The Best Budget Hostels to Book in Madrid

Unusually for a budget hostel, Cats’ Sol branch has its own nightclub – a brick-vaulted cave that serves as a lounge by day and hosts concerts, flamenco shows and parties by night. Other communal spaces include an Andalusian-style 17th-century courtyard, a neon-lit bar and a space-age relaxation room with a big screen, board games and couches. Dorms here sleep from two to 12 people, and breakfast is included. Cats also have a base in the hipster neighbourhood of Lavapiés, should you wish to visit there.

Blurring the line between backpacker’s base and boutique hotel, the Hat offers private and shared accommodation in whitewashed rooms with pine furniture, black columns and vintage travellers’ chests. Meet other guests in a ground-floor bar with brick walls and hanging bulbs, or on the eclectically decorated roof terrace with a disused watermill. The hostel’s situated just off Plaza Mayor – one of Madrid’s oldest squares – a three-minute walk from Gran Vía and Sol.

TOC Hostel occupies a 19th-century townhouse that was once an aristocratic residence, in which ceiling frescos and a creaking wooden staircase have been preserved. Situated a few minutes’ walk from the Royal Palace, the private doubles and mixed or female-only dorms feature a light, cheerful aesthetic, and some have juliet balconies. Breakfast, snacks and cocktails are served in a bar with a pool table, and a free walking tour is available on request.

This sociable base for solo travellers offers an extensive range of activities – from tapas tours and karaoke nights, to day trips to neighbouring cities. Cook a meal in the well-equipped kitchen or cruise the dozens of tapas bars between Gran Vía and Puerta del Sol, both of which are within a five-minute walk. Big, airy rooms have double beds or bunk accommodation and feature brightly coloured walls, hardwood floors and juliet balconies. A sweet breakfast of churros and cake is included.

Safestay offers group activities and a speakeasy bar with a rooftop terrace in Salamanca, Madrid’s most exclusive neighbourhood. Get involved in pizza and games nights and communal dinners before exploring the Spanish capital with free walking tours. Pristine white rooms feature double beds or bunks with lights and sockets, and many have small balconies with views over the square opposite. Breakfast is available for a fee, while the bar offers affordable burgers, salads and pasta dishes.

The back wall of this hostel’s low-lit lounge bears an enormous mural depicting everything from former Real Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo, to can-canning pigs with legs of cured jamon. Ideally placed for exploring the bohemian barrio La Latina, other social spaces include a kitchen and a lounge with retro leather sofas, a flatscreen TV and a pool table. Stay in double rooms or dorms – mixed and female-only – featuring custom-made bunks with privacy curtains. El Rastro, Madrid’s largest open-air flea market, is just a five-minute walk away.

Offering everything from day trips to Toledo and Segovia to tours of the Real Madrid stadium, Mola’s concierge service wouldn’t be out of place in a four-star hotel. Compact dorms sleep between four and 10 travellers, and all have their own bathrooms. Amenities include a breakfast of cold cuts, fruit, pastries and tortilla, while the cavernous bar – with mismatched metal chairs, graffiti-style wall art and a ceiling of exposed silver and black pipes – is a great place to spend an evening.