Finding a good place to stay in Madrid is not an easy task, especially if we take into account the amount of neighbourhoods the city has and the multiple options of hotels in each one of them. Knowing this and to try to make this process as easy as possible, we want to give you our recommendations on where to stay in Madrid as well as a selection of hotels in each of them.
Based on our many visits to the city, in the last one we wrote this guide to Madrid, we leave you a selection of places to stay in Madrid and the best neighbourhoods and hotels. Let's get started!
Neighbourhoods where to stay in Madrid
The city of Madrid is made up of 21 districts which in turn group 131 administrative districts. As you can expect we will not talk about all of them in this post and we will focus on the most touristic, most famous and above all, the ones we believe are the best options where to stay in Madrid.
As we have done in other cities, in some cases we will talk about districts and in others about neighbourhoods, depending on which ones we think are more or less recommendable to stay in. In any case, we will always comment on them so that you know the exact location of the best places to stay in Madrid at all times.
1. El Centro, the best place to stay in Madrid
The Centro district is undoubtedly the best place to stay in Madrid as this is where most of the tourist attractions of the city are located, such as the Prado Museum, Cibeles or the famous Puerta del Sol, among many others.
This district is divided into 6 neighbourhoods: Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad and Sol, being the last one the most central and where we recommend you to look for accommodation, especially if your stay in the city will be for a few days.
It is also important to know that all the neighbourhoods are very well connected by public transport, especially the metro, which is the fastest and most comfortable means of transport to get around the city.
The price of accommodation in the Centre is usually 100 euros, although depending on the category of the hotel it can reach 150 euros. There are also offers for less than 100 euros, although the quality is usually lower or in less favourable locations.
Recommended hotels in the Centre
Here are the most recommendable options we have found for accommodation in the city centre, taking into account the quality/price ratio:
El Centro, the best place to stay in Madrid.
2. Salamanca, one of the most expensive areas to stay in Madrid
Known for being the shopping district, Salamanca is the perfect place to stay in Madrid if you want to be in a central area, well communicated and above all chic, in which the buildings of stately facades that make this place one of the most elegant residential areas of Europe stand out.
Here you will find most of the most famous brand name shops, which dot the main arteries of the district, such as Calle Serrano, Velázquez, Príncipe de Vergara and José Ortega y Gasset, as well as a wide range of restaurants.
The district is divided into 6 neighbourhoods: Recoletos, Goya, Fuente del Berro, La Guindalera, Lista and Castellana, the latter being, together with Recoletos and Goya, the most central and well-known.
The price of accommodation in Salamanca is usually around 75 euros per night.
Recommended hotels in Salamanca
Here are the most recommended options we have found for accommodation in Salamanca:
3. Retiro
This district, made up of the neighbourhoods of Pacífico, Adelfas, Estrella, Ibiza, Jerónimos and Niño Jesús, is known all over the world for being home to the famous Retiro Park, after which it is named. Although it is not our favourite place to stay in Madrid, all the neighbourhoods are well connected to the rest of the city, although it should be noted that, especially the area closest to the park, is one of the most expensive in the city.
In case you want to choose this area to sleep in Madrid, we recommend you to do it near Paseo del Prado, which is the one that sets the boundary with the Centro district or Calle de Alcalá, which borders with the Salamanca district.
The price of accommodation in the Retiro is usually around 75 euros per night.
Recommended hotels in the Retiro
Here are the most recommended options we have found for accommodation in the Retiro, taking into account the quality/price ratio:
El Retiro, another place to stay in Madrid.
4. Chamartín, the best area if you want to be well connected in Madrid
Located in the northern part of the city, the Chamartín district is made up of the neighbourhoods of El Viso, Prosperidad, Ciudad Jardín, Hispanoamérica, Nueva España and Castilla. Like the Retiro, for us it is not the best option to stay in Madrid unless you are only coming for a few days and want to make different trips from the capital and need to be close to Chamartín Station.
The whole area is very well connected by public transport and also has a good gastronomic offer, especially in the areas closest to the financial area.
The price of accommodation in Chamartín is usually around 50-75 euros per night.
Recommended hotels in Chamartín
Here are the most recommended options we have found for accommodation in Chamartín:
Our recommended accommodation where to stay in Madrid
After travelling to the city on many occasions we can only recommend you to opt for the Centro district to stay in Madrid as we believe that if your trip is for tourism it is important to be in a central location and taking into account that in most cases, hotels in Madrid are quite cheap.
Here are our latest options, all of them with a very good quality/price ratio:
Room Mate Óscar: located in Chueca, one of our favourite areas of the city, this hotel is perfect if you are looking for a different place but with all the comforts and an excellent location.
Room007 Select Sol: located in the city centre, with metro stops nearby and good value for money, this is another one of the best places to stay in Madrid.
One Shot Prado 23: located on Calle del Prado, it has rooms with all the amenities and an excellent location.
After our experience, if you are travelling to Madrid for a few days, we recommend you to look for accommodation in the Centro district, in Chueca, Malasaña, Barrio de las Letras or La Latina, which are our favourites and what we believe are the best areas to stay in Madrid.
Best hotels in Madrid
In addition to all the accommodations where to stay in Madrid that we have recommended in this post, if you want to enjoy an unforgettable stay in the city and treat yourself, these options we believe are the best to enjoy a few unique days in the city.
Where to stay in Madrid, one of the most fascinating cities in Europe
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Madrid
Although it may seem easy to find a place to stay in Madrid, we know that in many cases, having so many options to choose from only makes the process more difficult and lengthens it. That is why we want to give you some basic recommendations so that you can find the best place to stay in Madrid and the one that best suits your needs.
Taking into account that prices do not vary too much between the districts that we have talked about in the post, we believe that the most suitable area to sleep in Madrid is the Centro district.
If your trip to Madrid is during a festival or event, it is important to book in advance to find good prices.
Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate, we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, they are free and will save you a lot of money.
Once you have found the ideal place to stay in Barcelona you can organise your routes around the city with the following guides and posts:
22 must-see places to see in Madrid
Madrid in one day
Madrid in two days
Madrid in 3 days
Madrid in 4 days
10 must-see Madrid travel tips
The 10 best getaways near Madrid
Where to eat in Madrid: Recommended restaurants
The 10 best tours and excursions from Madrid
10 essential works to see in the Prado Museum
Top 5 museums in Madrid
The best free tours in Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid: opening hours and prices
Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid: opening hours and prices
How to get from Madrid Airport to the city centre
How to get to El Escorial from Madrid (train or bus)
How to get to Avila from Madrid (train or bus)
How to get from Madrid to Segovia (train or bus)
How to get to Salamanca from Madrid (train or bus)
How to get to Cuenca from Madrid (train or bus)
How to get from Madrid to Toledo (train or bus)
