When choosing where to stay in Madrid, you have a huge range of accommodation types to choose from. Hotels can be pricey and self-catered apartments aren’t always ideal for a shorter stay. However, if you want the best of both worlds, the best hostels in Madrid fit the bill.
There is a wide variety of options available depending on your budget and what you want to get out of your experience in Madrid.
Hostels aren’t just for saving money. They are also a great way to meet fellow travelers. They usually offer guidance with planning more of your trip around Spain. And, of course, they are a great way to save money so that you can keep traveling to all of the best cities in Spain!
Criteria for the Best Hostels in Madrid
Madrid’s hostel scene has options to suit budget travelers, solo wanderers, couples, and families. There are the main points to look for when choosing where to stay in Madrid.
- Location: The best hostels in Madrid are located around Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, the Gran Vía, and La Latina. You can walk to most attractions and have easy access to the metro from a Madrid downtown hostel.
- Price: Budget around €30 per night for a bed in a mid-range hostel dorm (nightly rates rise slightly in peak season). The cheapest hostels in Madrid might lack comfort, security, and basic amenities. Private rooms cost anywhere between €100 and €150 depending on the size, quality, and whether it has a private bathroom.
- Amenities: Most Madrid hostels have Wi-Fi, a round-the-clock reception, and some kitchen facilities. Some provide free breakfast and arrange social activities. Lockers should be provided but you’ll usually have to supply your own padlock. Towels are usually (but not always) provided in private rooms and available to rent in dorms. Privacy curtains are not typical.
- Room types: Most hostels in Madrid have a mix of dorms and private rooms, some only have dorms. Most will have options for female-only dorms.
- Review rating: Travelers talk, and they write too. The best hostels in Madrid have a score of at least 8/10 or equivalent.
10 Best Hostels in Madrid
The following hostels are based on the above criteria. If you’re in a hurry, here are the best hostels in Madrid for all types of travelers.
- Best hostel overall: The Central House
- Best hostel in Madrid for couples: Bastardo Hostel
- Most family-friendly hostel in Madrid: Toc Hostel
- Best hostel in Madrid for solo female travelers: The Hat
- Cheapest hostel in Madrid: 2060 The Newton Hostel
- Best hostel in Madrid for meeting people: OneFam Sungate
- Best hostel near Madrid Airport: Hostelfly
Some of these great Madrid hostels have cafes or restaurants on-site where you can grab breakfast or beers at the end of a day of exploring. Most have common areas where you can meet fellow travelers.
1. Onefam Sungate Hostel
Onefam Sungate is a Madrid downtown hostel steps from Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía. It’s part of a well-known hostel chain and the Sungate is the most central of two Onefam Madrid hostels.
The hostel has private rooms with shared bathrooms and dorms. Private rooms are available as twin, double, and triple domains. The dorms have quite small occupancies of three, four, five, or six. Linen is provided, all rooms have lockers, and towels are available for rent.
This is one of the best hostels in Madrid for meeting people. Onefam Sungate has a communal lounge, shared kitchen, and regular social happenings.
There is a daily sightseeing tour for hostel guests and regular free family dinners and bar hopping tours. Even if you’re staying for one or two days in Madrid, you’ll make a friend.
Onefam Sungate Hostel at a glance:
- Excellent location in central Madrid
- Mixed and female-only dorms
- Social events
- Free breakfast and dinners
- Age limit of 18-45 years
- Dorm beds from €24, private rooms from €96
Book Onefam Sungate Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.
2. The Hat
The Hat is one of the few boutique hostels in Madrid. This Madrid downtown hostel occupies an old mansion three minutes from Plaza Mayor and culminates with a charming roof terrace and wine bar with a classy atmosphere.
All dorms are furnished with custom-made bunks each with a reading light and large storage locker (bring your own padlock). Mixed-sex dorms cap out at 10 bunks and have shared bathrooms.
The superior dorms and all female-only dorms have floor-to-ceiling windows or balconies. Women-only dorms are configured as four, six, and eight-bed dorms all with an en suite bathroom. These may be reserved by private groups and families as well as solo travelers.
Private rooms are en suite, with the four-bed apartments having the perk of a kitchenette.
The Hat at a glance:
- Female dorms and private rooms have balconies
- One of the best hostels in Madrid for solo female travelers
- Breakfast is available at a surcharge
- Towels are available for rent
- No kitchen (only a microwave)
- Not the most sociable hostel
- Free city tours and ad hoc complimentary access to clubs
- Dorm beds from €31 private rooms from €128.
