Districts · Madrid
Madrid by district
A first visit fits inside a box about 3 km wide: Sol in the middle, the Palace and the Austrias quarter to the west, the museums and the Retiro to the east, Malasaña and Chueca to the north. Almost everything in it is a walk; the Metro fills the gaps.A first visit fits inside a box about 1.9 mi wide: Sol in the middle, the Palace and the Austrias quarter to the west, the museums and the Retiro to the east, Malasaña and Chueca to the north. Almost everything in it is a walk; the Metro fills the gaps.
About these names
Neighbourhood names here are the ones locals and taxi drivers use, not official district names. In a taxi or map app, give the street and number.
- Sol and CentroSol, CentrosleepeatseeSuits: First visit, 2–4 nights, walk-to-everythingThe centre of the Metro and the Cercanías network. Noisy until 02:00 on weekend nights; ask for a back room.The centre of the Metro and the Cercanías network. Noisy until 2:00 AM on weekend nights; ask for a back room.1 sights · 4 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Palacio and AustriasPalacio, Madrid de los AustriasseeeatSuits: One morning of palace and cathedral, then lunch at San MiguelQuiet by 22:00 and thin on late food; do not sleep here unless you want silence.Quiet by 10:00 PM and thin on late food; do not sleep here unless you want silence.2 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- Paseo del ArteBarrio de los Jerónimos, AtochaseeSuits: Museum daysPrado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía within 15 minutes on foot; Atocha station is the rail hub for Toledo and the AVE.3 sightsDistrict guide →
- RetiroEl RetiroseeSuits: A slow morning, familiesThe park is the city living room on Sundays; the surrounding streets are residential and calm.1 sightsDistrict guide →
- Malasaña and ChuecaMalasaña, ChuecasleepeatseeSuits: Night owls, Pride week, vintage shops and cocktail barsLouder at night than Sol, but a better food choice. Chueca is the main LGBTQ+ quarter and feels relaxed at all hours.1 sights · 1 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- La Latina and LavapiésLa Latina, LavapiéseatseeSuits: Tapas crawls on Sunday, the Rastro flea market, multicultural foodNo cluster page yet. Sunday lunchtime on Calle Cava Baja is a Madrid ritual; Lavapiés is livelier and rougher after midnight.District guide →
- SalamancaBarrio de SalamancasleepshopSuits: Quiet upscale stays, shopping on Calle SerranoWide, orderly and expensive; a Metro or taxi ride to Sol.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- ChamberíeatsleepSuits: A local-feeling base with good barsNorth of Malasaña; fewer visitors, more households at the table.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Chamartín and the BernabéuChamartín, Santiago BernabéuseeSuits: Football fans, the Chamartín train stationBusiness towers and the stadium; Chamartín is the departure station for Segovia and the north.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): La Latina and Lavapiés, Salamanca, Chamberí, Chamartín and the Bernabéu. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Sol and Centro (Sol, Centro): The centre of the Metro and the Cercanías network. Noisy until 02:00 on weekend nights; ask for a back room.The centre of the Metro and the Cercanías network. Noisy until 2:00 AM on weekend nights; ask for a back room. Suits: First visit, 2–4 nights, walk-to-everything. Price band $$.
- Palacio and Austrias (Palacio, Madrid de los Austrias): Quiet by 22:00 and thin on late food; do not sleep here unless you want silence.Quiet by 10:00 PM and thin on late food; do not sleep here unless you want silence. Suits: One morning of palace and cathedral, then lunch at San Miguel.
- Paseo del Arte (Barrio de los Jerónimos, Atocha): Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía within 15 minutes on foot; Atocha station is the rail hub for Toledo and the AVE. Suits: Museum days.
- Retiro (El Retiro): The park is the city living room on Sundays; the surrounding streets are residential and calm. Suits: A slow morning, families.
- Malasaña and Chueca (Malasaña, Chueca): Louder at night than Sol, but a better food choice. Chueca is the main LGBTQ+ quarter and feels relaxed at all hours. Suits: Night owls, Pride week, vintage shops and cocktail bars. Price band $$.
- La Latina and Lavapiés (La Latina, Lavapiés): No cluster page yet. Sunday lunchtime on Calle Cava Baja is a Madrid ritual; Lavapiés is livelier and rougher after midnight. Suits: Tapas crawls on Sunday, the Rastro flea market, multicultural food.
- Salamanca (Barrio de Salamanca): Wide, orderly and expensive; a Metro or taxi ride to Sol. Suits: Quiet upscale stays, shopping on Calle Serrano.
- Chamberí (Chamberí): North of Malasaña; fewer visitors, more households at the table. Suits: A local-feeling base with good bars.
- Chamartín and the Bernabéu (Chamartín, Santiago Bernabéu): Business towers and the stadium; Chamartín is the departure station for Segovia and the north. Suits: Football fans, the Chamartín train station.
- Sleep area Chueca and Malasaña: suits Night owls, Pride week, vintage shops and cocktail bars, price band $$.
- Sleep area Sol and Gran Vía: suits First visit, 2–4 nights, walk-to-everything, price band $$.
- Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), about 14 km8.7 mi from the centre, 30–55 min by the usual route.