Last Updated: 1/11/24 | January 11th, 2024
Like all of Spain, Madrid 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.
In this post, I’ll share my list of the best hostels in Madrid to help make your trip easier.
After over fifteen years 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. If you don’t want to read the whole list, the following are the best in each category:
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. Onefam Sungate
This hostel is just a few blocks from Sol, the epicenter of the city. The hostel staff here is super friendly and I love that they organize a lot of free activities, including group dinners, daily walking tours, and nightly pub crawls. It’s a great hostel for solo travelers as they make it super easy to meet people.
The dorms are fairly basic but a big plus is that there are no bunk beds. The beds are all singles and there’s never more than six to a room (they have a female-only dorm too). The hostel also offers free tea, coffee, and yerba mate 24/7. There’s a fully equipped kitchen for preparing your own food too.
Onefam Sungate at a glance:
- $$$
- No bunk beds
- Social atmosphere with lots of organized activities
- Fully equipped kitchen
Beds from 35 EUR, private rooms from 130 EUR.
2. The Hat
Centrally located directly next to Plaza Mayor (the central square), The Hat is one of the most popular hostels in Madrid. It’s a very social hostel with sizable common areas. I especially love the large rooftop terrace and its bar that’s a favorite even among locals (they open the bar to non-guests at night). The hostel also organizes regular activities too so there’s always something to do.
The rooms have custom-designed bunk beds with individual reading lights, plugs, and s luggage storage underneath. I found the mattresses to be quite comfy and the showers are kept clean. There is also a delicious, hearty buffet breakfast that includes Spanish specialties like tortilla española.
The Hat at a glance:
- $$
- Rooftop terrace
- Lots of organized social activities
- Tasty buffet breakfast
Beds from 30 EUR, private rooms from 114 EUR.
3. Ok Hostel Madrid
Centrally located in the La Latina neighborhood, this is a fun hostel. They make it really easy to meet other travelers here as they organize a rotating list of events, including walking tours, bar crawls, and group dinners. There’s also a bar on-site to hang out in.
I found the beds here comfy, with thick mattresses and individual reading lights, outlets, storage, and privacy curtains (only on the bottom bunks though). There’s a fully equipped kitchen for cooking your own meals as well as a filling breakfast buffet for 6 EUR.
Ok Hostel at a glance:
- $$
- Nightly social events
- Bar on-site
- Filling breakfast buffet
Beds from 29 EUR, private rooms from 120 EUR.
4. The Central House Lavapies
This new eco-friendly hostel is in the heart of Lavapies, a multicultural neighborhood filled with bright street art, hip cafes, and cool bars. This hostel has a lot of amenities, including a games playroom, rooftop terrace (with a splash pool), and outdoor patio. There’s also a bar and restaurant on-site, as well as a breakfast buffet offered each morning (6.50 EUR).
I found the dorm beds to be really comfy, with pod-style cubicles that offered plenty of privacy. The beds have outlets, lights, lockers, and curtains too. All the dorms have en-suite bathrooms too.
The Central House Lavapies at a glance:
- $$
- Female-only dorm
- Cozy pod-style beds
- Filling breakfast buffet
Beds from 18 EUR, private rooms from 75 EUR.
5. Generator Madrid
The Generator hostel chain has some of my favorite hostels in Europe. Located just steps from Gran Via, Madrid’s main thoroughfare, this five-story hostel has two bars (one inside, one on the roof) so it’s possible to hang out and meet other travelers.
The dorm beds are super comfy and have thick mattresses so you can get a decent sleep. There are no curtains on the bunks but each bed has a reading light, personal shelf, USB ports and outlets, and under-bed lockers. There’s no kitchen, but the bars serve food and a filling breakfast is offered each morning for 7.50 EUR.
Generator Madrid at a glance:
- $$
- Rooftop bar and terrace with jacuzzis
- Cheap bike rentals
- Hotel atmosphere
Beds from 29 EUR, private rooms from 115 EUR. HostelPass members get 10% off
6. 2060 The Newton Hostel
This quirky hostel takes its name from Isaac Newton’s prediction that the world would end in 2060. The entire hostel is covered in quotes and colorful artwork conveying this concept. I really like the rooftop terrace, though the real highlight is the spa and sauna. There’s an extra fee but it’s worth it! There’s no breakfast buffet or hostel bar/restaurant, but there is free coffee and churros every morning, and a fully equipped kitchen to make your own meals.
The staff also organize all kinds of social activities, including walking and bike tours, pub crawls, group dinners, and sangria nights, so it’s really easy to meet people. You can also rent bikes from the hostel to explore on your own. The beds are really comfy and have curtains for privacy, thick mattresses, individual reading lights, and sockets to charge your devices.
2060 The Newton Hostel at a glance:
- $
- Relaxing spa and sauna
- Rooftop bar and terrace for hanging out
- Fully equipped kitchen
Beds from 21 EUR, private rooms from 80 EUR.
7. Cats Hostel
This is the best party hostel in Madrid. Once a week, the fountain in the middle of the hostel’s 17th-century Andalusian-style patio is filled with sangria and things get wild. But 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. The hostel also has its own venue called the Cave where they host live music, dance parties, flamenco nights, and other parties! There’s a movie room too for when you just want to lounge around.
The dorms here are pretty basic, but they’re clean and each bed has its own power socket, reading lamp, and locker. The mattresses aren’t that thick and don’t have curtains, but, let’s be real, you’re not staying here to get a decent night’s sleep!
Cats Hostel at a glance:
- $$
- Lots of organized social activities
- Wild party atmosphere
- Lots of common spaces (including a movie room)
Beds from 27 EUR, private rooms from 85 EUR.
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.
Book Your Trip to Spain: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWing (best for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They save you money when you travel too.
Want a Guide?
Madrid has some really interesting tours. My favorite company is Walks, which has expert guides and can get you behind the scenes of the city’s best attractions. It’s my go-to walking tour company!
Want More Information on Madrid?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Madrid for even more planning tips!
