Travel + Leisure Readers' 8 Favorite City Hotels in Spain of 2024
Readers raved about these classic-luxe hotels in Barcelona and Madrid in our annual “World’s Best Awards” survey for 2024.
No matter how many times you’ve visited Barcelona and Madrid, there’s still more to discover. Spain’s biggest cities are masters of self-reinvention, promising a never-ending array of sights, activities, and, yes, fabulous accommodations — from indie boutique hotels and architectural icons (we see you, W Barcelona!) to grand dames with centuries of history. Having a hard time deciding where to check in first? Let our readers show you the way.
How Voting Works
Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Over 186,000 T+L readers completed the 2024 survey. A total of more than 700,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).
Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below:
Rooms/facilities
Location
Service
Food
Value
For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
Courtesy of Rosewood Villa Magna
What Readers Loved About Barcelona
Recently, Barcelona has seen an uptick in new hotels in lesser-visited barrios such as the industrial-hip neighborhood of Poblenou. But when it came to choosing their favorite hotels in the Catalan capital, Travel + Leisure readers prized centrality and classic luxury above all. Which is not to say that these top hotels lack personality — on the contrary, these beloved boltholes have found creative ways to keep travelers coming back again and again. Take our No. 5 winner, Almanac Barcelona, which boasts one of the most inventive plant-based restaurants in all of the city. Or our No. 4 winner, Cotton House, Autograph Collection, which was originally built for an aristocratic family during the 19th-century textile boom. “What a delight to find this gem of a hotel in a big, bustling city,” raved one reader. Another cocoon of cool: the Zen-like Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, which nabbed the No. 2 spot on this year’s list. But 2024’s big winner is less about clean-lined serenity than historic grandeur. Read on to find out more.
Barcelona Winner
Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona
Courtesy of Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona
Strolling along Passeig de Gràcia, it’s impossible to miss this century-old landmark near Gaudí’s iconic Casa Batlló and Casa Milà buildings. The grand hotel stands out with its neoclassical balconied façade, posh doormen, and old-school style. Even if you’re not staying at its $18,000 per night Majestic Royal Penthouse — the largest hotel suite in the city — you’ll be treated as a VIP, assure T+L readers. “From the moment we arrived right up until our departure, the level of service we received was exceptional,” gushed one survey respondent. And while readers loved the proximity to all of the city’s top sights, they were just as happy to stay on property, enjoying luxurious amenities such as the rooftop terrace restaurant, La Dolce Vitae, and the recently enhanced Majestic Spa. “The rooftop pool and restaurant are a must,” wrote one traveler.
"From the moment we arrived right up until our departure, the level of service we received was exceptional."
T+L Reader
Barcelona Full List
1. Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona
Reader Score: 92.80
2. Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona
Reader Score: 90.78
3. W Barcelona
Reader Score: 88.89
4. Cotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection
Reader Score: 88.80
Reader Score: 88.26
What Readers Loved About Madrid
The Spanish capital is having a major moment — it greeted a record-breaking 14-million visitors last year — with buzzy new attractions like the long-awaited Royal Collections Gallery and revamped public spaces like Plaza de España. There’s also been a surge in new hotels catering to everyone from budget travelers to aspiring aristocrats (to them, we say look no further than Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel). When asked to pick their favorites, Travel + Leisure readers were outspoken in their support: “This is the best hotel in Madrid,” said one respondent about the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid — the No. 3 spot on this year’s list — which won travelers over with its panoramic rooftop restaurant, sanctuary-like spa with an indoor pool, and easy access to luxury shops including Hermés and Dior. Travelers were equally passionate about this year’s runner up, Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid, a Belle Époque palace located near the city’s most important museums and the lush El Retiro Park. To discover the No. 1 winner, you’ll have to travel to the city’s sophisticated Salamanca district.
Madrid Winner
Rosewood Villa Magna
Courtesy of Rosewood Villa Magna
For the third year running, this Madrid icon has been crowned the winner of this survey. The secret to its success? Rich history combined with glamorous art-filled interiors, detour-worthy dining, and an ever-evolving list of amenities, from seasonal pop-ups to a luxurious new hair spa. “I love this hotel,” gushed one reader. “It encapsulates everything you need when in Madrid.” For another respondent, it was the hotel’s airy feel that set it apart from some of the more cramped accommodations in the Gran Vía area. “There’s plenty of spaciousness,” he commented, raving about its private gardens, vast front terrace, and location in the leafy Salamanca district.
Madrid Full List
Reader Score: 96.71
2. Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid
Reader Score: 96.28
Reader Score: 95.27
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