Where to Stay in Madrid: The Best Neighborhoods for Tourists

The Centro is essentially the main center of Madrid which includes different parts of different neighborhoods — including Sol, La Latina, and Barrio de las Letras.

Ultimately, the Centro is the best area to stay in Madrid because it is the most central you can get. Staying here allows you to be a short (or shorter) distance from all of Madrid’s main attractions and local favorites.

Sol is the heart of Madrid. It’s where you have everything from the famous Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor to Gran Vía, and more.

As a fun fact, Puerta del Sol has a sign that shows Madrid’s Point Zero, meaning that everything in the historic center surrounds it.

As always, there are pros and cons to staying so central. For example, the pro is that you’re a similar distance from all the main attractions in each of the different neighborhoods – including the Royal Palace and the Museo del Prado.

A con, on the other hand, is that the prices are much higher and it’s one of the busiest and noisiest neighborhoods to be in.

Located just south of Sol, La Latina is the most budget-friendly, central neighborhood. La Latina is a neighborhood where many locals and students reside, and is where you’ll experience a more authentic and residential side of Madrid.

This neighborhood has many restaurants and bars, and is also home to Madrid’s famous Sunday Market, El Rastro.

This is a fun, safe, and lively neighborhood. When booking your hotel for Madrid, make sure to look for something that sits close to the Sol neighborhood – this will help ensure you’re on a flat side of the neighborhood.

In my experience, the deeper you go into La Latina, the hillier the neighborhood gets – especially when you go to visit the El Rastro Sunday market.

If you are a lover of literature – the Barrio de las Letras, “Literature Quarter” is a charming central neighborhood where some of Spain’s most important literary figures.

Going back to Spain’s Golden Age, this quarter was where writers like Cervantes (Don Quijote) and Quevedo lived. Due to this, because this quarter is mainly pedestrian-friendly, you’ll come across inscriptions on the streets sharing famous quotes and passages.

Besides the literature world, Barrio de Letras is a great place for good food, shopping, nightlife and to be near other cultural spots – like the one and only, Museo del Prado.

This is a safe neighborhood and similarly to La Latina, it offers more affordable prices than Sol and is just as central.

P.S. If you’re celiac, I highly recommend staying in this neighborhood because it is a short walk from several incredible gluten-free restaurants. Think 100% gluten free Spanish restaurant, Japanese restaurant, pizza restaurant and beyond!😍

😋 Discover the Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Madrid

The neighborhoods I’m sharing here are all incredible and are also considered to be central. However, in my personal experience, these neighborhoods are a bit too far from the city center – especially if you’re spending just a few, short days in Madrid.

Obviously, depending on the type of traveler you are or the kind of vacation you are looking for, you might even prefer that these neighborhoods are not as central as the ones mentioned above.

Without further ado, here’s what to know about these 3 other incredible neighborhoods – perfect for longer stays👇

If you are looking for a luxurious and quiet neighborhood, with a side of high-end shopping (even just window-shopping), Salamanca is the neighborhood of your dreams!

I still remember the first time I walked through this area – all I could do was admire the breathtaking architecture, its peaceful ambiance, and think: “I wish I could live here”.😂

Because this is slightly farther out from the city center, I would recommend staying here if you’re staying in Madrid for 4 days or more. It’s well connected and walkable, but you can expect a 25-30 minute commute to reach Puerta del Sol.

Out of all the neighborhoods, this is certainly the most beautiful and most luxurious area to stay in Madrid.

If you’re staying 4 days or more in Madrid, then you should definitely consider staying in the Retiro area!

Retiro is home to the green lungs of Madrid and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Parque del Retiro. Covering over 125 hectares, this park is genuinely one of the most incredible places to be in when visiting Madrid.

It’s where you see all the locals enjoying their leisurely activities, from long strolls to running, walking their dogs, or hanging out with friends. In other words, it’s the perfect place to do some wholesome people watching and dive deeper into the local life.

Being home to this main park, the Retiro neighborhood is a more relaxed area to be in and is perfect if you’re planning a longer stay. It’s also very safe and near the Museo del Prado.

Malasaña | Foodies

If you’re a foodie who loves a cultural, lively and younger neighborhood, Malasaña is a great neighborhood to consider staying in!

It is also great if you love a good shopping scene, as you’ll find everything from vintage stores to unique and locally-owned brands, and some high-end brands.

This neighborhood sits about a 12 minute commute from Sol, so while it isn’t too far, I definitely recommend ensuring that your stay sits closer to Sol – don’t go too deep into Malasaña.

This might be a noisier neighborhood due to the vibrant nightlife.

Quick Summary on the Best Areas to Stay in Madrid

🌟 Sol — Best for first-time visitors who want to be as central as possible.
🏠 La Latina — Best for budget travelers and food lovers. Super central.
📖 Barrio de las Letras — Best for culture lovers and museum fans. Super central.
✨ Salamanca — Best for luxury travelers or longer stays.
🌿 Retiro — Best for slow travel and nature lovers.
🗺️ Malasaña — Best for international cuisine, nightlife, and vintage shopping.

As a responsible travel blogger who’s constantly learning how to make more positive impact through her blog, I’m starting to do more thorough hotel research and offer you a curated selection of the best-rated and responsible/sustainable options.

The stays I’m sharing below are all near the city center, have the best ratings on TripAdvisor, and offer different types of experiences. Most importantly, these are all stays that have a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly practices. Some even signed the UNESCO sustainable travel pledge.

Getting to the city center from the Madrid-Barajas Airport is very easy! There are several options:

• Airport Express Shuttle (5 euros)
• Metro
• Taxi or Uber

As someone who easily overthinks and loves to have the most simple routes, please trust me when I tell you that the Metro and the Airport Shuttle are too easy for you to pay for a taxi.

Obviously, if you’re traveling with many bags or with children, a taxi or Uber will definitely feel much more convenient. But if you can, I strongly recommend taking the metro or Airport shuttle.

In terms of commute time, the Metro and the Taxis are the fastest option, but taxis run the risk of traffic.

What is the safest part of Madrid?

Overall Madrid is a very safe city, with its central neighborhoods (all those mentioned above) all being safe.

Can I wear jeans in Madrid?

I chuckled when I saw this question on Google’s most frequently asked, but yes – you can most definitely wear jeans in Madrid!

Being the large, international city that it is, Madrid sees all sorts of fashion and styles. When you’re packing for your trip, I recommend bringing your favorite outfits but also make sure that they are comfortable for lots of walking.