Cuenca
Located squarely between the old and new towns, this good-value hostal has spacious rooms with river views, rustic furnishings, ceramic tile floors and…
Must-see hotels in Spain
Madrid
Inhabiting a 19th-century palace a stone's throw from Plaza de Santa Ana, this flagship property of the respected NH chain has modern designer rooms with…
Dénia
The genial boss here is rightly proud of this top hostal on the waterfront strip. Rooms are compact but new in feel, with colourful bedcovers, faultless…
Salamanca
A cut above the average hostal, the stylish Concejo has polished-wood floors, tasteful furnishings, light-filled rooms and a superb central location. Try…
Gros
This pensión occupies a beautifully restored Gros townhouse, with arched windows and modern, minimalist rooms that are a world away from the fusty decor…
Gros
An excellent base in one of San Sebastian's most charming neighbourhoods, Welcome Gros is set in an elegant seven-storey building and has attractive rooms…
Chueca
This stunning boutique hotel makes perfect use of a 19th-century Chueca mansion. The look is classy and contemporary thanks to respected interior designer…
Northeastern Mallorca
Set amid whispering pine trees on the road to the lighthouse (and thus removed from the clamour of downtown), Cala Gat has a lovely small beach almost to…
Salamanca
You're a long way from touristy Madrid out here, not far from the bullring, and therein lies part of this swish place's appeal. All of the rooms have been…
Basque Country
Blending old and new features, the 18 extraordinarily plush rooms at Hospedería de los Parajes have polished wood floors, artwork and original ceilings…
San Sebastián
Around the corner from the Plaza de Gipuzkoa, the family-run Pensión Joakina lays out the welcome mat for visitors with bright, spotless guest rooms set…
León
A cut above your average pensión and easily one of the best budget choices in León, Pensión Blanca has attractive, brightly coloured rooms in a good…
San Sebastián
Audrey Hepburn stayed here – as did Coco Chanel, Alfred Hitchcock and Mick Jagger, to name a few. The palatial Maria Cristina, opened in 1912, dominates…
Castilla y León
One of the best urban hostales in this part of Castilla y León, this fine place gets rave reviews and plenty of repeat visitors. Every room is different,…
L'Eixample
The most attractive half of this sleek hotel occupies the 1890s Modernista Casa Enric Batlló. Across the road stands a more modern extension, La Casa…
Segovia
This place gets rave reviews from travellers and it's not difficult to see why. Housed in a converted Segovia mansion and one of few hotels down the…
Salamanca
This luxurious hotel is an oasis of calm and luxury, and the antithesis of the cookie-cut homogeneity of the five-star chains. Expect vases of orchids,…
Santiago de Compostela
'Julia's Garden' is a delightful little 10-room option on the edge of the old town. Everything is bright and clean-lined, with great mattresses, plenty of…
Basque Country
This 17th-century mansion-hotel has seven atmospheric rooms that evoke a bygone age with old stone walls, low-beamed ceilings and polished antique…
Basque Country
This confident little hotel has small, searing-white rooms adorned with black-and-white pictures of piano keys, trumpets and other suitably jazzy…
Pamplona
In the centre of the old town, Hotel Maisonnave has spacious, contemporary rooms, and creature comforts including a small fitness centre, a sauna and a…
Valladolid
Polished floorboards, warm colours and creative lighting make these rooms some of the best in Valladolid. The service is similarly warm and welcoming and…
Spain
The former Convento de Agustinos (Augustine Convent), Parador Nacional is one of the town’s most important historical buildings and can’t be beaten for…
La Rioja
At this lovely hotel, some rooms have romantic four-poster beds; those facing east have beautiful views over the countryside. The attached restaurant …
Castilla y León
This modern parador occupies a fantastic perch high above the town – the rooms don't have a whole lot of character but they're supremely comfortable,…
Castilla y León
Right on Plaza Mayor, this fine 16th-century inn has been beautifully reformed and retains a tangible historic feel with lovely exposed stone walls. Some…
Castilla-La Mancha
The best digs in Consuegra are encased in a noble old house with tiled floors, antique furnishings and a pretty patio that evokes a bygone era. The duplex…
León
Overlooking one of the loveliest squares in León, this excellent place inhabits a restored former monastery; the rooms are mostly spacious and stylishly…
Ávila
Occupying a 16th-century palace hard up against the wall in the north of the old town, Parador Raimundo de Borgoña has all the essential elements of the…
Spain
Among the more tempting hotels for those with a little fiscal room to manoeuvre are the 90 or so paradores, a state-funded chain of hotels in often…
Santiago de Compostela
The Altaïr combines stone walls and solid oak floors with cosy comfort, attentive staff, soft furnishings and splashes of contemporary design. Breakfast (…
León
This ultra-modern hostel, just a few steps from the cathedral, is a terrific place to meet other travellers. The dorms are stylish and the whole place…
Bilbao
This hip hotel facing the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is the passion project of fashion designer Antonio Miró. It's filled with modern photography and art,…
Castilla y León
At the top of village and right on Plaza Mayor, this is a terrific choice. Large rooms have parquetry floors and exposed wooden beams; some have views of…
Madrid
The spacious modern suites at this centrally located hotel have plenty of space and are semi-luxurious. All have sitting rooms and good bathrooms and…
La Rioja
When the owner of Elciego's Bodegas Marqués de Riscal decided he wanted to create something special, he didn’t hold back. The result is the spectacular…
Seville
The much-anticipated 180m skyscraper in La Cartuja, designed by Argentinian architect Cesar Pelli, split opinions in Seville (unsurprisingly). But there’s…
Cantabria
In little Regules village, 10km southwest of Ramales, stands this beautifully restored casa de indianos (mansion built by a returned emigrant from the…
Andalucía
This brilliantly white villa 350m east of the Ermita directly abuts the marismas (wetlands), where you can spot flamingos going through their morning…
Casual Sevilla Don Juan Tenorio
Catedral & Barrio de Santa Cruz
Atmospherically located off a Santa Cruz plaza, this bright hotel offers slick modern rooms, each themed after a character from Don Juan Tenorio, with…
