The Best Hostels in Madrid

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.

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.

Converted from a 1930s petrol station, this 129-room hostel certainly goes the extra mile – both in funky design and impressive facilities. There’s a mixture of simple dorms (mixed and female-only) and fancier private rooms with en-suite bathrooms. High-ceilinged common areas offer plenty of photo-friendly surrounds, an abundance of leather seating and an American-style diner. The rooftop terrace, however, is where the party is at, with a buzzing bar, pair of jacuzzi tubs and broad views over the capital.

Sungate One Hostel offers no-frills lodgings right in the heart of the capital and is just steps from the Puerta del Sol central transport hub. It’s one of the more straightforward hostels, yet has everything you might need for a budget-friendly stay – a shared kitchen, laundry facilities and 24-hour reception. Shared dorms sleep up to six, while there are doubles and twins if you want privacy. None of the beds are bunk-style. Free walking tours, ‘family’ dinners and pub crawls make meeting other travellers a breeze.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.