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Madrid hotels

Overview                    Prepare                    Get Around                    Highlights

Madrid is the capital of Spain, a city of revelry and festivity, and hotels in Madrid are available to suit all tastes and pockets, from the simple and comfortable, to the grand luxury hotels. 

Madrid is the home of no less than three world class museums...

Budget Madrid hotels tend to be in the noisier parts of town, and there are several comfortable hotels in Madrid's central area, especially along Gran Vía. Those wanting retail therapy may wish to find a hotel in the Calle Serrano shopping district.

Madrid is the home of no less than three world class museums, as well as some stunning architectural sights such as the Palacio Real.  Other places of interest include the Plaza Mayor, which sometimes plays host to bullfights, and the Puerta del Sol, one of the city's busiest locations.  And there is even an Egyptian temple, the Templo de Debod, which was a gift to Spain, which is situated by a beautiful park and well worth a visit.

Use our price comparison tool to find cheap hotels in Madrid, before booking your hotel in advance to reserve your room.  May is the busiest month for hotels here, as this is when the city hosts its biggest Fiesta, and rooms can be hard to find if booked late. During the high summer season, hotels are quieter due to the heat, when many Spanish head for holidays on the coast.

Overview

Overview

Madrid's fast pulse beats through its idiosyncratic neighbourhoods and vibrant residents. Top art attractions, varied cuisine, animated nightlife and a dynamic fashion scene all add to life in the Spanish capital.

See

Fine works of art hang on the walls of museums on the Paseo del Arte. The Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor form the sumptuous topping of Bourbon and Habsburg Madrid. Meanwhile age-old mesones (inns) and the modern tapas joints of La Latina fill its stomach. Each central barrio (district) exudes individuality – from swanky Salamanca to naughty Chueca, alternative Malasaña and multicultural Lavapiés.
Spend

Spain has given a number of talented designers to the world – the crème de la crème can be found on the streets of Salamanca. An alternative design scene thrives in Chueca, while grungier fashion takes over along in Malasaña culminating in the Mercado de Fuencarral. The streets around Huertas, and much of the old town are also jammed with specialist shops of all descriptions.
Get Out

Madrileños spend little time at home, preferring to enjoy their city alfresco. Join crowds sipping coffee or something stronger at street-side cafés and bars. Madrid is not particularly green, but visitors can still wind down in parks such as the leafy and impressively monumented Parque del Buen Retiro – ideal after gorging on the art treasures at the nearby museums – or Campo del Moro.
Culture

While the ‘Big Three' art museums, the Prado, Reina Sofia and the Thyssen cover all the major epochs between them, hidden gems are to be found in monasteries, churches and an old art school attended by the great Spanish artists. La Movida (The Movement), which rejuvenated Spanish culture post-Franco, lives on in Madrid – particularly in Malasaña and Chueca. Zarzuela, a more traditional form of Madrid expression in which plays break out into musicals, still thrives in the Teatro de la Zarzuela.
Eat & Drink

La Latina boasts posh tapas bars aplenty, and the high-class eateries in Salamanca concentrate on serving classic Spanish cuisine with a gourmet touch. More traditional Madrid fare like chick pea and meat stew can be found in the older parts of the city, while the cool crowd makes for trendy Chueca. International cuisine is available in relative abundance.
New Perspective

Match fine wines with exquisite tapas at the Vinoteca Barbechera wine bar which looks out onto the lively Plaza Santa Ana. Pity those drinking plain old beer at Madrid staples Cervecería Alemana and Naturbier opposite.

Prepare

Prepare

Whether you're a foodie, a snappy dresser or a wine lover, it is easy to go all out on the shopping front in Madrid so allow plenty of space in your luggage and bank account.

Madrid Year

Join the crowds ushering in the New Year in Puerta del Sol and be granted a wish by devouring twelve grapes – one for each chime. Celebrate Christmas once more on January 5 as the three wise men (ironically latter-day politicians) dish out goodies from 6pm on Día de los Reyes Magos from the Retiro to Plaza Mayor. On May 2, celebrate the spirit of Manuela Malasaña and those who rebelled against Napoleonic rule on Dos de Mayo; a perfect way to warm up for the fiestas of Madrid's patron saint San Isidro. Be politically incorrect at the ensuing bullfighting season at Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas. Browse the festive market at Plaza Real in the run up to Navidad (Christmas).
Public Holidays

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Epiphany (6 Jan), San José (Mar), Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (April/May), Labour Day (1 May), Autonomous Community Day (2 May), San Isidro (15 May), Corpus Christi (May/Jun), Assumption (15 Aug), Spanish National Day (12 Oct), Almudena (9 Nov), Immaculate Conception (8 Dec), Christmas Day (Dec 25).
Weather

