Where to Stay in Madrid: Best Areas & Hotels

Artsy, bohemian, and cheerful, Madrid is one of the most dynamic European cities. While it is true that Madrid doesn’t have a defining must-see attraction, the Spanish capital contains numerous artistic and architectural treasures and is home to one of the most important museums in the world. Officially made the capital of Spain in 1561, this once sleepy inland village grew to become one of the most renowned cultural, business and nightlife centres on the continent. If you are looking for the best areas to stay in Madrid, you have come to the right place.

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Accommodation Options in Madrid

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Located in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid is, after Paris, the second-most populated metropolis in the EU. A major road, air and railway hub, this truly global city is famous for hosting the “Golden Triangle of Art,” a cultural corridor that includes the world-class museums of El Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza. Aesthetes and architecture lovers will have a hard time finding a more beautiful street than Gran Vía, a turn-of-the-century avenue packed with the finest examples of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and early avant-garde buildings, and Palacio Real and Parque de El Retiro give the city a sense of grandeur that no other Spanish city can rival.

In addition, if there’s one thing Madrid is truly known for is its legendary nightlife and friendly people. Here, everybody is a local. Maybe it’s the culture, maybe it’s the extroverted nature of its people, but Madrid has something that reels you in and makes you want more. Usually overlooked in favour of Barcelona, in recent years, Madrid has seen a boom in tourism. Dozens of new boutique hotels have opened in its central districts and the city is increasingly becoming one of the major tourist destinations in Spain. Not bad for a city with no beach!

Whether you’re visiting Madrid for sightseeing, nightlife or a business trip, keep reading this post to find out our selection best areas to stay in Madrid for tourists.

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What’s the Best Area to Stay in Madrid?

The best area to stay in Madrid is hands down Distrito Centro, especially if it’s your first time visiting the city. Madrid’s City Centre includes six different barrios including the Old Town and the nightlife hotspots of Malasaña & Chueca and is home to the city’s main cultural and historic attractions. Madrid Centro is also where some of the best-rated hotels in Madrid are located.

Find available accommodation in Madrid Centro.

Best Hotels in the Centre of Madrid

• Best five-star hotel: Gran Hotel Inglés
• Best four-star hotel: Iberostar Las Letras Gran Via
• Best three-star hotel: Hotel Regina
• Best budget hotel: Ibis Madrid Centro
• Best B&B: BNBHolder Boutique SOL
• Best hostel: Sungate ONE
• Best tourist apartments: Arenal Suites Puerta del Sol

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Where to Stay in Madrid for Sightseeing

As mentioned above, Madrid Centro is the best location for tourists in the Spanish capital. That said, this massive district is made up of many different neighbourhoods, each with a different flavour and attractions. These are some of the most exciting quarters to stay in central Madrid:

• Located in the heart of Madrid, the sumptuously named Barrio de Sol (district of the sun) is home to Madrid de los Austrias; the city’s oldest quarter. This lovely area contains some of Madrid’s historic attractions and public squares including Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. As one of the most visited districts in Madrid, Austrias is also home to several top-rated properties such as the Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá and Pestana Plaza Mayor.
• Barrio de Las Letras, Madrid’s literary quarter, is famous for its many tapas bars and is the closest area to El Prado and the other museums in the Golden Triangle of Art. Some of the best hotels in Las Letras include the 5-star Gran Hotel Inglés and the boutique-style Room Mate Alba.
• North of Plaza España lies Malasaña; Madrid’s hipster quarter. This vibrant neighbourhood is known for its impressive nightlife and food scene and its many cafés, shops, art galleries & record stores. There are several boutique properties in Malasaña like the 7 Islas Hotel and the budget Woohoo Suites Madrid.
• East of Malasaña is Chueca. Internationally renowned as Madrid’s gay village, this central quarter is also one of the city’s premier dining destinations. Probably the best hotel in this district, Room Mate Oscar offers lovely views next to the main LGBTQ+ nightlife area.

• Palacio, unsurprisingly located around the Royal Palace, hosts attractions such as the Teatro Real and the Cathedral of La Almudena. It is also home to La Latina, a funky & historic quarter packed with street art and restaurants. A great option in this area is Posada del Dragón Boutique Hotel.
• Occupying the southern portion of Centro is Lavapiés. This up-and-coming quarter in Barrio de Embajadores is known for its amazing ethnic food scene and is home to the Reina Sofía Museum. Lavapiés is also the site of fabulous budget properties like Artrip Hotel and Hotel Mediodía.

