Where to stay · Madrid, Spain
Where to stay in Madrid
6 areas worth booking in Madrid, sorted by the budget each one actually suits — what the neighborhood feels like, and what a night there costs.
Budget — best areas
≈ $30 / nightMadrid's counter-culture quarter and its LGBTQ+ heart, side by side: vintage shops, natural-wine bars and the best cheap eating in the centre.
The most mixed neighbourhood in Madrid: Indian, Senegalese and Bangladeshi kitchens, squat-run culture spaces and the cheapest beds in the centre.
Budget picks to book
Mid-range — best areas
≈ $90 / nightPuerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Gran Vía. Everything is walkable from here and the metro radiates outwards, at the cost of noise and crowds.
The oldest streets in the city and the densest tapas crawl — Cava Baja end to end. El Rastro flea market takes it over on Sunday mornings.
Mid-range picks to book
Luxury — best areas
≈ $260 / nightA grid of 19th-century blocks with the luxury flagships on Calle Serrano. Residential calm ten minutes from the Prado.
Between the Prado and the Retiro park — the quietest central address and a two-minute walk to the Golden Triangle of museums.
Luxury picks to book
Now pick the hotel
The Madrid guide carries the full shortlist for each tier, with why each hotel is on it.