Book The Hat on Hostelworld or Booking.
There are a lot of different dorm room sizes to choose from at the hostels in Madrid.
3. Bastardo Hostel
Located at the crossroads of the Malasaña and Chueca neighborhoods, Bastardo Hostel is one of the best hostels in Madrid for couples.
This upscale hostel sports an industrial chic design. It has a restaurant serving breakfast and dinner, lobby seating, and a roof terrace. There’s also a shared kitchen where you can cook.
Private rooms are closer to what you’d expect from a hotel. All have a private bathroom, quality linens, and chic tiled accents. The top-tier units have a private terrace – fancy! Mixed-gender and female-only dorms are also available.
The hostel runs free walking tours and nightly pub crawls in Malasaña. For those who prefer to stay in, you can partake in beer pong competitions and sangría workshops.
Bastardo Hostel at a glance:
- Stylish decor perfect for couples and girls’ getaways
- Sociable vibe but not a party hostel
- Breakfast is available at a surcharge
- Towels included in private rooms, dorm guests can rent them
- Dorm beds from €43, private rooms from €89
Book Bastardo Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.
4. The Central House
The Central House is a brand new hostel in Lavapiés with top-notch dorms, cozy private rooms, and lots of communal space.
Each bunk capsule has privacy curtains, a USB port, a night light, and a large locker. Most dorms are mixed but there are a few four-bed female dorms. The “premium” dorms only really differ in that beds are slightly larger.
Couples can book a double room with a private bathroom and groups can reserve a private dorm or the six-bed “penthouse” apartment. This has a kitchen, which is handy as that’s one amenity amiss.
The Central House is one of the best hostels in Madrid for meeting people or keeping to yourself if you prefer. It’s definitely not a party hostel but it’s the kind of place where you can expect to strike up a conversation over a beer on the roof terrace.
The Central House at a glance:
- Excellent location
- Feels like a hotel-hostel hybrid
- Caters to couples, families, solo travelers, and digital nomads
- Funky dorm decor
- Limited female-only dorms
- Breakfast available as an extra
- No kitchen
- Dorm beds from €32, private rooms from €144
Book The Central House on Hostelworld or Booking.
Many of the best hotels in Madrid are in older buildings with a lot of character.
5. Cats Hostel
One of the best hostels in Madrid for cheap stays, Cats is named for the feline nickname given to madrileños. Sadly, there is no resident cat at the hostel.
This is a youthful, sociable hostel in Sol with a gorgeous Moorish-style courtyard.
The largest (and cheapest) dorms accommodate 12 guests. Most are mixed and the only female dorm has 12 beds. There’s a couple of small private rooms for small groups of friends.
The amenities are slightly outdated with metal bunks in place of wooden capsules but it’s clean, budget-friendly, and staffed by great people.
Cats is also one of the best hostels in Madrid for meeting people. There are several communal areas where you can play foosball or get to know people over a pint of Cats craft beer. Most guests congregate in the bar in the evening before heading off on a bar crawl.
Cats Hostel Sol at a glance:
- Awesome location
- No private rooms with double beds
- Cheap drinks in the bar
- As a party hostel, it can be noisy
- Amenities are basic
- Dorm beds from €25, private rooms from €104
Book Cats Hostel Sol on Hostelworld or Booking.
6. Latroupe Prado Hostel
Right outside Atocha Train Station, Latroupe Prado is convenient for Retiro Park and the Art Walk (Paseo del Arte). It’s also handy for planning day trips from Madrid.
Cocooned within a heritage building, Latroupe composes smartly designed dormitories and private rooms. Bunks have privacy curtains and lots of natural light.
With hotel-standard double rooms and exclusive suites with balconies, Latroupe is one of the best hostels in Madrid for couples. The rooms don’t feel typical of hostel accommodation and the bar is worth a visit even if you stay elsewhere.
Beyond the bar, the hotel has a couple of voguish communal spaces suitable for working, resting, and chatting to other travelers. It’s not a party hostel but the staff do organize bar crawls.
Latroupe Prado Hostel at a glance:
- Close to Atocha and art galleries
- Hotel vibes at hostel prices
- Breakfast is available in the restaurant
- Family-friendly environment and amenities
- Mixed and female dorms
- Not particularly sociable
- No kitchen
- Dorm beds from €32, private rooms from €158
Book Latroupe Prado on Hostelworld or Booking.
Hostels around the world are a great way to stay for cheap when you travel while also meeting some nice people to continue your adventures with.
