Guide · Before you book
Hotel, guesthouse or apartment in Madrid: which to choose
Madrid has a place to stay for every taste, and choosing well depends less on stars than on your plans: who you’re travelling with, how long, what you’ll do and how much you want to spend. Here are the differences between a hotel, a guesthouse (what Spain calls a «hostal»), an apartment and a room, and which suits each kind of trip.
Updated November 2026
The differences in a nutshell
tabla:
| | Hotel | Guesthouse (hostal) | Apartment | Room in a shared flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Those who want services | Price and location | Families, groups, longer stays | Solo or couple travellers on a budget |
| Bathroom | Private | Usually private | Private | Sometimes shared |
| Kitchen | No | No (sometimes a kitchenette) | Yes | Shared |
| Space | A room | A room | Living room, bedroom and kitchen | A room |
| Price | Highest | Mid to low | Mid; cheap per person in a group | Lowest |
A hotel gives you services: a front desk, daily cleaning and often breakfast. A Spanish «hostal» is a smaller, simpler guesthouse (not a hostel with shared dorms), usually well located and cheaper. An apartment gives you space and a kitchen, ideal for groups or longer stays. And a room in a shared flat is the most affordable, in exchange for sharing common areas.
Which suits your trip
City break as a couple: a room with a private bathroom in the centre gives you the best location for less than a hotel. For two or three nights, that’s all you need.
With family: an apartment. You’ll have a living room, a kitchen for breakfast and the kids’ dinner, and more space for the same price.
Business trip: a studio or room in a building with a workspace and laundry, close to your meeting or IFEMA.
In a group: several apartments in the same building. Everyone gets their own space and you stay together.
Concert or match: as close as possible to the venue, even if it’s simpler. You’ll only use it to sleep.
What to check before booking
Whether the bathroom is private or shared (it’s not always obvious). How late you can arrive and whether you need to meet someone for the keys. How many minutes to the metro, rather than the distance to the centre. Whether you can leave your bags before check-in or after check-out. And the final price: booking platforms often add service fees you don’t pay on the property’s own website.
What we offer in Madrid
At all of them you get in with Smart Stay: your code arrives before you do, no front desk, no waiting, and 24/7 support if you need anything. And booking here gets you the direct price, with our best price guarantee.
Urban Rooms Madrid Ventas by CharmingRooms with a shared kitchen and lounge in Ciudad Lineal, by La Elipa metro.From 41 € / nightFrequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a hotel and a hostal in Spain?
A hotel offers more services (front desk, daily cleaning, sometimes breakfast) and is usually pricier. A hostal is a simpler, smaller guesthouse, usually well located, often with a private bathroom at a better price. It’s not the same as a backpacker hostel.
Is an apartment cheaper than a hotel?
For two people, it depends on the area and dates. For families or groups, it’s almost always cheaper per person, and you get a kitchen.
Do hostales have private bathrooms?
Many do, but not all. Always check whether the bathroom is private or shared before booking.
What’s best for a weekend in Madrid?
For two people out all day, a well-located room with a private bathroom. For more people or if you want to cook, an apartment.
Not sure which one to choose?
Tell us where you need to be and we will recommend the best-connected apartment, 24 hours a day.