The Best Hostels in Madrid
Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly bed near Madrid’s Puerta del Sol transport hub or award-winning accommodation just a stone’s throw from the Plaza Mayor, we’ve got you covered. Check out our top hostels in the Spanish capital.
Hostels are one of the most popular options for visitors to Madrid who are eager to explore the art galleries, tapas culture and legendary nightlife. There are a host of beautifully designed places in the city, offering travellers everything from rooftop bars to free group dinners. Whether you are looking to save a few euros or meet fellow travellers, staying at one of Madrid’s best hostels could be a great option for your next trip.
1. Petit Hostel
Hostel
Although on a quiet tree-lined street in the largely residential Imperial neighbourhood, Petit Hostel is still within an easy stroll of city centre sights. Modern dorms sleep from four to 12, each with a bathroom. All bunks include individual reading lamps, USB connectors and plugs. Smart keycards make entry and locker access simple, and downloadable city guides put all the best bits at your fingertips. Free walking tours and bar crawls are also great for getting to know your fellow hostellers.
2. Room007 Chueca
Boutique Hotel, Hostel, Hotel
A New York loft vibe brings a real edge of industrial chic to Room007 Chueca, which fits the hip cosmopolitan buzz of its eponymous neighbourhood. Accommodation comprises cleanly designed dorms (sleeping four to 11 peeps, some female-only) plus private double and twin rooms – a couple of them even have terraces overlooking the street. Memory foam mattresses aid a good night’s slumber and personal plugs also make for easy phone charging. Organised activities facilitate mingling, plus there’s a great gastrobar on site.
4. Sungate One Hostel
Hostel
5. The Hat Madrid
Boutique Hotel, Budget Hotel, Hostel, Hotel
The Hat, the “hostel for intelligent travellers,” is located in a period building just off the historic Plaza Mayor, right in the city centre. The decor is dominated by clean lines, a white colour scheme and industrial touches making this reasonably priced hostel feel more like a designer hotel. Travellers are greeted with a welcome beer on the rooftop bar, which serves cocktails and a selection of tapas, and is a great spot to start the night. The Hat’s high-ceilinged rooms are available in mixed, women-only and private.
6. Bastardo Hostel
Hostel
Bastardo opened in spring 2018 with an enviable location between hip Malasaña and Chueca, the centre of the LGBTQ scene in Madrid. A stylish decor matches the location, with a hip, glass-fronted communal space, bar, restaurant and roof terrace. Rooms are named after cultural luminaries such as Patti Smith and Luis Buñuel. The neat dorms feature built-in wooden bunk beds and flashes of neon. Rooms range from six-bed dorms to private doubles and family rooms and there’s even one with a roof terrace. More than just a place to lay your head, Bastardo is a veritable cultural hub, hosting regular concerts, film screenings and exhibitions.
7. OK Hostel
Hostel
With a specific mission to help travellers connect, OK Hostel is a place where you can socialise and make travel buddies. It hosts regular dinners and events, including tapas crawls, beer pong and walking tours. Dorms, which are minimalist and modern with a red and white colour scheme, include women-only and mixed four- and six-bed rooms. Private single and double rooms are also available. Located between the multicultural Lavapiés and La Latina are many of the most popular attractions and foodie haunts in Madrid, all within easy walking distance.
8. TOCHostel Madrid
Hostel
TOCHostel is housed in a grand 19th-century building between the central Puerta del Sol and Ópera. It has spacious, modern interiors mixed with original features that include a sweeping wooden staircase and ceiling frescoes that wouldn’t look out of place in the nearby opera house. Eight- and six-bed dorms, both mixed and women-only, feature cosy bunks, while there are also spacious private doubles and family rooms. Guests can hang out in the hostel bar, communal spaces and games zone, or self-cater using the well-equipped kitchen.
9. Hostel One Madrid
Hostel
A regular comment from travellers staying at Hostel One is how friendly the staff are, and this welcoming attitude contributes to the fun, sociable atmosphere. The Europe-wide chain’s award-winning second hostel in Madrid is bang in the middle of the vintage shops, indie clubs and on-trend bars of Malasaña. Try the free, nightly ‘family dinners’ prepared by the staff, and enjoy free day trips, activities and evening entertainment. The decor is pared-back, and the rooms feature metal bunk beds.
10. Mola! Hostel
Hostel
One of the most popular hostels in Madrid is Mola! in Plaza de Jacinto Benavente, between the central Puerta del Sol and Lavapiés. Travellers can discover world cuisine, indie art galleries and vivid street art in this neighbourhood. The decor is modern, with a blue and white colour scheme in dorms ranging from four- to 10-bed. There is a nightly bar crawl and a spacious common area, located on the lower floors so guests upstairs can sleep peacefully. There’s also a friendly ethos and the staff are happy to organise group activities and trips if you get in touch in advance.
11. Far Home Atocha
Hostel
This hostel, part of a local chain, is handily located between Atocha station and neighbouring Paseo del Prado – home to the major art galleries in the city, including the Prado and the Reina Sofía. Rooms decorated in white with modern orange accents and wooden flooring are cosy. The hostel is well integrated into the local community and holds regular exhibitions of local artists’ work in the bar and common area. A small patio provides a shady spot for a morning coffee or an evening tipple.
Leon Beckenham contributed additional reporting to this article.
Planning on taking the high-speed train from Madrid to Seville? Bag yourself a budget-friendly stay before you get there with our guide to the top hostels in Seville. For more options in Spain, discover our guide to the best hostels and B&Bs in San Sebastián and book now on Culture Trip.
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