7. 2060 The Newton Hostel
2060 The Newton Hostel claims a privileged position at the intersection of La Latina and Lavapiés. This is an awesome choice for where to stay in Madrid for food, markets, and street art.
The interior designers had a lot of fun here. Linens and bunks are emblazoned with kooky quotes and Isaac Newton-inspired motifs. Dorm beds have privacy curtains and nifty pouches for storing mobile phones and earplugs.
The hostel comprises private and shared dorms going as large as 12 beds. This makes 2060 The Newton one of the cheapest hostels in Madrid if you don’t mind a crowd.
Considering the low rates, it might surprise you that this is one of the only Madrid hostels with a hot tub and sauna. The facilities carry a fee and must be reserved in advance.
The sociable hostel offers free sightseeing tours, guided pub crawls, sangría parties, and outings to see flamenco shows. All some of the best things to do in Madrid.
2060 The Newton Hostel at a glance:
- Playful design
- Has a sauna and hot tub
- Roof terrace, excellent kitchen, and coworking space
- One of the best hostels in Madrid for meeting people
- No private rooms for couples
- Mixed and female-only dorms
- Dorm beds from €19, private rooms from €125
Book 2060 The Newton Hostel on Hostelworld or Booking.
8. Toc Hostel
Situated minutes from Plaza Mayor and Sol Metro, Toc Hostel is one of the most family-friendly Madrid hostels downtown.
Private units include double rooms for couples and three, four, six, and eight-bed dorms with custom wooden bunks. All private rooms have an en suite bathroom and are suitable for families as well as groups.
Mixed and female-only dorms have the same bed configuration, most have a private bathroom attached.
Toc Hostel has a small, elegant bar under a frescoed ceiling and a pool table.
The atmosphere is quiet and while this is one of the best hostels in Madrid for couples and families, it’s not ideal for travelers eager to make new friends. There are no planned activities at Toc but the front desk is happy to support with tours and reservations.
Toc Hostel Madrid at a glance:
- Great hostel for families, couples, and mature travelers
- Epic location in the heart of Madrid
- Cutting-edge technology including “fingertip” keys
- Breakfast is available at a surcharge
- Minimal kitchen facilities (microwave, toaster, and kettle)
- Dorm beds from €39, private rooms from €131
Book Toc Hostel Madrid on Hostelworld or Booking.
Madrid is such an amazing city to explore. Spend your money on experiences, museums, and great tapas bars instead of on your accommodation.
9. Hostelfly
Traveling to Madrid on the fly? Then you’ll want to reserve a bunk at Hostelfly – one of the top-rated hostels near Madrid Airport. Hostelfly is a 10-minute walk from Terminal 3 and two minutes by metro to Terminal 4.
The hostel is simple and comfy, with six, eight, and 10-bed dorms. All guests are assigned a large under-the-bed locker. The beds and lockers are known to creak so you’ll want to add some ear plugs to your Spain packing list.
There’s no breakfast served at this hostel but you can use the kitchen. Best of all, this hostel has a swimming pool.
Hostelfly at a glance:
- Closest hostel for Madrid Airport
- Dorms have private bathrooms
- Beds have privacy curtains
- Has a swimming pool
- No private rooms and no female-only dorms
- Dorm beds from €29
Book Hostelfly on Hostelworld or Booking.
Plaza Mayor is a fantastic place to wander, find some cool cafes and tapas spots, or simply to relax and people watch.
10. Social Coliving and Coworking
Social Coliving and Coworking has a different tempo than other Madrid hostels. Located in Malasaña, the property is organized with remote workers in mind.
The decor is gorgeous, with a tropical theme running throughout the private rooms, dorms, and communal areas. Rooms are trimmed with bamboo, macrame wall hangings, and floral linens.
Four and six-bed dorms are available for mixed-sex and female-only guests. Some private rooms have either a desk or a balcony.
As one of the best hostels in Madrid for digital nomads, the hostel has a large coworking space with laptop-friendly tables. This is a great place to make new connections although the hostel maintains a quiet vibe in respect of those working.
Consider how you feel about the absence of a physical reception before booking this hostel.
Social Coliving and Coworking at a glance:
- Gorgeous design
- Quiet environment
- Private rooms have shared bathrooms
- Small dorms capped at six guests maximum
- No on-site reception: all communication is handled via WhatsApp
- Great kitchen
- Dorm beds from €35, private rooms from €132
Book a stay at Social Coliving and Coworking on Booking.