The Best Areas for Tourists in Madrid: District by District

Madrid is divided into 21 different distritos (districts) which are further subdivided into dozens of smaller “official” barrios (quarters). From a tourist’s standpoint, these are the districts to keep in mind when trying to find out the most convenient location to stay in Madrid:

That said, most of Madrid’s sights can be found in the aforementioned Distrito Centro, with a few notable exceptions like Museo del Prado, Parque del Retiro, Puerta de Alcalá and Real Madrid Stadium, located in the outlying districts.

Part I: Where to Stay in Central Madrid

Since the quarters in Centro (light blue on the map above) all have a different flavour, personalities and hotels, we decided to talk about each barrio individually. These are the different areas in Centro:

1. Sol & Madrid de los Austrias: Best Location in Madrid for Sightseeing and History Fans

The smallest quarter in Central Madrid, Sol is the historic, political and commercial hub of the Spanish capital.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Heart of the city
• Connected by several metro and commuter train lines
• Plaza Mayor
• Puerta del Sol
• Historic architecture
• Shopping streets
• Tourist-oriented
• Tapas & cocktail bars
• Top-notch hotels and B&Bs

Barrio de Sol is the smallest and most central of all the neighbourhoods that make up Central Madrid.

Sol is anchored by and gets its name from Puerta del Sol, Madrid’s main square and its political and commercial centre. Located at the confluence of San Jerónimo, Alcalá, Montera, Carmen, Preciados, Arenal, Mayor, Correo and Carretas streets, Puerta del Sol is home to some recognisable Madrid landmarks, including the Royal House of the Post Office; seat of the regional government, the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (el Oso y el Madroño); the symbol of the city, and Tio Pepe’s neon sign.

Stretching west from Puerta del Sol all the way to the Royal Palace is Madrid de Los Austrias, the capital’s oldest quarter. Perhaps the best-known tourist attraction in this historic area is Plaza Mayor, a symmetrical porticoed square complete with a bronze statue of King Philip III. Not far, you’ll find Casa de la Villa; Madrid’s city hall from the 1600s until 2011 and the 19th century, and Mercado de San Miguel, a refurbished Art Nouveau market with stalls offering gourmet Spanish food, from Iberian ham to Basque pintxos, fine wines and traditional tapas.

Fully pedestrianised as early as 1973, Calle de Preciados is, next to Gran Vía and Serrano, one of Madrid’s main shopping streets. Here, you’ll find large department stores and high-street fashion retailers.

And then there’s Gran Vía. Splitting Distrito Centro in half, this mile-long street has been Madrid’s main entertainment and commercial thoroughfares since its construction in the early 1900s. Its architecture is heavily inspired by New York, and it contains some of the finest examples of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and early avant-garde buildings in Spain. Today, Gran Vía is known for its luxury hotels, fashion boutiques and as a major theatre destination.

Not only is Barrio de Sol Madrid’s geographic centre, but it is also a major transportation hub. The whole area, but especially Puerta del Sol, is extremely well-connected via the city’s metro and commuter railway network. Some stations located in and around the district include Sol 1 2 3 C, Tirso de Molina 1, Callao 3 5, Santo Domingo 2 and Gran Vía 1 5.

Best Hotels in Sol, Madrid

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2. Malasaña & Conde Duque: Best Location in Madrid for Nightlife

Occupying the northwestern end of Central Madrid, Malasaña has long being the city’s alternative district and nightlife hotspot.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Very central location
• Connected by several metro lines
• Madrid’s hipster area
• Thrift stores, bookshops & art galleries
• Best area to stay in Madrid for nightlife
• Cafés, bars and nightclubs
• Pedestrian-friendly
• Luxury, boutique & budget hotels
• San Antonio de Los Alemanes Church

One of the first things you need to know about Madrid is that, other than the official distritos and barrios, its city centre also contains several historical neighbourhoods whose names are often more popular than their official designations. Cue in Malasaña.

The historical quarters of Malasaña, Conde Duque and Triball are all part of Barrio de la Universidad. Located directly north of Gran Vía, this district got its name from the Caserón de San Bernardo, the former headquarters of the University of Madrid.

Known as the cradle of “La Movida Madrileña,” a counter-cultural movement born after the fall of the Francoist regime, Malasaña was originally a working-class and student district. Today, it is Madrid’s main nightlife district and alternative hangout, home to many Movida-era and modern bars and clubs catering to all kinds of people.

