Spain is a beautiful country, of that there can be no doubt, and its capital Madrid is just as impressive. Fantastic architecture, great food, bustling streets, loads of incredible art… Madrid is all that and much more.
However, the chances are that you will be needing a place to stay when you visit this wonderful city, so it’s worth to take a moment and think carefully about choosing of your accommodation. There are various factors to consider: obviously, your budget is probably the main one, but you also may want to choose between a location in the city centre or in a more peaceful part of town. Therefore, here are a few suggestions on where to stay in Madrid.
FIVE STARS
No matter if you’re just spending one day in Madrid or a here for a while, if you want a luxurious stay, you’ll look for five-star hotels. VP Plaza España Design is probably the embodiment of everything you think when somebody mentions this type of accommodation. Great modern design plus a rooftop bar with a view to die for along with all other features of a five-star hotel guarantee that you’ll love every second of your stay here.
However, when it comes to views from the top, The Principal Madrid may have VP Plaza España Design beat. In addition to that, this hotel has architecture more than one hundred years old and is a bit closer to the city centre, although both candidates are within walking distance.
On the other hand, if the city centre is too much for you, Barcelo Imagine is the hotel you want. Its interior design revolves around music, there are trees all over the place, and you get a great view of Madrid skyline from the rooftop bar. Naturally, a pool is available too.
FOUR STARS
If you want to take it down a notch in terms of hotel category, the number of choices grows exponentially. It’s really remarkable how many great four-star hotels there are in Madrid and how many of them have something very special about them.
Only YOU Hotel Atocha is a great example of that because it is located in a building from the 19th century, and the same thing can be said of Hotel Preciados. In both cases you will enjoy some fantastic and fully renovated architecture (in addition to all other features you’d expect from this category), although it needs to be said that the latter hotel is much closer to the city centre.
On the other hand, if you want to stay outside of the city centre, Melia Castila and NH Collection Eurobuilding can oblige. Both are high-quality modern hotels, with the former offering a seasonal pool, while the latter is close to Santiago Bernabeu, home of the illustrious Real Madrid.
GREAT VALUE
However, you may be looking for the best value for your money, for good accommodation at a reasonable price. No problem! B&B Hotel Madrid Centro Fuencarral 52, another hotel in a building from the 19th century with a fantastic view from the terrace on its roof, is extremely hard to beat – low prices, excellent location near the city centre and impeccable service. Suites Viena Plaza de Espana are a bit more expensive, but still provide more than enough value for you to be perfectly satisfied with what you get.
UVE Alcobendas is the place to book if you need to stay close to Madrid’s Barajas airport, however. Exceptionally clean with extremely capable staff, it is also very close to a metro station, so you can get to the city easily even if you don’t have a car.
HOSTELS
Where to stay in Madrid if you’re looking for hostels? Well, Gran Via Open Hostel is probably the most popular accommodation of that type in the city. It is right in the city centre, with a nice terrace and kettles and microwaves in the rooms.
The demand is high, so book well ahead if you’re going.
Far Home Atocha is another great Madrid hostel, also in the city centre. Modern interior really makes it stand out, and some rooms even have a balcony. Not to mention that the common room is very comfortable, plus the prices are quite reasonable. Finally, New Go Inn also has to be mentioned here, particularly because of its incredibly nice staff, and it’s also in the city centre.
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION
Obviously, since this is a huge city, there are plenty of choices when it comes to private accommodation, too. AirBnB, Couchsurfing, all that is available and through this kind of websites you can get up close and personal with the locals. Now, I won’t mention individual apartments you could rent, that wouldn’t make much sense, but some neighbourhoods are worth looking out for.
Huertas and Malasana, for example, are excellent places if you’re looking to spend a great night out. The nightlife there is great, especially in Malasana which has loads of nightclubs. Huertas, on the other hand has a more artistic vibe to it, but I enjoyed its laid-back atmosphere and wide selection of bars very much when I was staying there.
Chueca is the center of LGBT life in Madrid and a very welcoming place. Also a place with a thriving nightlife, but great for a walk during the day too. Plenty of great restaurants to choose from!
Finally, if you want to enjoy some excellent tapas, head to La Latina. It has plenty of tapas bars and is generally a very nice place for some people watching and taking things easy.
CONCLUSION
As you can see, you really don’t have to worry about where to stay in Madrid. This big and impressive city has all kinds, of excellent hotels, hostels and private accommodation for you to choose from, and you will easily find the perfect place. No matter if you want to stay in the city centre, near the airport or somewhere slightly secluded, there WILL be a place for you. Enjoy!
BIO: Anca is the founder and chief editor of One Day Itinerary (http://onedayitinerary.com/), a travel blog dedicated to those who want to make the most of their time in a new city, even if they only have only one day there. Thanks to the fact that she has traveled literally all over the world, she can tell you the dos and don’ts of pretty much every major city in the world. As a matter of fact, she’s already done so in her blog posts.
