Spain’s capital might be a party town, but it is also an extremely cultural city with remarkable museums and landmarks. As such, Madrid attracts tourists of all shapes and sizes, so there are hotels for all tastes and needs. From practical lodges to high-end luxury hotels, you will find all sorts of accommodation in different locations. Whether you are looking for nightlife in Sol or for cultural landmarks, there is an area for every traveler.
Daniel CamiroagaMy Destination local expert onMadrid
Puerta del Sol
As Madrid’s most famous and central square, Puerta del Sol is the social hub of the city. Given its location in the centre of the city, the area is located within walking distance to Madrid’s major attractions and well connected to the rest of the city. If you are interested in Madrid’s nightlife, this is the place to be: all major clubs, pubs and bars have a home in the streets radiating from Puerta del Sol. The area is home to a large diversity of hotels, ranging from low-cost guesthouses to luxury hotels.
Sol might be tourists’ time-out center, but Gran Via is one of the streets with more nightlife in Europe. Known as the street that never sleeps, Madrid’s main thoroughfare is a night out for the whole city. The road is lined with restaurants, shops and cinemas. In fact, this is where most of the shopping for clothes in the city occurs. Noted for its architectural grandeur, in Gran Via you’ll find majestic hotels in grand buildings, and also the cheapest accommodation of the city. The road is close to Madrid’s major landmarks such as Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace.
Opera
While Sol and Gran Via are the leisure focus point of Madrid, Opera is the symbolic centre of the city. Home to Madrid’s grand opera house, Teatro Real, and within walk distance to the Royal Palace and Plaza de Oriente, Opera is the most emblematic and elegant area of the city and features on most of Madrid’s postcards. North of Opera is the emblematic Plaza de España, where you will find two of Madrid’s tallest buildings, the Torre de Madrid and Edificio de España. In Opera, you’ll find boutique suites, luxury hotels and also affordable accommodation.
Retiro and Prado
East of Madrid’s city centre from Calle de Alcala, you will the most artistic area of Madrid – Prado. Here you will find the ‘Art Triangle’, the city’s trio of museums which comprises the Museo del Prado and Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Nearby, you will find a wide boulevard full of cafes, Paseo de Recoletos, and Retiro Park, also known as Madrid’s Central Park (in comparison to the one in Manhattan).
