Some buildings lack lifts

   Where to stay in Barrio de las Letras

   BudgetHostal PersalClean, friendly, great-value rooms right on Plaza del Ángel.Check prices →Mid-rangeHotel Catalonia Las CortesRestored 18th-century palace, quiet rooms, excellent location near Santa Ana.Check prices →LuxuryMandarin Oriental Ritz, MadridMadrid's grande dame, beautifully restored, beside the Prado.Check prices →
   See all hotels in Barrio de las Letras

3. 3. Malasaña

   Mid-range prices

   Bohemian, buzzing and young at heart

   The birthplace of the 1980s Movida, Malasaña is a grid of narrow streets packed with indie bars, cafés, vintage shops and brunch spots around Plaza del Dos de Mayo. It is noisy late at night but feels like a real neighbourhood. Tribunal, Noviciado and Bilbao metro stations serve it well.

   Best for: Night owls and younger travellers · Near: Plaza del Dos de Mayo, Gran Vía, Tribunal metro

   Pros

   • + Best bar and café scene in the city
   • + Local, creative atmosphere
   • + Fifteen minutes' walk to Sol and Gran Vía

   Cons

   • − Late-night noise, especially weekends
   • − Fewer hotels in the core, more on its edges

   Where to stay in Malasaña

   BudgetGenerator MadridDesign hostel with private rooms and a rooftop terrace on Malasaña's edge.Check prices →Mid-rangeDear Hotel MadridSleek rooms and a rooftop pool bar overlooking Plaza de España.Check prices →LuxuryHyatt Centric Gran Via MadridModern, well-soundproofed rooms on Gran Vía, a short walk from Malasaña.Check prices →
   See all hotels in Malasaña

4. 4. Salamanca

   Upscale

   Madrid's elegant, upscale address

   A 19th-century grid of wide, tree-lined streets, Salamanca is home to designer boutiques on Calle Serrano, gourmet markets and the city's smartest restaurants. It is quiet, safe and polished, bordering Retiro Park. Serrano, Velázquez and Núñez de Balboa metro stations make the centre 10 minutes away.

   Best for: Luxury travellers, shoppers and light sleepers · Near: Retiro Park, Calle Serrano, Velázquez metro

   Pros

   • + Quiet, safe and very clean
   • + Top dining and shopping
   • + Next to Retiro Park

   Cons

   • − Twenty-five minutes' walk to Sol
   • − Pricey, with little true budget accommodation

   Where to stay in Salamanca

   Mid-rangeNH Madrid LagascaReliable, comfortable rooms in the heart of the shopping district.Check prices →LuxuryHotel WellingtonClassic Madrid institution near Retiro with a Michelin-starred restaurant.Check prices →LuxuryRosewood Villa MagnaBeautifully renovated icon on the Castellana with impeccable service.Check prices →
   See all hotels in Salamanca

5. 5. La Latina

   Mid-range prices

   Tapas crawls and Sunday market charm

   One of Madrid's oldest quarters, La Latina is all medieval lanes, church domes and the tapas bars of Cava Baja. Sundays bring the Rastro flea market and packed terraces. It is lively in the evenings, with La Latina metro station on line 5.

   Best for: Foodies who want old-Madrid atmosphere · Near: Cava Baja, El Rastro market, La Latina metro

   Pros

   • + Best tapas bar-hopping in the city
   • + Authentic historic streets
   • + Walk to Plaza Mayor and the palace

   Cons

   • − Hilly in parts
   • − Very crowded and noisy on Sundays

   Where to stay in La Latina

   BudgetHotel Puerta de ToledoGood-value, simple rooms by Puerta de Toledo metro.Check prices →Mid-rangePosada del DragónBoutique rooms in a restored inn right on Cava Baja.Check prices →Mid-rangePosada del León de OroCharacterful 19th-century inn with a much-loved wine bar.Check prices →
   See all hotels in La Latina

Madrid itineraries

3 days · Spain

3 Days in Madrid: Museums, Tapas & Plazas

Old masters, late-night tapas and flamenco in Spain's sunny capital

~€243 pp/day Read guide