No more holidays in Madrid?

[LadyLindaT]

Since 2025, Madrid has clamped down on private rentals for tourist lets. It now seems to be impossible to find anywhere to stay in the city centre. I understand the reasoning, but I find it sad that there is nowhere legal to stay, anymore.

Hotels.

I’ve always stayed in hotels, no shortage

Booking.com has loads of apartments hotels and hostels in Madrid.

I find hotel rooms quite claustrophobic, and always like the freedom of an apartment.

There's this old fashioned things called hotels that are legal to stay in. It's only air BnB bullshit that's banned, for good reason.

Why so dramatic?

So actually the issue is that you can’t get your preferred accommodation, not that there’s nowhere legal to stay in Madrid.

I think more places should ban Airbnbs tbh, homes matter more than holidays.

find it sad that there is nowhere legal to stay, anymore.

huh ? Countless available on Air bnb. Had choice of city centre self catering available for a booking in September.

Hotels are where people on holiday belong. They collect proper tourist taxes and keep holiday revelry separated from people trying to go about their daily lives.

There is a market for hotels with kitchens and larger spaces. We often look for that kind of setup. If the home rental market is more highly regulated, more hotels will meet that demand.

This is also happening in some parts of the Canary Islands
They don’t fuck about the Spaniards if it’s not for the greater good at a community /population level they change it -and Air b n b has been a disaster
no messing about

I lived there 2009- 2015 and at some point there was an absolute explosion of air bnbs within a matter of months that totally transformed the character of many neighbourhoods, so it’s understandable they wanted to do something to limit the impact. People always managed to visit Madrid before air bnb took off though, so I’m sure there will still be plenty of places to stay

How did you manage before Airbnb?

The negative impact of residential accommodation being used as short term lets has been massive in many major cities, so I’m glad city authorities around the world are trying to address it, even if it means you not have your perfect first choice for a jolly away.

(Full disclosure: Heading to Madrid next week and staying 4 nights in a …… hotel.)

Take a photo in the Prado and you’ll never be seen again.

Haha what do you mean? Is that a reference to photos not being allowed in the Prado museum?

Hotels there can be quite pricy compare to other parts of Spain but very much manageable if you travel with someone. I did it as a solo traveller and stayed in a nice 4 star hotel in the gran via the first time then a hotel further out in a quiet residential area the next and it was also 4 stars but way cheaper and nicer too. As long as you don’t mind getting an uber or the metro into the main part.

There are plenty of legal places to stay in Madrid.

We stayed in a lovely hotel just opposite the Prado. Not top pricey, great staff.

I stayed in a great youth hostel in Madrid (I was in my twenties but by no means a youth), private double room en suite, it was just like if IKEA did hotels, excellent location and very well priced. You just need to look around for a hotel/hostel that suits.

For all those saying hotels - this doesn't work with my children as they have multiple severe allergies (anaphylaxis) so we have to self cater

Same - we go to aparthotels. Some have small kitchenette, some more of a kitchen! Brilliant middle ground. We’ve stayed in an Adagio recently in Italy and a Citadines in France.

You can self catering in room only hotels. madrid doesn't owe you a holiday rental.

Thank you, I will look those up

Hotels
Some do have large rooms with kitchen areas.

I’ve been to Madrid. Personally I prefer somewhere nearer to the coast. Valencia is a great city and the nearby coastline is beautiful.

Search for "serviced apartments" too.

We recently stayed at hotel Tribu in the Malasana area. Gorgeous place, it had a kitchenette and separate bedroom for the kids. Reasonably priced too.