The area is centred around Plaza del Dos de Mayo, a nice public square packed with terraces and tapas bars. Corredera de San Pablo connects Calle Fuencarral and Plaza de La Luna and is known for its many artsy cafés, ethnic restaurants and speciality shops and art galleries. Meanwhile, Calle del Espíritu Santo is famed for its vintage clothing and record stores and Calle del Pez is home to theatres and trendy restaurants.

The Church of San Antonio de Los Alemanes, located on Calle de la Puebla is perhaps one of Madrid’s best-kept secrets. Considered the “Spanish Sixtine Chapel,” its interior is covered with frescos depicting the life of San Antonio of Padua.

Calle de San Bernardo crosses the neighbourhood north to south and separates Malasaña from Conde Duque, a quieter section of Universidad home to a few attractions including the Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Mercado de Los Mostenses and the Palacio de Liria, an 18th-century palace with an important art collection and the official residence to the Dukes of Alba.

Distrito de la Universidad is pretty well-connected to most other areas in Madrid. You can easily walk to attractions like Plaza Mayor (15 min) or El Prado Museum (25 min) and you’re never more than 5 minutes away from one of the 9 metro stations situated around the neighbourhood. Some of the most convenient metro stops to travel to and from Malasaña include Tribunal 1 10, Noviciado 2, Bilbao 1 4 and Plaza de España 2 3 10.

Best Hotels in Malasaña, Madrid

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3. Barrio de Las Letras: Best Location in Madrid for Museums & Culture

Packed with tapas bars and terraces, Barrio de Las Letras, Madrid’s literary quarter is also the closest area to Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art and El Prado Museum.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Very central
• Close to El Prado, Thyssen & Reina Sofía Museums
• Connected by several metro lines
• Near El Retiro
• Tapas bars, terraces & restaurants
• Walking distance to most attractions
• Charming pedestrianised streets
• Boutique hotels
• Near Puerta de Atocha train station

Not unlike Austrias and Malasaña, Las Letras is another of Madrid’s “unofficial” historic quarters. It is located on the south end of Barrio de Las Cortes and its east side is bordered by Paseo del Prado, a wide boulevard known as Museum Mile, home to Spain’s Big Three; El Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza, all located within walking distance of each other.

Museo del Prado, the largest and most famous museum in Madrid, is set in an 18th-century palace and hosts one of the world’s best collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century. On the other hand, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is smaller and includes Italian primitives and works from the English, Dutch and German schools, as well as impressionist and expressionist paintings from the 20th century. Lastly, the Queen Sofia National Museum Art Centre is mainly dedicated to contemporary Spanish art.

Other museums in Las Letras are CaixaForum Madrid, which offers temporary exhibitions, Ateneo de Madrid, and the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, headquarters of the Madrid Academy of Art, it hosts masterpieces by some of the most well-known Spanish and European artists including Goya, Sorolla, Zuloaga, Murillo, Velazquez, Bellini or Van Dyck.

Las Letras is anchored by Plaza de Santa Ana, an elegant public square flanked by restaurants, cafés, tapas bars and palaces, as well as Madrid’s oldest theatre, Teatro Español. Its most prominent feature is the 1919 Gran Hotel Reina Victoria, one of the prime examples of Art Nouveau architecture in the capital and an old-time favourite among visiting celebrities, bullfighters and dignitaries.

Calle de las Huertas crosses Las Letras from Plaza del Ángel to Paseo del Prado. Fully pedestrianised, its pavement is adorned with bronze verses by famous Spanish writers and poets, and Miguel de Cervantes himself lived here, in Huertas 16.

Las Letras has a long-standing reputation as one of Madrid’s marcha (party) areas, and the whole neighbourhood is packed with tapas bars, restaurants and nightclubs. It is also popular among locals going for an after-work drink and tourists on pub crawls.

Getting to and moving to other areas from Las Letras is easy thanks to its good metro connections. Its most convenient stations are Antón Martín 1, Estación del Arte 1, Sevilla 2 and Banco de España 2 . Additionally, Madrid’s most important railway station, Atocha 1 C REG LD AVE is within walking-distance.

Best Hotels in Barrio de Las Letras, Madrid

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4. La Latina: Best Location in Madrid for Tapas

Occupying the southwestern portion of Distrito Centro, La Latina is one of the oldest (and coolest) of Madrid’s quarters.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Incredibly central
• Alternative, upbeat vibe
• El Rastro flea market
• Near Plaza Mayor & Madrid de los Austrias
• Tapas bars, terraces & restaurants
• Walking distance to most attractions
• Murals & street art
• Mercado de la Cebada
• Well-connected by public transport

Located south of Sol, La Latina is one of the oldest areas in Madrid and its northernmost portion, around San Pedro el Viejo church, was, in fact, within the old Islamic-era fortifications of the city. While its exact boundaries are completely subjective (La Latina is yet another historic neighbourhood and not an official ward), parts of it overlap with Madrid de Los Austrias in the north and Rastro (Embajadores) in the east.

