Where to stay in Madrid [Best Places to Stay for 2024]

Madrid is Spain’s central capital, renowned for art and culture. Madrid has many charming and trendy neighborhoods, bustling with nightlife, so deciding where to stay in Madrid can be overwhelming.

Aerial view of Madrid Royal Palace at sunset. Architecture and landmark of Madrid. Cityscape of Madrid,Popular tourist attraction

Luckily, we’ve rounded up some of the best neighborhoods in Madrid to help you decide where to stay when you visit Madrid. This is an insiders guide to where to stay in Madrid Spain.

We will cover off all types of Madrid accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Madrid hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Madrid 2024.

This guide shows off the best Madrid hotels, best places in Madrid to visit, the best places to stay in Madrid, hotels near Madrid attractions, Madrid neighborhoods and many more.

Wondering where is the best place to stay in Madrid? Below are 9 of the best neighborhoods to stay in Madrid to help you make the right decision when trying to work out best areas to stay in Madrid for you. We have tried to make the guide as easy to follow as possible.

We have also included some things to do or places to visit as well as some eatery suggestions of either our favourite places or some funky places to eat at within the areas in Madrid so you can use this as a go to guide.

Plan your trip?

Avoid hidden fees in the exchange rate while withdrawing from millions of ATMs abroad, paying in restaurants and shops, and buying your accommodation and flights using the Wise Card. You can hold up to 40+ currencies at once to spend in in over 150 countries, and convert them in real time with the free Wise app.

Need help planning your trip from start to finish? Check out these helpful links:

Cheap flights
Savings on accommodation from hostels to luxury hotels
Affordable car rental options
Affordable sightseeing tours and day trips
Travel Adapter – All in one so you don’t have to carry a bunch around
Don’t be silly and forget Travel Insurance! Get hurt and you’ll regret it…

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. You can also read our content/editorial policy here.

Table of Contents

Malasana – where to stay in madrid first time

Best for – Hipster travelers Who Want to Blend In, On a Budget

Malasana is a young, trendy neighborhood with hipster vibes and if often referred to as Madrid’s hippest neighborhood, making it the best area to stay in Madrid for tourists.

Centered around the Plaza del 2 de Mayo and near the Tribunal Metro stop, the counter-cultural scene in Malasana still holds strong.

Malasana is the best place to stay if you are wondering where to stay in Madrid for one night, it’s also the best place to stay in Madrid for sightseeing.

Hundreds of excellent, inexpensive food options, darling boutique shops and dozens of nightclubs make Malasana a popular neighborhood for students and young travelers and tourists alike.

Within walking distance is the popular open air Rastro flea market, the largest flea market in Spain, held every Sunday (and public holiday). This it the best area if you want to know where to stay in Madrid city centre.

Best places to stay in Malasana

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Malasana

Budget accommodation in Malasana

Mid range accommodation in Malasana

Family Friendly accommodation in Malasana

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Malasana

Madrid, Spain - Scenic View of San Bernardo street in Malasana Neighbourhood in Central Madrid. It is well known as a trendy quarter in the city

Chueca – Where to stay in Madrid on a Budget

Best for – Trendy Travelers Looking for an LBGTQ Vibe

Chueca is a stylish, trendy neighborhood in Madrid, and is the hub for the cities’ LGBTQ community. Chueca has loads of trendy cafes, bars, restaurants and shops, and visitors in the summer will enjoy the many outdoor terraces in Chueca.

The main square of this neighborhood is Plaza de Chueca. The neighborhood is right in the center of Madrid, and accessible via the Metro, so it’s a great place to stay in Madrid, with easy access to transportation all over the city.

Wondering where to stay in Madrid for the first time, Chueca is the place for you!

Best places to stay in Chueca

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Chueca

Budget accommodation in Chueca

Mid range accommodation in Chueca

Family Friendly accommodation in Chueca

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Chueca

Balconies of the Chueca neighborhood of Madrid adorned with colors of the lgtb rainbow flag

Salamanca – Where to stay in Madrid for couples

Best for – Luxury Travelers Seeking a Five-Star Experience

Northeast of Madrid’s historical center, you’ll find Salamanca, an upscale neighborhood featuring fine dining establishments and designer boutiques.

Salamanca is Madrid’s most expensive neighborhood, and the most elegant. The “Golden Mile” is full of luxury retailers such as Louis Vuitton.

Once you’ve shopped til you drop, Salamanca offers an assortment of five-star hotels to kick up your feet.

Just minutes away from Salamanca is Madrid’s green lung, Buen Retiro Park, one of the largest parks in Madrid and a must-see for any visitors to the city.

Best places to stay in Salamanca

Budget accommodation in Salamanca

Mid range accommodation in Salamanca

Family Friendly accommodation in Salamanca

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Salamanca

Madrid, Spain at Plaza de Cibeles at twilight.

Gran Via – Where to stay in Madrid with family

Best for – Travelers Wanting the Full Tourist Experience

The Gran Via area is Madrid’s central commercial and historical district, filled with monuments, shops, bars and restaurants.

Many popular tourist destinations are in this area, including the Sun Gate Plaza and the Plaza Mayor. Wondering where to stay one night in Madrid? Gran via is one of the top attractions in Madrid and a very central loaction.

