Madrid is a city to bask in. Like all of Spain, the capital city runs at an unhurried pace. Madrileños love to spend their time enjoying long lunches, leisurely afternoon coffees, and extended nights enjoying tapas and conversation. It’s a city that gets up late and stays out late.
There are plenty of great things to do and see in Madrid, but with so many interesting options, picking a great neighborhood to stay in can be tricky.
And, with a plethora of fun, energetic, and social hostels to choose from, it can be even more overwhelming to find a place that suits your budget and travel style.
In this post, I’ll share my list of the best hostels in Madrid to help make your trip easier. But before we dive in, there are a lot of things to consider when selecting a hostel.
After over a decade of backpacking around the world, I’ve learned what makes a good hostel great. The top four things to look for are these:
1. Location – While Madrid is fairly dense and compact, it can still take some time to get around. Pick a place that is near the sites you want to see and/or the nightlife you want to experience. All the hostels listed here are centrally located.
2. Price – In Madrid, you get what you pay for, so if you go with a really cheap hostel, you’re probably going to get one that is cramped and doesn’t offer great service.
3. Amenities – Most hostels offer free Wi-Fi, and some even include free breakfast, but if you want more than that, do your research to find one that best meets your needs!
4. Staff – All the hostels listed here have an amazing staff! They are super friendly and knowledgeable. Even if you don’t stay at one of the places listed below, look up reviews to ensure you end up somewhere where the staff are helpful and friendly! They can make or break a hostel!
To help you plan your trip, below is my list of the best hostels in Madrid. They all offer a welcome respite and a cozy and friendly place to lay your weary head and hang out with fellow travelers — all while keeping your budget intact.
If you don’t want to read the whole list, the following are the best in each category:
Best Hostel for Budget Travelers: The Hat
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads: 2060 The Newton Hostel or The Hat
Best Hostel for Families: Generator Hostel
Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers: Ok Hostel
Best Hostel for Partying: Cats Hostel
Best Overall Hostel: The Hat
Want more specifics? Here’s my comprehensive list of the best hostels in Madrid:
Price (per night)
- $ = Under 25 EUR
- $$ = 25-30 EUR
- $$$ = Over 30 EUR
1. The Hat
Centrally located directly next to Plaza Mayor (the central square), The Hat is one of the most popular hostels in Madrid. There are sizable indoor and outdoor common areas for hanging out in, including a large rooftop terrace and bar that’s a favorite even among visitors and locals not staying at the hostel. The hostel also organizes nightly social activities, making it easy to meet fellow travelers. It’s a good place to stay if you want to be social but not party.
The rooms are modern as well, with custom-designed bunk beds that have individual reading lights, plugs, and luggage storage underneath. The hearty buffet breakfast is just 5 EUR and includes Spanish specialties like tortilla española.
The Hat at a glance:
- $
- Rooftop terrace
- Many organized social activities (free walking tours, bar crawls, and more)
- Tasty buffet breakfast
Beds from 21 EUR, private rooms from 65 EUR.
Book The Hat here!
2. Sungate One
Sungate One is part of the Hostel One hostel chain that has new, modern hostels throughout Spain as well as in Porto, London, Prague, and Budapest. The Madrid location is just a few blocks from Sol, the epicenter of the capital city. The hostel staff here is super friendly and they organize a lot of activities, including group dinners, walking tours, and pub crawls.
The dorms are otherwise fairly basic, but they are clean and good-sized. There’s also free tea, coffee, and yerba mate available 24/7, as well as a fully equipped kitchen for preparing your own food.
Sungate One at a glance:
- $$
- No bunk beds
- Very social atmosphere with lots of organized activities
- Fully equipped kitchen
Beds from 29 EUR, private rooms from 130 EUR.
Book Sungate One here!
3. Ok Hostel Madrid
Ok Hostel is centrally located in the neighborhood of La Latina, near many famous historic tapas spots as well as all the main tourist attractions. The hostel is social and fun, with rotating nightly events like walking tours, bar crawls, and group dinners. There’s also a bar on site to hang out in (though I wouldn’t call it a party hostel).
The beds have all the amenities you need, including individual reading lights, sockets, storage, and privacy curtains (only on the bottom bunks though). There are also private double rooms, some of which even have their own outdoor terraces. If you want to save on food, there’s a fully equipped kitchen for cooking your own meals, as well as a daily breakfast buffet for 5 EUR.