To these days, La Latina still preserves a typical Medina layout; winding narrow streets that follow the course of creeks and lead to large plazas. This somewhat chaotic urban plan gives the area a unique atmosphere resembling an old town rather than the heart of a bustling European capital.

Running from the eponymous bridge and along the old medieval wall, Calle de Segovia is known for its late 19th and early 20th-century residential buildings, as well as for being home to several older structures including the 15th century Iglesia de San Pedro el Viejo, the medieval Plaza de la Paja and the 19th-century Plaza de la Cruz Verde. Another prominent landmark in this area is the 35-metres-tall Segovia Viaduct, which has been featured in several Almodóvar films including Matador, High Heels and I’m So Excited!

La Latina as a whole is especially famous for having the highest concentrations of tapas bars in Spain, especially around calles Cava Baja, Cava Alta and Toledo. Calle de la Cava Baja alone features 50 bars in just 300 metres. Calle de Calatrava, on the other hand, is home to a small gay nightlife area. The nearby Mercado de la Cebada is a bustling local market offering produce, meat and seafood, plus clothing and art.

Other landmarks in La Latina include the Church of San Isidro, Madrid’s cathedral from the 17th century until 1993 when the current Catedral de la Almudena was completed, the Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great, La Latina Theatre, Jardín de las Vistillas and Parque de la Cornisa.

La Latina, along with neighbouring Lavapiés, is also a popular destination for street art enthusiasts. The side of several buildings on Calle de Toledo and the whole exterior of Mercado de la Cebada are home to large-scale murals featuring the work of several different artists.

Being really close to Sol, staying in La Latina means you’re never more than a 10-minute walk away from most of the metro lines that criss-cross Central Madrid. This area is home to or accessible from metro stops including La Latina 5, Puerta de Toledo 5, Ópera 2 5 R and Lavapiés 3.

Best Hotels in La Latina, Madrid

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5. Chueca & Justicia: Best Location for LGBTQ+ Visitors

Situated north of Gran Vía and east of Malasaña, Chueca has a long-standing reputation as Madrid’s gay nightlife area.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Madrid LGBTQ+ district
• Exciting gay nightlife
• Tons of restaurants, pubs & tapas bars
• Near Gran Vía
• Boutique hotels
• Walking distance to Malasaña
• Museums & art galleries
• Connected by several metro lines

Separated from Malasaña by Calle Fuencarral, a bustling shopping street, Chueca is yet another one of Madrid’s historic neighbourhoods. Located in the heart of Distrito de Justicia, both names have become interchangeable in recent years.

At its core, the district’s main landmark is Plaza de Chueca. Named after local composer Federico Chueca, this small pedestrianised square has been Madrid’s gay quarter since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Back then, the neighbourhood was an area degraded by abandonment and marginalisation. The district’s low rents and central location started attracting younger residents, many of which were lesbian and gay migrants from more conservative Spanish regions.

Today, Plaza de Chueca and its neighbouring streets like Pelayo, Hortaleza and San Marcos is still the epicentre of queer life in Madrid, a city proudly recognised as one of the most LGBT-friendly places on earth. The Spanish capital’s Orgullo (Pride Festival) is one of the largest LGBTQ+ events in the world. Madrid’s Pride parade attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and takes place during the first weekend of July. As it couldn’t be otherwise, Chueca is the best area to stay in Madrid for Gay Pride, although we do advise you to book as soon as possible as accommodations usually run out of rooms months in advance.

When it comes to daytime attractions, Justicia is home to several museums, including Museo de Historia de Madrid, Museo del Romanticismo, Fundación MAPFRE and the Madrid Wax Museum; gorgeous squares like Plaza de Las Salesas, Plaza de la Reina and Plaza Villa de París; and busy markets including Mercado de San Antón and Mercado Barceló.

Chueca is also noteworthy for its impressive wealth of places to eat. From cheap fast food to the most refined fusion cuisine, Chueca has it all. Most of the upscale eateries can be found either around Las Salesas and Calle de Fernando VI or on the streets around Gran Vía and Paseo de Recoletos.