This district caters to tourists, so it’s a popular place to stay in Madrid for those seeking a familiar experience, with international brands.

The central location also makes Gran Via a good place to stay in Madrid as you will be able to easily access other neighborhoods during your stay.

Best places to stay in Gran Via

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Gran Via

Budget accommodation in Gran Via

Mid range accommodation in Gran Via

Family Friendly accommodation in Gran Via

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Gran Via

Madrid, Spain. Aerial view of Gran Via, main shopping street in Madrid.

Huertas – Best area to stay in Madrid for nightlife

Best for – Foodie Travelers & Literature Fans

Huertas, also the Barrio de las Letras (Literary neighborhood) is a central Madrid neighborhood with many trendy bars and restaurants.

Just five minutes walk from the Sol neighborhood, Huertas is a popular place to go out in the evenings.

Calle Huertas is the main street, lined with bars, but Huertas also has many small streets and alleys you should explore as there are hidden gems here for eating and drinking.

Best places to stay in Huertas

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Huertas

Budget accommodation in Huertas

Mid range accommodation in Huertas

Family Friendly accommodation in Huertas

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Huertas

Madrid, Spain - Street in the quarter of Las Letras in Central Madrid. Narrow street near Atocha

Atocha – Best location to stay in Madrid

Best for – Convenience Seeking Tourists

Not far from Huertas, Atocha is another chic Madrid neighborhood that has something for everyone.

Some of Madrid’s best art museums, such as the Reina Sofia art museum and the Anthropology museum are found in the Atocha neighborhood.

It is also home to the Atocha train station, Spain’s largest train hub, where you can catch a high-speed train to other areas of Spain, or commuter trains will take you to other neighborhoods in Madrid.

Within many of Atocha’s historical buildings, you’ll find many guesthouses and hotels to choose from.

Best places to stay in Atocha

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Atocha

Budget accommodation in Atocha

Mid range accommodation in Atocha

Family Friendly accommodation in Atocha

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Atocha

Railwaystation De Atocha located in the spanish capital Madrid

Lavapies – Best neighborhood to stay in Madrid

Best for – Visitors Seeking a Multi-Cultural Experience

Just one stop from Sol, Lavapies is one of Madrid’s most well-known multicultural neighborhoods, but is also undergoing gentrification on its way to the trendy list.

Lavapies has long been home to immigrant families, most often from Africa or the Middle East, therefore you will find excellent ethnic food options here and interesting shopping, too.

If you are looking for Indian food, Lavapies is the place to find the best curries.

Best places to stay in Lavapies

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Lavapies

Hostel MYD La Latina

Budget accommodation in Lavapies

Mid range accommodation in Lavapies

Family Friendly accommodation in Lavapies

MADRID SPAIN - Unidentified people visit Plaza de Lavapies Madrid Spain.

La Latina – Where to to stay in Madrid for an Authentic Experience

Best for – Visitors Seeking an Authentic Spanish Experience

Adjacent to Lavapies is La Latina, which sits on the footprint of a medieval Islamic fort, creating a maze of narrow alleys to explore.

This neighborhood has historical significance, and is a strong draw for visitors seeking authentic food and drink.

This is the place to grab a beer in the evening, and the narrow streets are filled with al fresco dining when the weather is nice.

Within the winding streets, you’ll also find many squares within La Latina, the most popular being Plaza de La Cebada.

Best places to stay in La Latina

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in La Latina

Budget accommodation in La Latina

Mid range accommodation in La Latina

Family Friendly accommodation in La Latina

Affordable Luxury accommodation in La Latina

Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great San Francisco el Grande Roman Catholic church in Madrid, Spain

Chamberi – Where to stay in Madrid for Foodies

Best for – Visitors Seeking the Best Tapas

A residential neighborhood filled with expats and students is Chamberi, which also has some of the best tapas bars in Madrid.

Chameri’s location, adjacent to Malasana and Sol, means it also has several public transit stops for easy access around Madrid.

Here you will find beautiful architecture surrounding several quaint plazas, with sidewalk cafes and bars to enjoy.

Best places to stay in Chamberi

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Chamberi

Budget accommodation in Chamberi

Mid range accommodation in Chamberi

Family Friendly accommodation in Chamberi

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Chamberi

Madrid, the capital of the Kingdom of Spain

Top 5 favorites accommodation options for Madrid

❤️ Best Area first timers	Malasana
💸 Best Luxury Hotel	Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid
👪 Best Hotel for For Families	Catalonia Gran Vía Madrid
🏨 Best Mid-Range Hotel	Radisson Blu Hotel, Madrid Prado
🛏️ Best Budget Hotel	Hostal Abril Madrid
✨ Best Hostel	Bastardo Hostel

If you’d like to save it for later, please save it to Pinterest.

Author

Samantha King

Sam, a seasoned traveler across four continents and 49 countries, is a leading authority in travel planning. Her website, Travelling King, offers tailored itineraries and expert guides for seamless trips. Sam's expertise in luxury travel, fast travel, and destination guides keeps her at the forefront of the travel community.

View all posts