Madrid may not get the same love from backpackers as Barcelona but visitors quickly see it’s a vibrant city that takes its nightlight seriously. Madrid is also a city with a healthy stock of great hostels at affordable prices. In fact, there are over 100 hostels in Madrid but only a few truly rise to the top. So, without further ado, here’s our list of the best hostels in Madrid.
The Average Madrid Hostel Price
Hostels in Madrid are fairly affordable, particularly by Western European standards. However, prices are often more expensive on Friday and Saturday nights because of the city’s nightlife scene.
A bed in a highly-rated hostel will cost anywhere from about €25-€45/night with an average of around €33/night. The cheapest hostel you’ll find will cost around €20/night.
Check Hostelworld to get exact prices for your dates.
Quick Facts About Madrid Hostels
Cheap Beds & Good Hostels Go Early
Madrid’s hostel prices are fairly standardized (there are a few outliers) but the quality can vary quite a bit. The best options do get booked up quickly (especially in the summer).
Weekend Pricing
Madrid is a big nightlife destination so people come to party—which means there is an influx of visitors on the weekend. Hostels know this so they raise the prices to meet demand. So a hostel that’s €20 per night on Thursday might be €38 per night on a Friday or Saturday night.
Location Matters
Most hostels in Madrid are centrally located but there are a few located outside the city.
Hostel Vibe
Every hostel has its own vibe (quiet, social, party, etc.) so I recommend finding a vibe that matches your travel style.
Check-In Times and Cleaning Times
Many hostels have late check-in times (around 2 pm-4 pm) but nearly all will let you store your bags if you arrive before check-in.
New To Hostels? Check out our Hostels 101 Guide to learn everything you need to know about finding the perfect hostel.
The Best Hostels in Madrid: Our Top Picks
Sungate One Hostel Madrid
Sungate One Hostel is one of the best hostels in Europe (it was voted the best small hostel in the world… so yeah, you can’t go wrong staying here). First, it’s centrally located in a great neighborhood. The staff go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and are happy to share their knowledge.
The hostel has a super welcoming atmosphere and they put on all kinds of activities (free dinners & drinks, walking tours, etc.) to bring people together — you’re guaranteed to make friends. Also, no bunk beds! The showers/facilities are clean, the beds are comfortable, and…. well, you should just stay here if you can.
- Price: Starts around €22/night during the week and €35/night on the weekend (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
Bastardo Madrid Hostel
The Bastardo Hostel is a newly-opened hostel in one of the coolest neighborhoods in Madrid. Everything about Bastardo is modern so it has that cool boutique hotel feel with a hostel vibe.
Despite being a large property, they keep a social vibe thanks to their bar and large lounge space. They also host frequent events and performers like comedians, musicians, tango lessons, and yoga classes.
They don’t offer a free breakfast but they have a solid restaurant with tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Price: Starts around €22/night during the week and €32/night on the weekend (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
The Hat Madrid Hostel
The Hat Madrid is a brand new hostel that’s already winning awards and getting a lot of love from travelers. They call it a boutique hostel so it has a hip “design-y” and upscale vibe — plus it has an outdoor terrace, rooftop bar, solarium, and lots of common space.
The location is perfect, the beds are comfortable, the hostel is clean, and the staff is super helpful. The vibe of the hostel is lively and welcoming but it’s not a party hostel. You can’t really go wrong here.
- Price: Starts around €22/night (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
Ok Hostel Madrid
OK Hostel Madrid is another excellent award-winning hostel that travelers love. These guys know how to run a hostel. The location is great so you’re close to everything and you’re right by the metro. The staff is friendly and they do a good job keeping the hostel clean. The beds are comfortable and the rooms are nice.
The hostel has a very friendly and lively atmosphere. They organize an excellent €10 group dinner where you can meet tons of people — they also organize nightly pub crawls. There is a bar and plenty of common space so that helps add to the social atmosphere.