Despite being the highest capital in Europe (646 metres above sea level), Madrid generally enjoys mild winter temperatures, with an average January temperature of 5°C, though be warned it often dips below freezing. The average July temperature is 24°C and summers can get very hot, justifying siestas during the hottest part of the day. Air conditioning is a must for all but the foolish in summer.
Electricity

230V AC, 50Hz, two-pin European plugs are standard.
Dialling Code

+34 (national), 91 + 7-figure number (Madrid).
Money

Euro (€) is the currency.
GMT

GMT +1 (+2 in summertime).
Fit In

While the Spanish often dress quite conservatively and Madrid is a business centre, basically anything goes in most areas, especially in Chueca. It is advisable for women to cover up in churches and to avoid too much attention in nightspots.

Get Around

Get Around

From Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun), Madrid radiates out in every direction. Many prime attractions can be reached on foot, though Madrid's highly efficient underground metro system is great for taking the weight off tired legs.

From Puerta del Sol, the centre of Madrid if not of Spain itself, within a few minutes stroll you can traverse the key districts, each so different from the next. Huertas gives way to multi-ethnic Lavapíes in the south. Cross the Gran Vía to cheeky Chueca in the northeast and the charmingly down-at-heel Malasaña. The oldest quarters of Madrid are sandwiched between the art-packed Paseo del Prado on the east, and Palacio Real to the west, while the exclusive districts of Salamanca and Chamberi can be found to the north on either side of Madrid's north-south artery, the Paseo de la Castellana.
Foot

Most of Madrid's prime attractions are conveniently located in or near to the city centre. Walking is often the best option and can reveal surprises at every turn.
Metro

The Consorcio Transportes de Madrid metro system is cheap, efficient and runs daily from 6am-1.30am. Each of the 12 metro lines has a colour and number. A single ticket can be used for any journey with the system.
Taxi

You can pick up one of the ubiquitous official taxis, which carry a diagonal red stripe and a green light on the roof, at ranks or on the street. Expect to pay a small surcharge for each item of luggage, or for trips from the airport, bus and train stations. Rounding up the fare the nearest Euro is pretty much standard, providing the service is to your approval.
Bus

Madrid's extensive bus service can be slightly confusing for visitors, compared to the easier to navigate metro system. The bus service is supplemented by night buses or búhos which run from Plaza de Cibeles to the suburbs from midnight to around 6am.
Cercanías

These regional trains provide a fast link between the Chamartín and Atocha train stations and nearby cities, such as Alcalá de Henares and Aranjuez.
Transport Tips

Single tickets and carnets of ten tickets are valid for the metro and city buses. Monthly passes for metro, bus and train are also available. Rush hour is 7am-9am and 7pm-9pm Monday to Friday.
Time Travel

Wander the peaceful streets around Plaza de la Villa, once the market square of Moorish Madrid, and chart the development of Spanish architecture from the Moors through medieval to the imperial majesty of the Bourbons and Habsburgs. Contrast with Franco's contribution to Madrid architecture with the Torre de Madrid and Edificio de España skyscrapers at Plaza de España.
Madrid Transport Link

Madrid Transport System website

Highlights

Highlights

In European terms, the sheer pace of Madrid can be a little overwhelming at first, but relax, go with the flow, and you'll see that a huge amount of its sights and energy can be soaked up with relative ease.

Madrid's golden triangle of art comprises The Prado Museum (best for El Greco), the more intimate Reina Sofía Museum and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (for 18th-20th century art), all located within striking distance of each other on the Paseo del Arte. Carrera de San Jerónimo takes you past the Parliament, El Congresso de los Diputados, where members were held at gunpoint in an attempted coup in the early post-Franco years, and onto Madrid epicentre Sol. From Sol, take Calle Mayor to the Plaza Mayor and the surrounding wonders of the old Madrid of the Asturias, capped by the opulent Royal Palace.

Relax in the French-style Parque del Buen Retiro and pay your respects to the statue of the fallen angel, Monumento al Ángel Caído. Thank the dark lord for the wicked time you're having, before spending big in nearby Salamanca.
Sightseeing Tips

Invest in an Abono de Paseo del Arte ticket to save on admission to the big three art museums – valid for a year. The Prado is free after 6pm on Tuesdays to Saturdays and on Sundays from 5pm, as well as certain holidays (though you can guarantee it will be packed). The Reina Sofia is free on Saturdays 2.30pm-9pm and on Sundays 10am-2.30pm.

Content provided by Frommer's Unlimited © 2009, Whatsonwhen Limited.



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