Which Are the Best Budget-Friendly Hotels to Book in Madrid?

The Artrip Hotel offers unassuming, wallet-friendly lodgings on a quiet tree-lined street in the Lavapiés district. The arty leanings suggested in the name refer to its location in the Golden Triangle of Art (formed by the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia museums) and the fact that its lobby acts as a temporary gallery highlighting local artists. Smart modern rooms with top-quality beds and excellent soundproofing promote a good night’s sleep.

Previously the Spanish Music Union headquarters, this rather flamboyant building has been reborn as a hotel with musical theatre as its muse. Each of the rooms is themed around a well-known production or is decorated with theatrical images and trimmings. There’s a small breakfast room, and the hotel provides mobile wifi devices for free data roaming. Aptly located in the Literary Quarter, the neighbourhood now heaves with traditional tapas bars and cafes.

For a hotel at the more economical end of the market, the Central Palace Madrid certainly has an upscale setting – opposite the Palacio Real and overlooking Plaza de Oriente. Many of the guest rooms face the square, with views of the palace, and feature a style that borders on the palatial. Breakfast is served daily in the Café de Oriente’s opulent surrounds, which also has a palace-view terrace.

When booking Spanish cheap hotels, the first rule of thumb is not to confuse a hostal with a hostel – the local hostal refers to cheaper hotels or guesthouses. Hostal El Carmen is ideal for those who want to stay in the city centre. It sits on the Gran Vía, right in front of the popular Callao Square, which is only a short walk from the busy shopping area of Calle de la Princesa. There are single, double and triple rooms; they’re minimalist and modern in style and feature sleek private bathrooms and flat-screen televisions. The hostal also has a rooftop bar, where you can enjoy breakfast or drinks overlooking the city.

Within a former textile warehouse, the Mayerling Hotel is a stylish, 22-bedroom property in the city centre. The chic, industrial-style interiors are reason enough to stay. Every single, double and triple room offers a private, modern bathroom and air conditioning for the hot summer months. For a small fee, you can enjoy a breakfast buffet in the canteen-style dining room. If you are looking for a bar popular with young Madrileños, try Sala Equis, a converted adult cinema a short stroll from the hotel. You’ll also find Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Gran Vía within walking distance.

With super-stylish (and super-cheap) rooms, Gala feels more like an upmarket boutique than a traditional hostal, with each room elegantly furnished with geometric wallpaper and sophisticated decor. It’s ideally located for visits to the Palacio Real and Plaza Mayor. Also, as it’s so close to all the major shopping streets and transport hubs, it’s the perfect place to soak up the bustling city atmosphere.

This boutique hotel sits inside a former antique shop in Barrio de las Letras, the famous literary neighbourhood, complete with art installations in the foyer and graffiti-covered walls in the underground car park. The rooms are sophisticatedly decorated, with minimal decor, hardwood floors and subtle pops of colour throughout. Soak up the history of Madrid by wandering through the grid of nearby streets.

Greco is perfect if you’re looking for a traditional hostal in the city centre. The chandelier in the foyer and the marble decor hark back to times gone by, while the largely austere bedrooms with wooden furnishings are reminiscent of the classic no-frills Spanish hostal. And yet, in a nice juxtaposition, this traditional accommodation sits in one of the most liberal, lively neighbourhoods in Madrid – Chueca, the city’s LGBTQ village.

This hotel is part of the Room Mate group, which has established itself as a leading brand in affordable boutique hotels around the world; the Madrid site was the first. Room Mate Mario is just off the Plaza de Ópera (Plaza de Isabel II), so it’s ideal for those who want to stay in the heart of the city. Each room is exquisitely decorated with colourful murals, chessboard-style tiles in the bathrooms and Philippe Starck lamps. Night owls or revellers won’t miss out on the extensive breakfast buffet, as it’s served until noon each day.

The bold, brightly coloured decor sets this very Spanish cheap hotel apart from others in Madrid. Its 21 rooms typically feature an artful blend of single-tone pops of colour and black. It’s also a must for film buffs, as it’s just footsteps away from the century-old picture house, Cine Doré, which still screens new and classic movies in their original language.