Ok Hostel at a glance:
- $
- Nightly social events
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Breakfast buffet
Beds from 23 EUR, private rooms from 97 EUR.
Book Ok Hostel here!
4. The Central House Lavapies
This new eco-friendly hostel is in the heart of hip Lavapies, a multicultural neighborhood filled with bright street art, hip cafes, and cool bars. It feels like a luxury hostel, with a lot of cool amenities like a games playroom (with Nintendo, VR, and PlayStation), rooftop terrace (complete with a plunge pool), and outdoor patio. There’s also a bar and restaurant on-site, as well as a breakfast buffet (6.50 EUR), though there’s no kitchen for cooking your own food.
Central House has a variety of rooms to choose from, including dorms (with an option for premium dorms that have larger beds), private rooms, and even a penthouse apartment (with a kitchen) for 6 people. All dorms have en-suite bathrooms with rain showers, and bunks have individual reading lights, plugs, lockers, and additional under-bed storage.
The Central House Lavapies at a glance:
- $$
- Premium amenities
- Patio and rooftop terrace with plunge pool
- Breakfast buffet (6.50 EUR)
Beds from 26 EUR, private rooms from 135 EUR.
Book The Central House Lavapies here!
5. Generator Madrid
The Generator hostel chain has some of my favorite hostels in Europe, and the Madrid location is no exception. Located just steps from Gran Via, Madrid’s main thoroughfare, the 5-story hostel is close to many of Madrid’s main attractions and eateries. If you’d rather stay in, Generator has two bars – one inside, one on the roof – that also serve food (though there’s no kitchen for cooking your own food). There’s a breakfast buffet, but it’s pricey at 7 EUR.
With no organized social activities, this isn’t the most social hostel; it’s more like a hotel with dorm rooms. All bunks include a reading light, personal shelf, USB ports and sockets, and under-bed lockers. It’s a good place to stay if you want a nice place to sleep well or are traveling with family (there are family rooms available).
Generator Madrid at a glance:
- $$
- Rooftop bar and terrace with jacuzzis
- Cheap bike rentals
- Hotel atmosphere
Beds from 29 EUR, private rooms from 136 EUR. HostelPass members get 10% off
Book Generator Madrid here!
6. 2060 The Newton Hostel
This quirky hostel takes its name from Isaac Newton’s prediction that the world would end in 2060. The hostel’s founders took this idea and created a space to inspire others to live each day to the fullest, as if it was their last. The entire hostel is covered in quotes and colorful artwork conveying this concept.
This is a great, modern hostel, with a fantastic rooftop terrace, bunk beds with individual reading lights and sockets, private rooms (including family rooms), and even a spa and sauna for guests to use!
While there’s no breakfast buffet or hostel bar/restaurant, there’s free coffee and churros every morning, and a fully equipped kitchen to make your own meals. The staff are super welcoming and organize numerous social activities, including walking and bike tours, pub crawls, group dinners, sangria nights, and more. You can also rent bikes from the hostel to explore the city on two wheels.
2060 The Newton Hostel at a glance:
- $
- Spa and sauna
- Rooftop bar and terrace
- Fully equipped kitchen
Beds from 22 EUR, private rooms from 106 EUR.
Book 2060 The Newton Hostel here!
7. Cats Hostel
If you’re looking for the best party hostel in Madrid, this is undoubtedly it. Once a week, the fountain in the middle of the hostel’s 17th century Andalusian-style patio is filled with sangria, and the legendary party begins. Even when there’s not a sangria party going on, the hostel organizes a ton of social events, including nightly pub crawls, walking tours, quiz nights, and mojito nights. If you buy a drink at the hostel’s bar (that turns into a club later on in the night), you’ll get free dinner!
The dorms here are pretty basic, but they’re clean and each bed has its own power socket, reading lamp, and locker. But, let’s be real, you’re not staying at Cats to get a decent night’s sleep.
Cats Hostel at a glance:
- $
- Many organized social activities
- Hostel bar and club
- Lots of common spaces (including a movie room and shared kitchen)
Beds from 22 EUR, private rooms from 85 EUR.
Book Cats Hostel here!
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With its charming streets, historic sites, and long nights, the city is an easy place to enjoy on a budget. Regardless of your budget, interests, or travel style, Madrid will have a hostel for you.