Its proximity to Gran Vía and the Prado-Recoletos-Castellana axis means Chueca and wider Justicia boast great connections to the rest of the city and the airport. Some of the area’s most convenient public transport stations are Chueca 5, Gran Vía 1 5, Tribunal 1 10, Bilbao 1 4, Alonso Martínez 4 10 and Recoletos C .

Best Hotels in Chueca

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6. Lavapiés & Embajadores: Cheapest Area to Stay in Central Madrid

Home to El Rastro flea market & Lavapiés, Distrito de Embajadores is a hipster-friendly area packed with alternative bars, quirky cafés & some of the best street art in Madrid.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Budget accommodation
• Ethnic restaurants
• Pubs & tapas bars
• Connected by metro
• La Tabacalera
• Alternative vibe
• Reina Sofía Museum
• El Rastro flea market

Located in south-central Madrid, Lavapiés is one of the most diverse and exciting neighbourhoods in Madrid. In fact, it was chosen by Time Out Magazine as “the world’s coolest neighbourhood” in 2018.

Part of the wider Barrio de Embajadores, the most densely populated and ethnically diverse area in Madrid, Lavapiés is mostly known for being a cultural melting pot. With a food scene that is almost as varied as its ethnic makeup, this quarter is the place to go to enjoy the most authentic South Asian, Middle Eastern and African cuisine.

Centred around Plaza de Lavapiés and with Embajadores, Valencia and Atocha streets as its main thoroughfares, the best-known attractions in this Madrid district include the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Teatro Valle-Inclán, El Rastro flea market and Toledo Gate.

Lavapiés and neighbouring El Rastro are also considered an open-air gallery of street art, with dozens of murals by well-known local and international artists decorating the side of buildings around calles Embajadores, Lavapiés and Valencia. Furthermore, this district is home to several cultural centres focusing on alternative art expressions and independent theatre, these include La Casa Encendida, La Tabacalera, Teatro del Barrio and La Escalera de Jacob.

The Embajadores district enjoys good public transport (metro and commuter rail) connections to the rest of Madrid and beyond. The main metro stations here are Lavapiés 3, Puerta de Toledo 5, Embajadores 3 5 C, Tirso de Molina 1, Antón Martín 1, Estación del Arte 1 and Atocha 1 C REG LD AVE .

Best Hotels in Lavapiés, Madrid

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Part II: Best Districts to Stay in Madrid OUTSIDE of the City Centre

7. Retiro: Best Location for Art Lovers

Home to Retiro Park, El Prado Museum, Madrid City Hall and Puerta de Alcalá, Distrito de Retiro is one of the best areas to stay in Madrid for sightseeing.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Parque del Retiro
• Museo del Prado & Golden Art Triangle
• Very central
• Ayuntamiento de Madrid
• Close to Atocha Station
• Puerta de Alcalá
• Luxury hotels

Located directly east of the city centre, Retiro may just be the district with the most must-see attractions per square mile in Madrid!

As you might have guessed, the area gets its name from the expansive Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to some of the most classically beautiful spaces in the city. Perhaps the most Instagram-worthy monument in the park, the Monument to Alfonso XII overlooks an artificial rectangular lake filled with ducks and rowing boats. Not far, Palacio de Cristal; a 19th-century wrought-iron greenhouse offers temporary art exhibitions. On its southern end, in the middle of a roundabout, you’ll find the statue of the Fallen Angel. Widely considered to be the world’s first public monument dedicated to the Devil, this 1878 sculpture curiously sits at 666 metres above sea level. A manicured rose garden, dozens of sculptures, lakes, fountains and monuments, winding paths and straight avenues complete the 125-hectare park.

Paseo del Prado bounds Retiro to the west and separates it from Distrito Centro. As we mentioned above, this lovely boulevard is home to Madrid’s top three museums (El Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía) as well as two of the most famous fountains in the city; Neptuno and Cibeles. Across from Fuente de Cibeles lies the impressive Palacio de Cibeles, which opened in 1919 and is a masterful example of architectural eclecticism, combining several styles including Plateresque, Romanticism and Art-Nouveau. Since 2007 it has served as Madrid’s City Hall and it hosts the public cultural centre CentroCentro and a panoramic lookout with breathtaking views of Gran Vía.

Other attractions in Distrito Retiro include Puerta de Alcalá, the Naval Museum, the Royal Botanical Garden, the National Museum of Anthropology and the Royal Tapestry Factory.

While Retiro may not be as well-connected as Centro (probably because there’s a massive park right in the middle of the district), the area does have a few metro lines running through it. Its main metro stations are Retiro 2, Banco de España 2 , Estación del Arte 1, Atocha 1 C REG LD AVE , Ibiza 9, O’Donnell 6 , Menéndez Pelayo 1 and Pacífico 1 6.

