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Hotels

Madrid may have taken awhile to catch up to the diverse hotel scene of its European counterparts, but finally, it has. You can now stay in a converted 17th-century convent – the luxurious El Antiguo Convento (Calle De Las Monjas; 091/632-2220; www.elconvento.net); take in the fantasies of big-name architects like Jean Nouvel, David Chipperfield, and Zaha Hadid at quirky Hotel Puerta America (Avenida de América 41; 091/744-5400; www.hotelpuertamerica.com); or overnight at a former brothel, the cozy Hostal Greco (Calle Infantas 3; 091/522-4632; www.hostalgreco.com). If you want to be at the heart of action and don't mind the noise, choose one of the hotels around the Gran Vía, Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor. The well-heeled barrio of Salamanca and the leafy area around Paseo del Prado are better picks for travelers seeking more greenery and a bit of quiet. To help you pick the right hotel, we've outlined our favorites in luxury, midrange, and budget categories.

New designer properties may have tried to overthrow the king of Madrid luxury hotels, but The Ritz (Plaza de la Lealtad 5; 091/701-6767; www.ritzmadrid.com) still reigns as the city's most prestigious overnight address, where A-list celebrities and dignitaries have rested their heads for almost 100 years. Its main rival, AC Santo Mauro (Calle Zurbano 36; 091/319-6900; www.ac-hotels.com), a French-inspired hideaway set in the Spanish Marquis of Santo Mauro's former pied-à-terre in the verdant Chamberí district, has 51 slick rooms, a walled garden, an indoor pool, and a gourmet restaurant set in an old library. A more recent newcomer, the Hotel Adler (Calle Velázquez 33; 091/426-3220; www.lesein.es/adler) seamlessly blends contemporary five-star comfort with 19th-century grandeur in the heart of swanky Salamanca.

In the moderate category, Hotel Quo (Calle Sevilla 4; 091/532-9049; www.hotelesquo.com) provides great value, a top location just a stone's throw from Puerta del Sol, and 62 ultra-stylish black-and-white guestrooms. Slightly less expensive, but also less chic, is Hotel Suecia (Marqués de Casa Riera 4; 091/531-6900; www.hotelsuecia.com), a comfortable and dependable three-star option most notable for having hosted Ernest Hemingway in the 1950s. In posh Salamanca, the small, elegant Hotel Galiano (Calle Alcalá Galiano 6, 091/319-2000; www.hotelgaliano.com) occupies what was once a nobleman's residence; rooms showcase antiques, modern conveniences like TVs, and an unpretentious ambience – all at affordable rates.

If you don't have cash to splash, you'll nonetheless find several worthy budget hotels in the city center and beyond. Our favorite, Hotel Mora (Paseo del Prado 32; 091/420-1569; www.hotelmora.com), is highly recommended for museum lovers – this friendly 62-room establishment is located just steps from the Golden Triangle and some rooms even offer leafy views of the Paseo del Prado. Cheaper still, and close to Puerta del Sol, is Hostal Aguilar (Carrera de San Jerónimo 32; 091/429-5926; www.hostalaguilar.com), a no-frills but airy and pleasant guesthouse. Also near Puerta del Sol, Hotel Plaza d'Ort (Plaza del Ángel 13; 091/429-9041; www.plazadort.com) exceeds its one-star rating with well-equipped units and even a few suites with hydro-massage bathtubs.