Madrid is an amazing city to travel to. Like most of Spain, the city does not move in a rush, and the locals here in Madrid like to take their time, walk, enjoy extended lunches and just take it easy as a way of life. I have become accustomed to this after living here for so many years, and with so much to do here, it can be tricky deciding where in Madrid to stay, and I want to make that choice a little easier for you.
There is so much to see and do in Madrid, that I doubt you will be spending too much time in a hotel room, and most of it will be spent walking around Madrid taking in the innumerable historic sites and fun activities.
Before I moved to Madrid permanently, I would choose a good hostel to stay in Madrid, make sure it was centrally located and just walk all day and night and stop at as many cool and interesting places and take as many pictures as I could.
So before we get in to the nitty gritty, let me talk about a few things to take in to consideration before choosing a hostel in Madrid.
If you are in a hurry and don’t want to read through the whole list, these are my best picks for each of the following categories:
- Best Hostel in Madrid Overall: The Hat
- Best Hostel for Families: The Generator & The Walt
- Best Hostel in Madrid for Solo Female: The Generator
- Best Party Hostel in Madrid: Cats Hostel
1- Location: You can get around Madrid fairly easy walking, and most of the well known sites are pretty close to each other, but if you pick a hostel too far out in any direction, the walks can get tiring pretty quickly, so you want something as close to the center as possible.
2- Cost: It may not be the same everywhere, but you will get what you pay for here in Madrid, so aiming for the cheapest Hostel may not be the best option. Pay a little more and you will get better service and a much better experience overall.
3- The Staff: I am big on people being nice, and I try to do the same. So when I was choosing the hostels on the list, I made sure to take this in to account, and before you make the choice, be sure to check the reviews to make sure the staff are highly spoken of. The attitude of the staff
4- Amenities: Although travelling on a reasonable budget to Madrid is the aim, we still want to have a few of our creature comforts right. Most if not all the hostels in Madrid offer free wi-fi and you might even get a free meal, but just be sure to check the fine print.
To help you make the best choice and find the one most suited to you, this is my list of the best Hostels in Madrid. I picked them all taking in to account the comfort level, the amenities that are included and most importantly, the servi ce of the staff which I find to be the most important
1. The Hat
As central as you can get, The Hat hostel is one of if not the most popular hostel in Madrid, and located right next to Plaza Mayor. The hostel has very spacious common areas to hang out in, and even a roof top bar that is visited as much by the locals as well as the visitors. The roof top terrace is a very cool addition to the hostel and they even organize social events here so you will have entertainment in case you feel like staying in.
The beds are all custom designed in spacious and very clean rooms. Each of the bunk beds have their own charger, reading lights, storage and plugs for maximum convenience. There is a buffet breakfast in the mornings that will not leave you wanting and costs just €5 per person. You also have the option for private and shared rooms.
I also used to worry about having a room full of rowdy guests, but they have a policy of not allowing group booking of more than 8, and stag/hen parties are not allowed in the hostel so you can be sure you will get a good nights sleep.
The Hat Hostel Features:
- Free WiFi
- Rooftop Terrace
- Buffet Breakfast
- Air Con
- Check in: 15:00 – Check out: 12:00
2. Sungate One
If you have travelled around Europe and stayed in Hostels, you may recognize the name Sungate One. Sungate have a chain of modern Hostels throughout Europe, and their latest offering is a stones throw away from Puerta Del Sol, right in the heart of Madrid.
The staff are really nice here, and they put an emphasis on makinf sure there are daily activities here to keep the guest entertained. Not just at the hostel though, they also organize pub crawls, group activities walking tours and much more. The rooms are basic, but very clean and tidy, and the majority of them have natural light with large windows.
Another good feature they have here is the female only dorms. They also have mixed dorms, but if you are travelling as a single female, you may feel safer if you have this option. There are also no bunk beds at the Sungate One Hostel, and this can also be a deal breaker for some.
Overall, the Sungate Hostel in Madrid is a great choice, there are always activities, the rooms are simple, clean and spacious, and you cannot beat the location being right there in the center of Madrid.
The Sungate Hostel Features:
- 24/7 reception
- Free WiFi
- Laundry Facilities
- Daily Activities
- Female only and family dorms
- Prices start from €21
3. The Central House
Another really great Hostel in Madrid located in one of the coolest neighborhoods full of color, culture, bars, markets and restaurants. There are really good common areas at this hostel, a roof top terrace (with a little pool) and not to forget the game room with Playstations, Nintendo’s, VR Headsets, it is a lot of fun.
If you get peckish, there is also a bar and a restaurant, and if you want there is a breakfast buffet at a cost of €6.50 per person.
You have a number of options to choose, from private rooms, shared dorms, a penthouse for 6! All of the dorms have en-suite bathrooms and the bunks come with all the creature comforts, reading light, plugs, lockers, free wi-fi and under bed storage.
If you are travelling alone, they also have activities for the residents every day organized by the hostel, they are careful with the types of guest they allow to stay so the atmosphere is really great and you are sure to make a few friends. Definitely one of the coolest Hostels in Madrid.
The Central House Hostel Features:
- Rooftop Terrace with pool
- Free WiFi
- Laundry Facilities
- Daily Activities
- Premium Rooms
- Prices start from €26
4. The OK Hostel
Visiting Madrid in the summer? every single room in this Madrid Hostel has its own A/C unit, and it is plenty of fun with the activities they organize that include beer pong, group dinners and bar crawls and a lot of other friendly get togethers.
The Ok Hostel in La Latina is located just as central as the rest of the Hostels on the list. It is close to all of the main attractions of the city and if you are here on a weekend it is also just down the road from the famous El Rastro market.