Best Hotels in Retiro, Madrid

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8. Salamanca: Most Exclusive District to Stay in Madrid

Home to the most exclusive boutiques, restaurants and hotels in the Spanish capital, Distrito de Salamanca is the place to go for a luxury visit to Madrid.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Upscale shopping streets
• Fancy restaurants, cocktail bars & nightclubs
• Luxury & boutique hotels
• Well-connected by the metro network
• Museums and art galleries
• Puerta de Alcalá
• Exclusive atmosphere

Located north of Retiro Park lies Distrito de Salamanca. This upscale residential and commercial area is known for its luxury properties, upscale shops and relatively uniform grid layout.

The area has its origins in the late 1800s when Madrid started to outgrow the enclosure of its defensive wall and began its plans to expand. This massive expansion project, known as Plan Castro, laid the ground for the creation of carefully designed neighbourhoods like Salamanca and Chamberí. Pretty soon, these ensanches became home to Madrid’s upper classes and, by the 1920s, Salamanca was already known for its impressive palaces, elegant residential buildings and luxurious stores. Not unlike centro, Distrito de Salamanca is made up of six different barrios; Goya, Recoletos, Castellana, Lista Guindalera and Fuente del Berro. The former three are the most central and exclusive ones.

Salamanca’s most famous street, Calle Serrano, offers Madrid’s most luxurious shopping experience. Some of its retailers include Carolina Herrera, Manolo Blahnik, Prada, Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo. Serrano stretches from Plaza de la Independencia (home to the famous Puerta de Alcalá, one of the main icons of Madrid) to Plaza de la República del Ecuador. Other noteworthy streets and plazas in Salamanca include La Castellana and Recoletos avenues, Plaza de Colón and calles Alcalá, Velázquez and Goya.

But Salamanca is much more than upscale shopping. This district is also home to some of the most interesting museums in Madrid. Considered some of Madrid’s best-kept secrets, the most important museums here are the National Archeological Museum, with an impressive collection of Iberian, Greek, Roman and Islamic objects, artefacts and art. The Lázaro Galdiano Museum displays a curated collection of medieval and Renaissance paintings, as well as some British and American masterpieces. Lastly, the Juan March Foundation houses temporary exhibitions and a small permanent collection of contemporary art.

Salamanca enjoys great metro connections with Madrid City Centre. Some of the most convenient stations in Distrito de Salamanca include Colón 4, Serrano 4, Velázquez 4, Goya 2 4, Retiro 2, Manuel Becerra 2 6, Diego de León 4 5 6, Núñez de Balboa 5 9 and Recoletos C .

Best Hotels in Salamanca, Madrid

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9. Chamberí: The Most Madrilenian Madrid

Considered the most Madrileño of all Madrid neighbourhoods, Chamberí is centrally-located yet not too touristy and its combination of shopping areas, museums and boutique hotels make it one of the best areas for a quiet visit to Madrid.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Upscale area
• Very well-connected
• Local atmosphere
• Shopping & nightlife streets
• Museo Sorolla
• Andén 0 abandoned metro station & museum
• Boutique & luxury hotels

Located directly north of the city centre, Chamberí is an upscale, mostly residential district home to a number of city attractions. It is deemed by locals as “el barrio más castizo de Madrid” (Madrid’s most traditionally Spanish neighbourhood). With such an epithet, Chamberí is probably the best area to stay in Madrid for an authentic experience.

While this ensanche district has a few shopping and nightlife areas like Calle Fuencarral and Cardenal Cisneros, most of its streets are very peaceful and, for the most part, tourist-free. Quite surprisingly, Chamberí is also home to a wide range of hotels, especially boutique and luxury properties.

When it comes to attractions, Chamberí is home to the Sorolla Museum, which is housed at the artist’s home and displays a collection of works by the Valencia-born impressionist and his daughter Elena. Train lovers will enjoy the Estación Museo Andén Cero, an abandoned metro station turned into a small museum showcasing the history of the Madrid Metro. Other local attractions in Chamberí include the terrace-filled Plaza de Olavide, Teatros del Canal, Museo Geominero and the luxurious Yelmo Palafox cinema.

Thanks to its great metro links, Chamberí is very well-connected to Madrid Centro, the airport and other areas around the city. Some of the most convenient transit stops in Chamberí include Alonso Martínez 4 5 10, Bilbao 1 4, San Bernardo 2 4, Argüelles 3 4 6, Quevedo 2, Canal 2 7, Gregorio Marañón 7 10, Cuatro Caminos 1 2 10 and Nuevos Ministerios 6 8 10 C .

