Madrid is the sleepless, spirited capital of Spain. Rolling out in the shadow of the Sierra de Guadarrama in the geographical centre of the country, it flits from moody medieval districts to chic modern areas that bustle with big business. The main attractions are vignettes of the Baroque and the beautiful, from the statue-topped Puerta del Sol to the grand Palacio Real â the official residence of the King of Spain. Beyond those, you can trace the footsteps of Cervantes in the Barrio de las Letras and party the night away in a shower of sangria and Rioja in the happening Huertas district. And thatâs not even mentioning the culture-packed Museum Triangle and the potential daytrips out to immersive Toledo or Segovia.
These days, an estimated 1.2 million visitors to the Spanish capital pick an Airbnb in Madrid over a conventional hotel. They get the choice of thousands of listings that range from uber-chic penthouses in the heart of the Huertas to family-sized pads within walking distance of Museum Triangle. This guide is a great place to begin if youâre thinking of joining them. It offers insights into the various neighbourhoods Madrid has to offer, and showcases some of the very best Airbnb rentals in the city.
There are some strict limitations when it comes to Airbnb in Madrid. However, you shouldnât need to worry about them as a traveler: Theyâre all handled by the owners of properties, never the guest. Basically, the city has decreed that you can only rent out entire places that donât have a dedicated entrance of their own for a maximum of 90 days in a year. Whatâs more, all homes need to be registered with the Spanish government and display their registration number as part of their online listing. If in doubt, you can check everythingâs in order before you reserve by using the âcontact hostâ feature to ask any questions you might have.
Calling all foodies â La Latina is the gastronomic epicentre of the Spanish capital. Weekends see the umpteen bars that cram the plazas and streets between El JardĂn del PrĂncipe de Anglona and the Puerta de Toledo fill to bursting with Madrileños. They devour smorgasbords of sizzling patatas bravas, Iberico hams and frothy beers from lunch until late. Shoppers are also bound to love the sprawling Mercado de la Cebada, while history buffs can enjoy wandering one of the most ancient corners of town, surrounded by Baroque churches and vintage theatres.
The Literary Quarter, the Barrio de las Letras, Huertas â call it what you like, but this central hub of Madrid fizzes with life. Itâs the place to go for a good party. Be sure to start the evening in the al fresco cerveceria of Plaza Santa Ana and then move to the wine bodegas and flamenco venues that spread southwards towards Calle de Atocha. By day â if you can shake the hangover! â thereâs plenty in the way of culture. This was once the stomping ground of Miguel de Cervantes (by far Spainâs most famous writer) and there are bars once frequented by Ernest Hemingway to boot.
Madridâs 1% make their home in the Salamanca district. Itâs the place to go if youâre looking to taste the high life and be pampered. Grand streets of turn-of-the-century architecture roll out in a montage of haute couture outlets and designer brand stores. Enticing food halls that burst with champagne and gourmet plates await on the Plaza de ColĂłn. Youâll see Michelin-rated restaurants and elegant Aperitivo bars galore. Just be sure there are enough euros in the wallet to fund it all!
Thereâs an authentic Spanish country feel to this retro-look flat in the southern reaches of La Latina. Surrounded by tapas bars and cerveza houses, itâs got exposed beams and white-painted walls. The property is compact but kitschy, and artfully balances the new and the old between its bright living-dining space, single bedroom, and modern bathroom.
Casa de Campo en Toledo sits just 40 minutesâ drive from the heart of the Spanish capital, but also only 30 minutes from the UNESCO World Heritage city of Toledo â one of the countryâs most amazing destinations. You can check off both and then return to a rustic home with a private swimming pool and sweeping views over the rolling farm fields and forests of the central highland plateaus.
Groups of up to 16 can make their home away from home in this sprawling apartment of more than 180 square metres down in the heart of Madrid Centro. Sights like the Plaza Mayor are just a stoneâs throw from the front door, while the inside ranges through double bedrooms and bunk rooms to ensure all types of party are catered to. Design wise, you can look forward to a fusion of modernism, classic Spanish tiling, and cutting-edge installations.
Bag a space for you and your other half to retreat to after long bouts of sightseeing by booking this penthouse on the eastern fringes of hip Malasaña. It works to channel the boho vibes of the local area by mingling industrial-chic and upcycled materials, all with a touch of contemporary art and Scandinavian-inspired furnishing. The result? A pad thatâs perfect for couples who like a little dash of luxury.
If youâre eager to save as many euros as you can for your tapas trips through La Latina and sangria-fuelled nights in Chueca, Airbnb in Madrid might just be the perfect choice. Generally speaking, short-term rentals on the platform come in a little cheaper than classic hotels. Whatâs more, youâre often able to cut costs further by looking for places that can host your whole travel group (and then share the price of the stay) and have self-catering facilities (less spent in the Madrileño eateries). Itâs also possible to score pretty generous discounts of up to 50% on longer term rentals through the platform.
Itâs important to note that Airbnbs rarely offer the same level of service as a hotel. Things like housekeeping and cooked breakfast buffets probably wonât be part of the package if you go for a short-term apartment or house rental. For that, youâll need to chase places like the Riu Plaza Espana. Sleek, contemporary rooms there sit right on the Gran Via roadway and come with access to a rooftop pool and sunning terrace with sweeping panoramas across the skyline of the capital. Nice.Â
Delve into a metropolis of peachy sangria, flailing flamenco dancers, eye-watering royal palaces, and sleepless nightlife by choosing one of the fantastic Airbnbs of Madrid today. Leaving Madrid ? Check out our guides: Madrid to Granada, Madrid to Valencia, Madrid to Malaga and Madrid to Toledo.
