Where to Stay in Spain's 8 Best Cities: Areas and Hotels
In each city, stay in or next to the old centre, so the main sights are a walk away and you only need transport for the station. That means the Barrio de las Letras in Madrid, the Eixample in Barcelona, the cathedral area in Seville, the Albaicín in Granada and the old town in Valencia and Málaga. In San Sebastián, stay between the Old Town and La Concha bay; in Bilbao, in Abando near the Guggenheim.
On this page
Which area in each city
| City | Stay in | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid | Barrio de las Letras | Between Sol and the Prado |
| Barcelona | Eixample, near Passeig de Gràcia | Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and Casa Milà; central |
| Seville | Around the cathedral | The cathedral, Giralda and Real Alcázar on your doorstep |
| Granada | Albaicín | Views of the Alhambra; medieval streets on UNESCO’s list |
| Valencia | Ciutat Vella (old town) | The cathedral and Silk Exchange; main sights within walking distance |
| Málaga | Historic centre | Next to the cathedral and Calle Larios; walk to the Alcazaba |
| San Sebastián | Centro, between the Old Town and La Concha | Pintxo bars on one side, the beach on the other |
| Bilbao | Abando, near the Guggenheim | The city centre on the left bank of the estuary (Wikipedia) |
Eight hotels we checked
We picked one hotel in each of the areas above and checked it on its own website and on Booking.com on 14 October 2026. We haven’t stayed at them. Booking.com links may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Madrid
Gran Hotel Inglés
A hotel in the Barrio de las Letras, close to Plaza de Santa Ana and Puerta del Sol. It was built in 1883, and the hotel calls itself Madrid’s oldest; it says it was the first hotel in the city with a restaurant. The rooms were redesigned with the Rockwell Group in an Art Deco style. Best for a central base with a bar and restaurant downstairs.
Book: Booking.com · Official site
Barcelona
Hotel Casa Fuster
A Modernista building on Passeig de Gràcia, built in 1908 by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and renovated in 2004. It has 105 rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace with an outdoor pool, a spa and a jazz club. Best for a special stay on Passeig de Gràcia.
Book: Booking.com · Official site
Seville
Hotel Casa 1800 Sevilla
A hotel in the historic centre, 130 metres from the cathedral and the Giralda, according to the hotel. Its rooftop pool looks out over the cathedral. Best for walking to the Real Alcázar and the cathedral.
Book: Booking.com · Official site
Granada
Hotel Casa Morisca
A 14-room hotel in a restored house in the Albaicín, with views of the Alhambra. It opened in 2001, the year its restoration by Granada architect Carlos Sánchez won a Europa Nostra award. Best for couples who want to stay in the Albaicín itself.
Book: Booking.com · Official site
Valencia
Caro Hotel
A hotel in two historic buildings in the Seu-Xerea area of the old town: the Palace of the Marquis of Caro and the House of the Masters of the Temple. Inside you can see Roman remains and a section of the Arab city wall, which runs through the building. The interiors are by designer Francesc Rifé. Best for history lovers; the hotel says the airport is a 15-minute drive.
Book: Booking.com · Official site
Málaga
Catalonia Molina Lario
A hotel next to Málaga Cathedral, a step from Calle Larios, the pedestrian shopping street opened in 1891 (Wikipedia). Some rooms are in a restored 19th-century building. The rooftop has an outdoor pool with views of the cathedral and the port, and the ground floor has the Matiz restaurant. Parking is in the building but can’t be booked ahead. Best for a central base with a pool.
Book: Booking.com · Official site
San Sebastián
Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
A Belle Époque hotel facing La Concha bay, with the Old Town on one side and the promenade on the other. It has 166 rooms and has been taking guests for more than 150 years, according to the hotel. Best for sea views and walking to the pintxo bars.
Book: Booking.com · Official site
Bilbao
Hotel Miró
A boutique hotel designed by the fashion designer Antonio Miró, directly across from the Guggenheim Museum. Some rooms look onto the museum. It has a bar and a library with books on art and Bilbao. Best for art lovers who want the Guggenheim on the doorstep.
Book: Booking.com · Official site
Before you book
- Book early for festivals. Las Fallas in Valencia runs from 15 to 19 March, and Easter week 2027 runs from 21 to 28 March, with Seville’s processions the best known. See best time to visit.
- Check your station. In Madrid, trains south and to Barcelona leave from Atocha, while trains to Valencia, Bilbao and San Sebastián mostly leave from Chamartín. See getting around Spain.
- Leave the car. In San Sebastián you need a permit to drive in the low-emission zone. Every area above is within walking distance of the main sights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Madrid for a first visit?
The Barrio de las Letras, between Puerta del Sol and the Paseo del Prado. It puts the Prado and Sol within walking distance. Our pick there, the Gran Hotel Inglés, is near Plaza de Santa Ana.
Where should I stay in Barcelona?
The Eixample, the 19th- and early 20th-century district between the old city and Gràcia (Wikipedia). Its main avenue, Passeig de Gràcia, has two of the Gaudí buildings on UNESCO's list, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (UNESCO). For a deeper Barcelona guide, see I Love Catalonia.
Is it worth staying in the Albaicín in Granada?
Yes, if you don't mind hills. The Albaicín sits on a hill above the Darro river, largely keeps its medieval street plan (Wikipedia) and is part of the Alhambra's UNESCO World Heritage listing. From the hill you look across to the Alhambra.
Where is the best place to stay in San Sebastián?
In the centre, between the Old Town (Parte Vieja), with its pintxo bars, and La Concha beach. Everything is in walking distance. San Sebastián is a low-emission zone and you need a permit to drive in the city, so don't bring a car if you can help it (Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, checked 14 October 2026).