Madrid is truly a city that doesn’t sleep, and it’s not uncommon to see last night’s partiers walking home at 8 a.m. We’d argue it’s perhaps the gayest capital city in Europe—or at least contending with Berlin and London. Chueca is the center of the LGBTQ+ community in Madrid, where you’ll find the highest concentration of gay bars and nightclubs.

Choosing where to stay in Madrid is an important decision when planning your trip. The options are limitless, ranging from large hotel chains to small boutique hotels or apartment rentals. You can also find gay-owned hotels in Madrid or even a hotel chain like Axel Hotels, which is specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community.

While staying at a gay hotel might not be everyone’s preference, some travelers enjoy the open and welcoming environment that Axel Hotel Madrid offers, where you can simply relax and be yourself. It’s true that many gay-friendly hotels in Madrid aren’t necessarily gay-themed or designed for the LGBTQ+ community, but those properties can’t quite provide the same unique experience offered by Axel Hotel Madrid.

About Axel Hotels

Axel Hotels was founded in 2003 and is the only major gay hotel chain in the world. Their hotels are primarily located in Europe, but they have recently expanded to the U.S. and plan to soon expand to Portugal, Cuba, and beyond.

The Axel Hotel vision is to offer a hotel experience aimed at the LGBTQ+ community. Their spaces are cosmopolitan, fostering a tolerant environment where diversity and respect are highly valued. The philosophy is to create a hotel chain for the entire LGBTQ+ community, welcoming everyone—whether two men, two women, a man and a woman, or any type of guest—without prejudice to their sexual orientation. Axel Hotels is designed with the LGBTQ+ audience in mind but is open to everyone. In fact, Axel Hotels doesn’t define itself strictly as a gay hotel, but rather as hetero-friendly.

What Can You Expect if You Stay at an Axel Hotel?

Axel Hotels are properties where any guest, whether gay or straight, is welcome, but the concept is to offer a space specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community. You could bring a straight friend—or even your grandma—to one of these properties and feel completely comfortable. The idea is simply to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ guests. Axel Hotels is gay-owned and operated, promoting respect and diversity. They have non-discrimination policies and provide sensitivity training for their staff to ensure all guests feel valued.

Axel Hotel Madrid is centrally located near the gay neighborhood of Chueca and the tourist center of the city. If you’re visiting during Gay Pride or a popular gay event, rooms at Axel Hotel Madrid tend to get booked well in advance, so planning ahead is essential. Axel Hotel Madrid is a great option if you’re traveling with your same-sex partner, as you won’t encounter any issues with public displays of affection.

Opened in 2017, Axel Hotel Madrid is located in the Barrio de las Letras neighborhood, about a 10-minute walk from Chueca, Madrid’s gay neighborhood. The hotel features 88 rooms, a rooftop terrace with a pool, a small gym, as well as a bar and restaurant on the ground floor. Axel Hotel Madrid is often fully booked during events like Madrid Gay Pride and other gay festivals such as MADBear, Sleazy Madrid, and the WE New Year’s Festival.

Our Review

Axel Hotel Madrid has a gorgeous layout and design! In addition to the hip and trendy rooms, the property features a stylish rooftop terrace called the SkyBar, along with a small pool. Every stay we’ve had at Axel Hotels has been enjoyable, and the staff is always friendly and helpful. It’s usually quite easy to socialize and meet other guests, which is a great perk when visiting a new city.

Although it’s not located directly in Madrid’s gay neighborhood, Chueca, it’s just a 10-minute walk north, where you’ll find all the gay nightlife. The location is perfect for visitors, as you can walk to nearly all the major tourist attractions in Madrid.

Ready to Book Your Stay at Axel Hotel Madrid?

Interested in staying with a gay host in an apartment rental instead of Axel Hotel?

Next to Axel Hotels, misterb&b is definitely the other major player in the market. Founded in 2014, misterb&b is not a hotel or chain, but rather a booking site for rooms, apartments and homes. Similar to AirBnB, misterb&b is an online service that allows you to rent short- or long-term spaces from gay and gay-friendly hosts around the world. They have hosts in more than 135 countries with more than 200,000 total listings. They recently even started offering listings of gay and gay-friendly hotels on their site for a one-stop shop. You can even list your own room or apartment to earn cash from gay travelers in your city. Understanding a city’s gay scene is much more easily done with the help of a local and apartment sharing is one of the best ways to meet someone living in the city who knows the best insider advice.