WHERE TO STAY IN MADRID, SPAIN

If you are interested in where to stay in Madrid, you may also be interested in where to stay in Barcelona, where to stay in Seville, where to stay in Granada and where to stay in Lisbon.

City Centre, the best area to stay in Madrid

Madrid’s City Centre is a hub of tourist activity. You will find most of the city’s famous attractions here, so it’s a good area to stay in and treat as a base if you’re looking to spend the day sight seeing.

Madrid’s museums are always popular attractions, and many of them can be found in the City Centre. The Prado National Museum is an art gallery with one of the largest, and perhaps one of the best, collections of art in the world. Then there’s the Reina Sofia National Art Museum, another impressive art gallery that houses 20th century art pieces. As well as these popular art museums, you can also enjoy the National Archaeological Museum, the Madrid Wax Museum, and the Museum of Romanticism, along with several others located near the Prado National Museum, around the Plaza de la Lealtad. All of these will be within easy walking distance if you stay in the City Centre.

There’s also plenty to see in the area by way of historic monuments and attractions. The Royal Palace of Madrid stands proudly in the City Centre, and is worth a visit if you enjoy admiring grand architecture and beautiful art. You´ll also find the Puerto Del Sol here, which is the geographical heart of Madrid. Whilst this area is a busy cross road, there’s a beautiful fountain marking the area’s significance, and several shops and restaurants surrounding the area.

The Plaza Mayor is another historic location in the area, dating back to the 16th century, and centring around a statue of King Philip III. As well as being a site of historical importance, it is also Madrid’s main square, so it’s where you’ll find many of the City Centre’s restaurants, street performers, and pop-up markets. Just a short walk away from this square, you’ll find Gran Via, which is a shopper´s heaven. This is the city’s main shopping street, and it’s so impressive that it’s often compared to New York’s Times Square. The street is always thriving with tourists and shoppers, and you’ll have the chance to shop until you drop at some of your favourite brands. No matter where you stay in the City Centre, you’ll be just moments away from these popular areas.

Sports fans will be pleased to hear that it’s not all art, history and shopping in Madrid’s City Centre, there’s also the famous Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Sports fans often jump at the chance to visit the home stadium of Real Madrid, which is often considered one of the best stadiums in the world. You can visit the stadium to discover the various trophy displays and football history, pose for a photo in front of the iconic sports venue, or if you’re lucky enough, you might even be able to see a game!

For a more relaxing experience of Madrid, there’s also the central Retiro Park, where you can take a break from the busy city streets, and enjoy a tranquil walk around the park, whilst taking in some much welcome nature within an ultimately urban environment.

Hotels in Madrid City Centre

Other neighbourhoods to stay in Madrid

Malasaña

Malasaña is a barrio in the centre of Madrid which is a funneighbourhood  to stay especially if you want to sample the city’s cutting edge nightlife. The most famous street is Calle Espiritu Santu which stretches from east to west and is the perfect place to start the day with an espresso in the Lolina Vintage Café. Well known for its neon lighting and colourful seating. A wander down the street reveals hippy cafés, book shops and a whole plethora of trendy dives. Another great place for coffee is the Glorieta de Bilbao, a star-shaped restaurant founded in 1887. Malasaña’s most famous church is the Iglesia de San Antonio de Los Alemanes, with its beautiful baroque interior which is well worth seeing.

The tempo changes as the sun sets. Malasaña is famed for its quirky nightlife and if you want to enjoy it, you must adopt local timings! Sharing a drink with friends starts around 8.00 pm and people don’t get to their favourite tapas bar until gone 10.00 pm! The clubs don’t open until late, but regularly stay open until 06.00 – no wonder daytimes are spent at a leisurely pace! The nightlife is so good that you will find it a favourite with Madrileños (residents of the city) There are a few clubs to enjoy including Tupperware which has a live DJ and great dance floor. If you prefer, there are some lovely restaurants in the Calle de Pez area serving excellent Galician cuisine and if you enjoy the theatre there are three beautiful theatres – Teatros Lara, Victoria and Maravillas.

Hotels in Malasaña

Chueca

You may well have the feeling that you have seen Chueca before and you could have done, as it is a popular location for film makers. It is also the perfect destination if you are looking for somewhere that has good shops, great street cafés, fine restaurants and an exuberant night life and everything focuses on the main square – Plaza de Chueca. If you fancy a browse in an unusual shop Almirante 23 has thousands of geographically and thematically classified postcards as well as an eclectic selection of 19th century objects including toys, trading cards and badges.

Situated in the heart of Madrid and just east of Malasaña, this district has a gay community and is a focus for gay art. In late June/early July there are the famous gay pride parties and Chueca gets incredibly packed. By day there are shops and galleries to browse in and interesting places to discover like the church of San Anton where the bones of Saint Valentine are kept. An evening stroll can end at one of the many bars or really good restaurants before heading to one of the lively nightspots such as Black & White, Delirio and Long Play- which gets incredibly busy.

Hotels in Chueca

Salamanca

Salamanca is a high-end neighbourhood in Madrid. It’s where you’ll find luxury shops and shopping destinations, and is perfect for those with a taste for the finer things in life. The restaurants in Salamanca also live up to the area’s high-end reputation and luxurious setting. There are even a few restaurants with Michelin Stars!

So if you want to experience one of the most luxurious and prestigious locations in Madrid, Salamanca is the perfect place to stay. It’s also where you’ll find many of the city’s best hotels, on tree-lined avenues and amidst 19th century architecture.

Hotels in Salamanca

Chamberí

The Chamberí neighbourhood, or “barrio”, is a good place to stay if you want a more authentic experience of Madrid, in a more local area. The area isn’t nearly as bustling as the City Centre, there are just a few traditional shops and tapas restaurants that are mainly frequented by the locals.

At the heart of the neighbourhood is the Plaza de Chamberí, which is a nice open space where people walk, talk, and meet. There are always people in the square, which gives the area a friendly and safe atmosphere, making it popular with young people and families alike.

Most people that stay in Chamberí when visiting Madrid do so to avoid the inflated rates of hotels in the City Centre. Chamberí is a much more affordable area, and it’s still possible to visit all of Madrid’s main attractions on foot from here. Alternatively, you could make use of the modern and efficient public transport in the area. Chamberí is also next to Salamanca, so if you want to experience the impressive streets of the city’s most exclusive location without paying to stay there, Chamberí is a good place to stay.

Hotels in Chamberí