Best Hotels in Chamberí

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10. Argüelles & Moncloa-Aravaca: A Great District to Stay in Madrid

Home to Templo de Debod and some of the largest parks in the Spanish capital, Moncloa-Aravaca is a nice, quiet & green area to stay in Madrid.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Templo de Debod
• Lots of parks & green areas
• Faro de Moncloa
• Museo de América
• Connected by metro and train
• Casa de Campo
• Calle de la Princesa
• Zona Universitaria

The Moncloa-Aravaca district is one of the largest and greenest districts in the Spanish capital. It is officially divided into seven different barrios (Aravaca, Argüelles, Casa de Campo, Ciudad Universitaria, El Plantío, Valdemarín and Valdezarza), but we will be mostly focusing on Barrio de Argüelles and the Moncloa area, the two most interesting from a tourist’s standpoint.

Surrounded on its north and west side by Parque del Oeste, Argüelles is a residential and shopping district located next to the city centre and the district of Chamberí. Its main thoroughfare, Calle Princesa, runs as a continuation of Gran Vía from Plaza de España to Plaza de Moncloa and is lined by department stores, luxury shops, restaurants and hotels. Calle Martín de los Heros, located nearby, is home to the Madrid Walk of Fame.

Not far lies Templo de Debod. One of the must-see attractions of Madrid, this Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BCE was gifted by Egypt as a sign of gratitude for the help provided by Spain in relocating the Abu Simbel complex in the 1960s. The temple was dismantled, shipped and reassembled stone by stone atop a hill in Parque de La Montaña. Today, Debod is one of the most visited sights in Madrid and a favourite spot to catch the sunset for both tourists and locals.

Other attractions in Argüelles and Moncloa-Aravaca include Faro de Moncloa, a 92-metre observation tower with panoramic views of the city; Museo de América, a museum focused on pre-Columbian, Spanish-American and Native American art; Museo Cerralbo, a small museum with Reinassance paintings hosted in a mansion with gardens; and the expansive Casa de Campo, Madrid’s largest park featuring lakes, forests, hiking trails and a theme park.

Moncloa-Aravaca enjoys pretty good metro connections to the rest of Madrid. That said, Barrio de Argüelles is perhaps the best area to stay within the district if transportation is an important factor to you. This barrio offers the best transport links from stations like Plaza de España 2 3 10, Argüelles 3 4 6, Príncipe Pío 6 10 R C , and Moncloa 3 6 BUS.

Best Hotels in Argüelles & Moncloa-Aravaca

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11. Arganzuela: Best Location for a Family Trip

Home to Madrid Río, Matadero Madrid and Atocha railway station, Arganzuela is an up-and-coming district filled with exciting things to do.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• Budget & mid-range hotels
• Atocha railway station
• Madrid Río Park
• Matadero Madrid
• Madrid Railway Museum
• Great connections on Cercanías and metro
• Madrid Planetarium

Arganzuela is located on the eastern side of River Manzanares in central-southern Madrid. It is made up of 7 individual barrios (Acacias, Atocha, Chopera, Delicias, Imperial, Legazpi and Palos de Moguer). Not unlike Salamanca and Chamberí, much of the district is the by-product of the city’s expansion projects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, unlike its affluent northern counterparts, Arganzuela was mostly planned to accommodate industrial and working-class developments.

The district’s most important feature is estación Puerta de Atocha, Madrid’s (and Spain’s) busiest railway station. This massive multi-modal hub offers commuter, regional and long-distance services (including high-speed AVE connections) to most places in the Community of Madrid and Spain, as well as international services to Portugal and France.

Home to several family-friendly attractions including beautiful parks like Madrid Río and Enrique Tierno Galván Park, the city’s Planetarium and the Railway Museum, Arganzuela is probably the best location to stay in Madrid if you’re travelling with children.

In the past few years, this area has also become Madrid’s creative hub. Matadero Madrid, a repurposed 1900s slaughterhouse, is now a contemporary arts centre hosting temporary exhibitions, performances, cinema, workshops and co-working spaces. It is also home to the National Ballet Company of Spain. Next door, the 1887 Crystal Palace of Arganzuela houses 9000 species of plants.