The beds come with all the usual amenities, privacy curtains, reading lights, sockets and storage. There are also private rooms available, some of which come with their own private balcony. There is also a communal kitchen if you want to keep your food costs down, or a daily breakfast buffet for just €5.
The OK Hostel Features:
- Social events nightly
- Free Wi-Fi
- Communal Kitchen
- Book Exchange
- Premium Rooms
- Prices start from €23
5. The Cats Hostel
If you are looking for a party Hostel in Madrid, this is the one for you. In the middle of the Hostel there is a square, and in this square there is an actual fountain that gets filled up with Sangria! and so the party begins. Yes, really. Even if you miss this party, there are still events the Hostel organizes every night to keep the entertainment going. You do not come here to get to bed early, you come here to party.
The rooms are basic but clean, you have the amenities you need with sockets, a little storage and a reading lamp, so after the party is done, you have what’s necessary to get some sleep. As far as location goes, it is right on Puerta Del Sol so you couldn’t be any more central, and the staff are also very warm and friendly.
The Cats Hostel Features:
- Pretty wild parties
- Free Wi-Fi
- Common spaces, Movie room, Shared kitchen
- Prices start from €22
6. The Generator Hostel Madrid
This chain of Hostels is known for choosing really good locations, and this is no exception. The Generator Hostel in Madrid is just off of the most famous streets of Madrid, Gran Via. It is spread over five floors, has two bars (one on the roof), serve food from their restaurant and have a shared kitchen if you want to do a little cooking of your own.
For me, the most striking feature of this Hostel is the roof terrace. You get amazing views over the city, and it is such a nice place to sit down with a book and just relax in the late afternoon. I also like my quiet time more than most, and this place is perfect for that because they do not organize any social events here, you are left to your own devices and I really liked that.
All bunks have the standard amenities with the reading lights, sockets, charging points, storage and of course free wi-fi. If you are travelling with your family, they also have group rooms so you can be in private with your family and not have to share with anyone.
The OK Hostel Features:
- Amazing roof terrace wit bar & jacuzzi
- Free Wi-Fi
- Great if you like your me time
- Prices start from €29
7. The Safestay Hostel Madrid
Safestay Hostel is one of the first premium hostels in Madrid, and the prices are set to be affordable to the backpack travelers out there.
This Hostel is in a refurbished 19th century mansion just around the corner from the Alonso Martinez metro station, about a 5-10 minute walk from Puerta Del Sol so again very central. They have daily activities organized by the staff, they do free city tours daily and the atmosphere is really friendly over all.
The rooms are really big and clean, there is a roof terrace where you can chill out, all rooms are air conditioned and locked at all times. The reception is open 24 hours a day with friendly staff there to greet you at any time and if you want to stretch your budget a little, you can get a private room with an en suite.
This youth hostel in Madrid really tries to set their reputation based on how safe it is to stay in, but as always, make sure you always know where your belongings are and just be careful in general.
The Safestay Hostel Features:
- Great roof top common area
- Free Wi-Fi
- Rooms are very large
- Laundry Facilities
- Prices start from €15
8. The Toc Hostel Madrid
This hostel is really well located a stone throw from Puerta Del Sol, and all of the facilities are very modern and used a lot of advanced technologies when it comes to security.
There is a 24 hour reception, they use fingertip keys, have security cameras, free wi fi, communal areas, game rooms, a bar and restaurant and much more. You can choose between a shared or a private room, and all the bunks have the creature comforts you need.
If you are travelling in a group of four, you get the option to have your own private room with an en-suite bathroom, lockers, bunk beds, nothing like a little privacy at times. Over all a great option when it comes to location, but breakfast is not served here and there are not many events organized.
The Safestay Hostel Features:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Very modern design rooms
- Excellent location,
- Prices start from €25
9. The Walt Hostel Madrid
If you have a large budget and are looking for a luxury hostel in Madrid, then the Walt Hostel Madrid is the one for you. The Walt is just off of Gran Via, and a short walk from all the local Museums, Theatres, Cinemas, Shops and everything else you would want near by when on a trip to Madrid.
The Walt hostel Madrid has 30 rooms, all of which are private with private bathrooms, a mini bar, complimentary hot drinks, flat screen tv´s and all the trimmings you would usually expect from a good hotel.
They also have family rooms that even have their own little kitchens! All day working spaces for the digital nomads that need to work and travel, and a number of outdoor spaces including a roof top.
This luxury hostel in Madrid has overwhelmingly positive reviews and you would be pretty hard pressed to find any negative reviews. But I will say it is more like a hotel than a Hostel.
It really is a great option if you want the best of everything from your accommodation and are prepared to pay the price, but it may take away from the hostel experience if those are the types of memories you are after.
The Safestay Hostel Features:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Very high quality rooms
- Excellent location
- Linen included
- Towels included
- Prices start from around €120+
Last Words On Choosing A Hostel In Madrid
No matter your budget, there is definitely a Hostel for you in Madrid. The majority of Hostels in Madrid will be right in the heart of the center, or within a short walking distance. For convenience, I always chose a Hostel as close to the center of Madrid as possible because I wanted to be close to everything, so all of the options in the list are the closes to the center you can find.
The center of Madrid is a safe place, and I have never had any trouble, but always look out for pick pockets, this seems to be the biggest issue over here in Madrid for tourists, and you should be careful with your belonging no matter where you are travelling to.
We also have this guide for 13 Best Budget Hotels in Madrid 2023 if you need more options.
If you make it over here, I hope you have a great time, and I would love to hear from you and about your experiences. You can reach me via my contact page, I will be happy to answer any other questions you may have about Madrid.
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