Madrid offers visitors a full range of accommodation options, from the most luxurious five-star hotels to small affordable hostels.
The
Ritz, which opened in 1910, is widely considered to be the city's most elegant hotel. The
Westin Palace has always been popular with writers, performers and politicians, like Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner, Henry Kissinger and the Rolling Stones. It's worth going in, even if it's just for a coffee, to admire the magnificent décor. Both these grand hotels are located conveniently close to Madrid's greatest attractions: the
Prado Museum; the
Thyssen-Bornesmiza Museum; the
Reina Sofía Museum, the
Botanical Gardens and
Buen Retiro Park.
The luxurious and modern
Hotel Villamagna caters to international celebrities and superstars as well. You'll find it on Paseo de la Castellana close to the Calle Ortega y Gasset, home of Versace, Armani and other international fashion designer outlets.
There are also several comfortable hotels in the area around
Gran Vía, Madrid's version of Broadway. The city's legendary street-life takes place here, in and around the many restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres and shops. The Tryp Washington is located here, while the nearby and inexpensive
Hotel Mónaco is situated at Plaza de Chueca.
Novotel Campo de las Naciones offers business travellers comfortable accommodation near the airport and the IFEMA trade centre. Golf courses are nearby.
The NH Alcalá is close to
Buen Retiro Park, which is a great place if you fancy jogging or strolling amongst the trees and lakes. The shopping district around Calle Serrano also has several affordable hotels belonging to the NH chain: the NH Lagasca and NH Balboa, for example.
Book a room at the Hotel Wellington or the
Hard Rock Hotel Madrid during the bullfighting season and you might end up rubbing shoulders with a top bullfighter. The
Hard Rock Hotel is beside the Teatro Español in the Plaza de Santa Ana, where you'll also find a wide selection of bars, restaurants and pubs. The Hotel Meliá Castilla in the north of the city, near the conference centre on Paseo de la Castellana and Real Madrid's football stadium, Santiago Bernabéu, offers excellent conference facilities and accommodation for business executives. The
Hotel París is the oldest hotel in the city. It opened in 1872 and continues to provide cheap, basic accommodation with a sense of history, close to the
Puerta del Sol and the Plaza de Santa Ana in the old town.