Best Urban Hotels in Spain

Every one of the 44 exterior bedrooms at the Gran Hotel La Perla has balconies looking onto Estafeta Street and Plaza del Castillo. There are also attic bedrooms and suites dedicated to former notable guests (including Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Julián Gayarre and Víctor Eusa). Other famous names to have graced its corridors since its opening in 1881, are Charles Chaplin, Julio Iglesias and  Woody Allen. The hotel, the first five-star in the city, is set on Plaza del Castillo and has a breakfast room, as well as several meeting spaces.

Housed in a 16th-century palace, this stone building contains smooth pillars, curved ceilings, Juliet balconies, hardwood and tiled floors and an inner sanctum-like courtyard. It’s found opposite Plaza San Juan and some of its 86 bedrooms overlook the medieval square and church. Guests can make use of the onsite gym, meeting rooms, the La Cava del Emperador bar and the Yuste Taperia-Restaurante, set on a street-level terrace. While encapsulating the local heritage, this property brings the NH Collection’s signature contemporary style and slick standard of service to Cáceres.

Found on the city’s main boulevard surrounded by shops, the NH Collection Vigo is housed in a 20th-century building with a Neoclassical façade, designed by the French architect, Michel Pacewicz. Accommodating 108 bedrooms including jacuzzi loft suites, the four-star property is pet, family and business traveller friendly. Guests have access to their own Nespresso machine, NH branded toiletries, babysitting services, a pillow menu, fluffy duvets and super comfy mattresses. Valet parking, a small gym and an onsite restaurant — the elegant Irati — are all available. Plus there’s a bar with a charming alfresco terrace overlooking the church.

Converted from a hospital first built in the year 1499 and commissioned by King Ferdinand, this used to serve walkers who came here on pilgrimage. Hospital Real De Santiago De Compostela still caters to visitors but in the form of a luxe hotel – one of the oldest in the world. Ideally located in the Plaza do Obradoiro beside the cathedral, it immerses visitors into a bygone era. Cloisters, thick stone walls, an outdoor terrace overlooking the square and a manicured courtyard garden help evoke the ancient atmosphere. Rooms come with wifi, satellite TV, air-con and mini-bars, and there are two restaurants.

Alfonso XIII, great-grandfather of the present king, ruled until Spain declared itself a republic in 1931, and commissioned this centrally-situated hotel during 1929’s Expo 29 in Seville. Modernity mixes with Moorish and Spanish tradition in its elegant interior and stunning facade while dining outlets complement the meeting and function rooms. Sample authentic Andalusian cooking in the restaurant, or share tapas favourites in ENA by Carles Abellán. Meanwhile, as you might guess, the Bar Americano shakes (or stirs) a mean cocktail in an Art Deco setting.

The Hotel Hacienda de Abajo can be found nestled in the heart of La Palma’s Tazacorte area. Spread over four buildings, the former 17th century sugar plantation has undergone complete refurbishment to become the first emblematic hotel in the Canary Islands. The interior garden of the hotel is the former orchard of the hacienda and offers a unique setting for your Canarian getaway. Choose from a collection of lavish guestrooms and suites complete with regal and traditional décor including 18th century French tapestries. Be sure to enjoy the island’s finest offerings on site for breakfast and brunch in La Salita or opt to savour gourmet Atlantic dining at El Sitio restaurant. The hotel boasts a heated swimming pool for guests looking to escape reality and relax. For those wishing to take it a step further, the spa & wellness centre offer beauty treatments and massages to enhance your stay.

Welcoming guests for a quarter of a century, this hotel is housed in a Renaissance palace. The vibe is discrete and classy, rather than glitzy, with excellent, unobtrusive service. It’s small and intimate; there are 13 classically decorated bedrooms (replete with Bulgari toiletries and coffee makers), plus there’s a private lounge, but no restaurant. But as the Rector is right in the heart of the city, there’s a wealth of culinary options on the doorstep and staff will gladly provide recommendations to suit your preferences. The lounge is the place to relax post-sightseeing, drink in hand — its stained glass window and oriental rugs are stunning.

Walking distance from the railway station, a couple of nice beaches and beside the port, Casa Alberola Alicante is found within a pretty neo-classical building with wrought-iron balconies. Inside, the decor is modern – in keeping with the Hilton style – but with hints of art deco style. Catering to adults only, rooms here come with crisp white bedding, padded velvet headboards and parquet floors – some have freestanding bathtubs and sea views too. Its restaurant, Blacky, serves Mediterranean-meets-Chilean cuisine and there’s a buzzing bar for a post-dinner drink.

AC Hotel Cartagena, located in the historic port city of Cartagena in the Murcia region, offers contemporary accommodation in a convenient city-centre setting. With 107 guest rooms and suites. The design is minimalistic, with neutral tones, clean lines, and large windows allowing natural light to flow through.

Guests can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and light bites at the hotel’s restaurant and bar, which serves both local specialities and international dishes. A wellness area with a sauna provides a space for relaxation, while a well-equipped fitness centre is available for those who wish to maintain their exercise routine during their stay. The property also offers an outdoor pool, ideal for cooling off in the Spanish sun.

Positioned near Cartagena’s historic attractions, like the Roman Theatre and city walls, the hotel caters to both leisure and business travellers.

Once a church, convent and private residence, this 400-year-old building (known locally as the Convento de las Oblatas) remains unchanged from the outside. When sold in 1996, it became the first five-star hotel in the city. What used to be an orchard has been re-invented as a lovely garden. The church area is now the venue’s gourmet restaurant, Villena, run by chef Rubén Arnanz and serving locally influenced dishes, created using award-winning techniques. Additionally, Áurea Convento Capuchinos offers a spa with a jetted pool, a sauna, a Turkish bath and relaxation areas added to create a wellness retreat within its grounds.

Following a meticulous two-year restoration, Madrid’s iconic landmark returns with a refined identity as The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid. Situated in Barrio de las Letras within the UNESCO-listed Paisaje de la Luz, the hotel is surrounded by cultural treasures like the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museums. The historic 1912 façade has been restored, along with its signature stained-glass dome and iconic glass palm tree chandelier. Interiors by Lázaro Rosa-Violán fuse classic grandeur with modern sophistication, drawing inspiration from past guests such as Picasso, Dalí, and Hemingway. The 470 redesigned rooms and suites feature hand-painted wallpapers, mid-century chandeliers, and a residential elegance. The hotel’s culinary offering includes La Cúpula, a stylish all-day dining venue, and 27 Club, a reimagined cocktail bar paying homage to the Generation of ’27 poets. Now part of The Luxury Collection, The Palace invites travellers to experience Madrid’s heritage through a lens of contemporary luxury.

Next to the historic centre and an easy stroll to the beach, this hotel brings together classic and contemporary design. Every room at the NH Collection comes with a hydro-massage bath and a minibar, with spacious family suites available. Dinner at the hotel can be taken at La Terraza, accompanied by stunning views and live music, or at the Novo Restaurant, both offering vegetarian and child-friendly dishes. Guests staying here have access to multiple pools, a gym and sports courts and you can bring your pooch along for the stay too, with NH’s accommodating pet policy.