- Price: Starts around €19/night during the week and €29/night on the weekend (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
Way Hostel Madrid
Way Hostel is another fantastic award-winning hostel in Madrid. It’s located in the heart of the city so you’re never far from the sights. The hostel is well-designed and it has a great atmosphere so you’ll meet lots of people — especially during sangria night and other group activities they put on. It has a large and fully equipped kitchen. There is ample common space and the rooms are nice, comfortable, and clean
- Price: Starts around €22/night (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
2060 The Newton Hostel
The 2060 Newton Hostel is a new boutique hostel that’s clean and quiet so it’s a good place if you want a low-key place to stay—they also serve up churros and coffee. That said, this isn’t a good hostel for solo travelers or people wanting to meet other travelers since there isn’t much of a social atmosphere here.
- Price: Starts around €30/night (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
Room007 Chueca Hostel
Room007 Chueca is located right in the heart of the city in a hip neighborhood full of bars and close to lots of shopping. There is a bar and a good amount of common space, but Room007 Chueca is a laid-back and quiet hostel — so don’t expect a party vibe (for better or worse) and it can be tough to meet people. However, they do organize pub crawls with their sister hostel.
There is a small kitchen, an open-air rooftop terrace, a cheap breakfast, and the staff does a good job keeping the hostel clean. All in all, this is a solid hostel.
Its sister hostel Room007 Ventura has the same vibe and it is priced the same.
- Price: Starts around €20/night (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
TOC Hostel Madri
TOC Hostel Madrid is another solid choice. It has a boutique hotel vibe so it’s hip-looking but it also lacks a social atmosphere. This is a hostel for people who want a quiet, clean, and comfortable place to sleep that’s located close to everything Madrid has to offer — it’s not the best place to meet new people.
- Price: Starts around €22/night (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
Safestay Madrid Hostel
Safestay Madrid has nice facilities, comfortable large beds, spacious rooms, friendly staff, and cheap breakfast. It’s located in a fun neighborhood that’s slightly outside the center of town. There is a small kitchen and a bar. It’s not an overly social hostel but they do organize a city walking tour.
- Price: Starts around €20/night during the week and €26/night on the weekend (via Hostelworld):
- See on Google Maps
- Read More Reviews at Hostelworld
hostel photo credits: Sungate One Hostel, Bastardo Hostel, The Hat Madrid, OK Hostel Madrid, Way Hostel, Room007 Chueca, TOC Hostel Madrid, Safestay Madrid
Hostel Packing Advice
Staying in hostels poses a few unique packing challenges so I’m here to help by recommending a few of my must-have items. Check out my Hostel Packing List for the full list but below are the absolute necessities:
- Padlock For Your Hostel Locker: Master Lock 1505D, Master Lock 1535DWD, & Master Lock 1500iD are all affordable options on Amazon.
- Hanging Toiletry Case For Tiny Hostel Bathrooms: AmazonBasics Hanging Travel Toiletry Kit Bag and emissary Large Hanging Toiletry Bag are two cheap options on Amazon.
- Quick Drying Travel Towel: I like the Sea to Summit Drylite Towel & Rainleaf Microfiber Towel because they’re only around $25.
- Eyemasks and Earplugs for Loud Roommates: These Flents Protechs Sleep Ear Plugs are designed for sleep.
- Prepaid SIM Card W/ Mobile Data: Having high-speed mobile data is a requirement these days, so I recommend buying a SIM card before arriving in Europe. Here’s my guide to the best Prepaid SIM Cards for Europe and the Best eSIM Data Plans for Europe.
More Europe Travel Advice from The Savvy Backpacker
Here are some helpful links to articles that we think you’ll find interesting if you’re staying in hostels and traveling around Europe on a budget.
- Madrid Travel Guide: What to do, see, and eat in Madrid.
- The Best Things to Do Madrid: What to do in Madrid.
- Guide to Hostels in Europe: Tips and advice for finding the best hostels in Europe
- Hostel Etiquette: The unwritten rules about staying in a hostel.
- Backpacking Europe Packing List: What you should (and shouldn’t) pack when traveling to Europe.
- Choosing Travel Insurance: Tips for picking the right travel insurance.
- The Best Travel Shoes: Finding comfortable and stylish shoes for travel.
- The Best Travel Backpacks: Our favorite backpacks designed for traveling Europe.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MADRID
Visit our Madrid Destination Guide for more tips about visiting Madrid!
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