It may come as no surprise that the best-connected area in Distrito de Arganzuela is around Atocha station 1 C REG LD AVE. That said, this southern district offers good train and metro connections beyond Madrid’s main rail terminal. Other important railway and metro hubs and stations in the area include Méndez Álvaro 6 C BUS, Delicias 3 C , Embajadores 3 5 C, Pirámides 5 C and Legazpi 3 6.

Best Hotels in Arganzuela, Madrid

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12. Chamartín, Tetuán & Madrid Norte: Best Location for Business Travellers & Real Madrid Fans

Located in North Madrid, Tetuán & Chamartín are home to Madrid’s business districts and new developments.

Why is this the best area to stay in Madrid, Spain:
• AZCA and Cuatro Torres business districts
• Paseo de la Castellana
• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
• Chamartín railway station
• Near the airport
• Near IFEMA
• Business hotels

With the elegant Paseo de la Castellana as its main thoroughfare, North Madrid is made up of several residential, shopping and business areas.

Probably the best-known attraction in the north of Madrid is Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Home stadium of Real Madrid since 1947, is the second-largest stadium in Spain and one of the most visited attractions in the Spanish capital.

Across from the stadium lies the AZCA complex, Madrid’s first financial district. Built mostly in the 1970s and 80s, AZCA is home to some of the most famous high-rises in Madrid including the Picasso Tower and the BBVA Building. A few miles north, still on Paseo de la Castellana, lies the new Cuatro Torres Business Area. Opened in the early 2000s and home to the tallest skyscrapers in Madrid, this new financial and business centre is at the heart of Madrid’s most ambitious development plan, Madrid Norte.

Other noteworthy attractions in north Madrid include the National Music Auditorium, the National Museum of Natural Sciences, the leaning skyscrapers of Plaza de Castilla and Mercado Maravillas.

The north of Madrid, while not the closest area to most attractions, is nevertheless very well-connected by metro and train. Some of the most convenien stations in here include Chamartín 1 10 C REG LD AVE, Plaza de Castilla 1 9 10, Nuevos Ministerios 6 8 10 C , Avenida de América 4 6 7 9 BUS and Cuatro Caminos 1 2 10.

Best Hotels in Madrid North

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Where to Stay in Madrid: My Personal Experience

When it comes to Madrid, you could definitely say I’m biased. After all, I have lived here since 2019!

But I loved it even before I moved! I visited Madrid many times, more than 12 times. Every visit, I found something new to enjoy. Today, I live in the heart of Madrid. My home is right next to the busy Fuencarral Street in the Centro district, near Malasaña and Chueca.

I used to stay in Centro when I was visiting, too. You can walk to lots of cool places from here. Places like Las Letras and Sol are close by. And there are so many things to see and do around every corner. Living here now feels just right for me.

For visitors, I always recommend staying near Gran Via. I think it’s the best spot for tourists. Gran Via is famous and very central. If you stay here, you can easily walk to many famous sights. And the nightlife is amazing!

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Where to Look for Accommodation in Madrid: Useful Info

Madrid is one of the world’s most vibrant cities for its lively nightlife and impressive cultural movement.

The capital of Spain attracts millions of tourists for events such as the Orgullo, Madrid’s Gay Pride, which takes place at the end of July or early August every year.

Likewise, Madrid is an important international business destination since many congresses and conferences occur annually in the city.

To move within the city, you can choose between the efficient Madrid Metro system, which covers almost all areas, buses and taxis.

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport is the main hub for Iberia. This air terminal connects with other Spanish cities, European countries such as Germany, Holland and Italy, as well as with American and Asian cities.

When choosing when to travel to Madrid, we must bear in mind that its climate falls somewhere between the Mediterranean and semi-arid, with suffocating and dry summers, as well as winters with some snowfall.

The high season covers the months of July to September, in addition to December, while the low season covers the rest of the year and is when you can find the most affordable rates in terms of accommodation.

In the same way, there are several options to choose from regarding where to stay in Madrid. In the city, you can find accommodation of all kinds and for all budgets, ranging from very cheap pensions to luxurious and exclusive hotels, tourist apartments, hostels and guesthouses. The quality of accommodation in Madrid in relation to its price is very high, compared to other European capitals such as London, Rome or Paris.

As for the best areas to stay in Madrid, the Central District, which includes Sol, Gran Vía, and Madrid de Los Austrias, is the best option due to its excellent location and many transport connections (See accommodation near Puerta del Sol).

It is also important to take into account the reasons for visiting Madrid. If you want to party, some of the best areas to stay in Madrid for nightlife include Malasaña, the birthplace of the Movida Madrileña and Las Letras, a foodie’s paradise filled with tapas and fun.

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