Best Areas to Stay in Madrid, Spain

The districts of Austrias and Huertas are part of the Historic Center of Madrid or Old Town and, in them, a large part of the tourist attractions and monuments that every visitor has to know are concentrated.

In this area, you’ll find the famous Puerta del Sol, a point of reference for locals, since it is kilometre 0 of all roads in Spain and a busy pedestrian area. In its surroundings, there is also the Casa de Correos, the seat of the Government of the Community of Madrid.

Another attraction that is located between the neighbourhoods of Austrias and Huertas is the Plaza Mayor, the heart of the Historic Centre of Madrid. This beautiful square’s access is divided into nine arches. In addition, the statue of Felipe III on horseback that is right in the centre of the square is an icon of European architecture worldwide.

Austrias and Huertas are among the best areas to stay in Madrid due to its central location and excellent metro connections, with stations such as Sol on lines 1, 2 and 3 on its perimeter.

This neighbourhood has a privileged central location, north of Gran Vía and east of Malasaña. Therefore, it is a coveted accommodation option throughout the year, especially between June and July, as the Gay Pride is celebrated and important events are held within the framework of Pride Week.

A part of the Calle Fuencarral runs through Chueca and puts at the disposal of locals and visitors a lot of designer clothing, cafes and restaurants, ideal for those who travel to Madrid to go shopping. In addition, this street is the headquarters of the Museum of History of Madrid, where the evolution of the city is exhibited.

Another reference of Chueca is the Telefónica Building, located on the Gran Vía. This building is one of Europe’s firsts skyscraper ​​(with almost 90 meters high) and is a landmark of Spanish architecture, so it is essential to visit it when traveling to Madrid.

The Mercado de San Antón gives more reasons to stay in Chueca. This modern space, which in the past was a street market, has food from around the world, emphasizing traditional recipes from Spain and is the ideal place to find fresh ingredients or taste quality cuisine.

The impressive Plaza Santa Bárbara, which for many is the starting point before going out, is also in Chueca and is ideal for tapas.

Chueca is one of the best areas to stay in Madrid to go clubbing or go shopping. The metro stations Chueca and Gran Via connect this neighbourhood with the rest of the city.

The neighbourhoods of Las Letras and La Latina make up one of the most lively areas of Madrid, with a nightlife full of tapas and beer for those who start the party early or to relax after leaving the office.

In this area, the architecture of medieval style reigns and you’ll meet the Jardines de las Vistillas, with incredible views of the city.

Another reason to stay in Las Letras and La Latina is the El Rastro street market which takes place every Sunday between Calle Embajadores and Ronda de Toledo. In this market new and used items are offered at excellent prices, so it is common to find foreigners and locals looking for second hand clothes, jewelry, accessories, antiques and all kinds of vintage objects.

In addition, there are several subway stations throughout the neighbourhood (including La Latina station) to easily move to other districts if desired.

Las Letras and La Latina are among the best areas to stay in Madrid if you want to delve into Madrid’s nightlife, enjoy excellent cuisine and go shopping.

Salamanca is one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in Madrid, as it was thought by the Marquis of Salamanca (to whom it owes its name) as a residential area for the highest class of the Spanish capital and, nowadays, it is still the area where you are most likely to meet celebrities.

Within Salamanca, there are stores of important fashion houses, particularly on Calle Salamanca. Similarly, this neighbourhood also has high-end restaurants that offer the best of international cuisine.

This area is also known for its offices and companies, so it has different business-type hotels ideal for those who visit Madrid for work or business.

In addition, Salamanca houses the Museo Arqueológico Nacional, a neoclassical mansion that exhibits objects of great historical or artistic value, such as La Dama de Elche, a sculpture made of limestone that was created between the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The iconic Puerta de Alcalá is also just steps away from this neighbourhood.

Salamanca is one of the best areas to stay in Madrid if you want to discover the most luxurious side of the city, including the clubs and bars that Calle Serrano (located inside of the neighbourhood) has to offer. Serrano and Núñez de Balboa metro stations are within this district.

The Crystal Palace of the Retiro Park is the work of the architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, who was inspired by the one in London. This building is used as an exhibition hall of the Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum.

Staying in this area, you will be just minutes from the famous Art Triangle of Madrid at the Paseo del Prado, consisting of three museums: The Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Other points of interest such as the Botanical Garden, the Fuente de Cibeles and the Fuente de Néptuno are in the area.

Close to the Retiro Park and the Paseo del Prado there is also the Atocha Station, which is the most important train station in Madrid and connects with other places in Spain, as well as countries such as France and Portugal.

The surroundings of the Retiro Park and the Paseo del Prado are among the best areas to stay in Madrid, as they allow you to travel to other cities in Spain with their train connections and other districts with metro stations like Atocha and Retiro.

Chamberí was part of the Ensanche de Madrid, specifically of the Ensanche Norte. This project, which was carried out between 1860 and 1930, dealt with the expansion of the urban space of Madrid as a response to the growth of the population in the city, in order to offer more housing and habitable zones.

Initially, this district was the residence of a large part of the aristocracy of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, but today, it is an area of ​​excellent gastronomic offerings, tapas and cultural events, with theaters such as the Teatro Galileo, the Teatro de la Abadía, the Quevedo Theater and the Luchana Theaters.

One of the most interesting attractions in Chamberí is the abandoned subway station named Andén Cero. This station was closed in 1969 and, nowadays, makes us travel back in time to Madrid in 1910.

In the same way, the Museo Soralla, dedicated to the Valencian painter Joaquín Soralla, is also in Chamberí. This museum exhibits the main works of Soralla together with objects that he collected during his life as sculptures and furniture.

Chamberí is one of the best areas to stay in Madrid to know the cultural scene of the city. This district connects with other neighbourhoods by metro, with stations such as Canal, San Bernardo and Guzmán El Bueno in its vicinity.

Although the area does not have a central location, the Madrid-Chamartín Train Station (one of the most important in Madrid) makes moving to other neighbourhoods of this metropolis a simple task. In addition, trains leave from the station to Spanish cities such as Barcelona and Bilbao.

Chamartín has among its main attractions the Santiago Bernabeú Stadium, known throughout the world for being the home of Real Madrid, one of the main football clubs in Spain. The stadium has a capacity for more than 80000 people and makes Chamartín one of the best areas to stay in Madrid to see Real Madrid or attend other sporting events.

As far as green spaces in Chamartín are concerned, the Parque de Canal de Isabel II stands out, with more than 40 thousand square meters including a water labyrinth, a rose garden, a pond and gardens for recreation .

On the other hand, the Paseo de la Castellana (one of the main business avenues of Madrid) is also in Chamartín and houses buildings that are milestones of architecture such as the Kio Towers, twin leaning office complexes that are iconic architecture landmarks.

Chamartín is one of the best areas to stay in Madrid for its excellent metro connections and business-type hotels ideal for those visiting the Spanish capital for work or business, as it is one of the financial districts of the city.