Best Urban Hotels in Spain

Child and pet-friendly, this cosmopolitan AC Hotel provides the option of family rooms among its selection of 106 accommodations. There’s an onsite restaurant, the AC Lounge, where you can enjoy a meal with your travel companions, and refuel each day with a hearty breakfast. On the terrace, you’ll be surrounded by the aroma of close-by olive and lemon trees, as you sip on a cocktail and unwind from the day’s sightseeing. The hotel also has a fitness centre, parking and event space, for guests travelling on business.

Located in the very heart of Barcelona on Passeig de Gràcia, the Mandarin Oriental is just seconds away from the city’s luxury boutiques and only a 2-minute walk from the Gaudi-designed Casa Batlló. Fusing modern interiors and timeless style from Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, the 120 rooms are bright and airy. Book a suite for a freestanding whirlpool tub, terrace and even kitchen. Gourmet Michelin-star dining is available in three restaurants – one of which is al fresco. The addition of a  relaxing spa, first-floor terrace, indoor pool for year-round dips and a rooftop pool with views out over the city makes the hotel one not to be missed.

Situated right beside San Lorenzo beach and close to the old town, Hotel NH offers the opportunity for sun, sea, sand and sightseeing. It has 64 bedrooms, of which many enjoy sea views (some also have a hot tub and balcony). Summer days are best spent at the rooftop terrace and pool, plus there’s a wellness area with a spa, Turkish bath, fish spa, treatment rooms and a gym on hand for the less clement weather. A daily morning buffet is presented in the breakfast room, with lunch and dinner served Cantabrian style in Amares. The hotel is pet-friendly and accessible.

The former residence of the Empress Eugenia de Montijo, this five-star hotel has echoed its regal Renaissance past through a contemporary take on palatial decor, retaining original features such as stained glass domes and marble mosaic floors. Just 200 meters from the city’s stunning cathedral, it’s well-placed for sightseeing on foot. Local dishes can be sampled at Eugenia de Montijo’s restaurant Library Ferderico (named after the Empress’ designer) and there’s Mazapán Corner for Spanish pastries. SPA Club Eugenie’s Bath is a nod to the building’s previous owner and incorporates the old Roman hydraulic system and Mozarabic walls.

Dating back to the 1930s, this neo-baroque building used to be Logroño’s Post Office. It lives up to its name and history, with walls decorated by stamp collages, mail art, original post boxes flanking the entrance, the Matasellos “Postmark” restaurant, and a collection of vintage postcards, including some antiques from the eighteenth century. In 2021 the hotel received a full makeover, upgrading rooms, the spa and the indoor pool area. Aurea Palacio de Correos also has a terrace for drinks with a view and a delicious choice of meals made using Riojan produce.

Standing proudly on a hilltop overlooking the city (just a ten-minute stroll to the centre), this grande dame with a terracotta facade is both aristocratic and elegant. Conceived in 1910, the building was inspired by the Nasrid Palace, paying detailed homage to local architecture and culture in its design. It received a full refurbishment in 2017 for maximum modern comfort that retains the traditional elements and regal Moorish features. The hotel’s à la carte restaurant, Principe, serves a range of Mediterranean and international food inside and on the terrace, with far-reaching views. Single rooms through to two-bedroom suites are offered at the Hotel Alhambra Palace.

People who want the chance to feel like royalty should not miss the chance to stay at this grand former palace of the Marqués de Caro. This unique building can be found in the Old Town and the city walls have been incorporated into the design. Each of the guestrooms is as unique as the building itself and it is worth taking the time to check out all of the available options. Each of the rooms also has a story behind it and The Cat’s Room was once the main domain of the former owner’s precious cat. Unwinding on one of the large sunbeds that are set around the outdoor swimming pool while sipping a cocktail or two is the perfect way to spend an hour or two, while the Caro Hotel Valencia is famous for its excellent dining opportunities. Food is presented at art at the Michelin-starred restaurant Sucede and food lovers can be sure that they will be in for a real treat here.

Villa Magna, a historic treasure located on Madrid’s most coveted boulevard is reborn as the capital’s leading luxury hotel. Located between the distinguished Salamanca neighbourhood and Paseo de la Castellana number 22, Rosewood Villa Magna is writing a new chapter in its story with the international hotel group Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. The Rosewood Villa Magna is located in an unbeatable setting, an enclave for shopping, business, gastronomy, and art. With easy access to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum and the so-called ”Landscape of Light” (of El Prado and El Retiro), declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rosewood Villa Magna has four distinct concepts offering guests and locals alike a variety of gastronomic offerings at any time of the day. The property has 101 rooms and 53 suites that embody the hotel’s refined, residential style.

In an upscale neighbourhood in the centre of Bilbao, the Radisson Collection Hotel’s 137 contemporary and comfortable rooms and suites receive guests from all corners of the world. The hotel offers a premier, luxurious stay in its Presidential Suite, featuring a private terrace, hot tub and other exclusive amenities. Indulgent treatments are available at the hotel’s tranquil Jewels of Nature Spa as well as access to the hotel fitness centre. An ideal location for business events and conferences in the heart if the city’s main shopping area and financial district – fully-equipped meeting facilities are available to host up to 80 persons. Catering options are on offer for functions and the hotel boasts a gastronomic experience, expertly crafted by a Michelin-starred chef as well as a relaxing rooftop bar. Explore the gems of the Basque Country and visit famous attractions such as the Guggenheim Museum which is located a short walk from the hotel.

Set within Gothic stone cloisters this modern brand inhabits a property with five centuries of history. Located beside the River Arlazón and close to the cathedral, many of its 110 bedrooms enjoy views of one or the other. Guests will also appreciate the mod cons, such as Nespresso machines and super thick mattresses, as well as access to a gym and sauna. The restaurant, Palacio de la Merced, is renowned as one of the best in the city, serving fine local cuisine. The Palacio also offers 10 function rooms.

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.