Madrid Travel Guide

Madrid offers visitors a full range of accommodation options, from the most luxurious five-star hotels to small affordable hostels.

Retiro & Paseo del Prado

The Westin Palace has always been popular with writers, performers, and politicians, from Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner, and Henry Kissinger to the Rolling Stones. It's worth going in, even if it's just for a coffee, to admire the magnificent décor. The Ritz, which opened in 1910, is widely considered to be the city's most elegant hotel. Both of these grand hotels are located conveniently close to Madrid's greatest attractions: the Museo Nacional del Prado (Prado Museum); the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza; the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, the Real Jardín Botánico and Buen Retiro Park.

Plaza España & Conde Duque

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, theaters, and shops. The Tryp Washington is located here.

Chueca & Malasaña

The inexpensive but nice Hotel Mónaco is situated at Plaza de Chueca.

Salamanca

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. The luxurious and modern Hotel Villa Magna caters to international celebrities and superstars as well. You'll find it on Paseo de la Castellana close to calle José Ortega y Gasset, home of Versace, Armani and other international fashion designer outlets. If you've got money to burn, book a room at the nearby Hotel Wellington, whose interior is as beautiful as its regal exterior.

Huertas & Santa Ana

If you elect to stay at the Reina Victoria during the bullfighting season and you might end up rubbing shoulders with a top bullfighter. The Victoria is beside the Teatro Español in the Plaza de Santa Ana, where you'll also find a wide selection of bars, restaurants and pubs. For a cheaper alternative in the same neck of the woods, check out the oldest hotel in the city, Hotel París. 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.

Cuzco & Infanta Mercedes

The Hotel Meliá Castilla in the north of the city, near the conference center on Paseo de la Castellana and Real Madrid's football stadium, Santiago Bernabéu, offers excellent conference facilities and accommodation for business executives. Near the Airport

Hotel Novotel Campo de las Naciones offers business travelers comfortable accommodation near the airport and the IFEMA trade center. Golf courses are also nearby.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 11