Madrid HUERTAS good for solo (sola) traveler?

I was about to book one of the hostales in the Huertas neighborhood but now have read that it's kind of sketchy there, especially around the Antón Martín Me tro stop & Calle Atocha. I'm not easily scared but I also know I should be careful. Does anyone know if it would be a better idea to stay in La Latina or another area? I was hoping to stay out of Sol/Gran Vía.



Thanks.

Hola SHC11,

When I stayed in the Huertas area, early summer of 1999, at Hostal Dulcinea , I had no problems. But when I revisited in October 2002, I had a run in with the infamous Madrid street crime. It was only two blocks away from Hostal Dulcinea.

I don't know if there are any better parts of Madrid, and I still love this area. Chances are, if this typically non violent sort of crime makes you nervous, you won't be staying near the center, more exciting, part of town.

I've stayed (and walked at night alone) near Huertas on Calle Atocha just down from Anton Martin at the Hostal Barrera .(You can search for my previous reviews.) I was just there in August and had no problems at all.

SHC11, welcome to our message board!

Keep in mind that Calle de Atocha and the Anton Martín metro stop is on the very edge of Huertas and not really IN Huertas at all. I've stayed in a number of "hostales" in Huertas and never had any problems. Huertas is an active, night-life-rich part of Madrid where there are usually many people on most streets and has undergone some major improvements in the past 2 years. I love Huertas. It's my favorite, least touristy part of Madrid. It's "Old Madrid", less traffic, historic buildings, and has real charm.

There have been some safety issues in Huertas just as there have been these same issues in the Puerta del Sol area, Gran Vía, Chueca, and Lavapies areas. Really, any area in Madrid has some kind of record of incidents and Huertas is no different but I don't think Huertas is any less safe than other areas. In my opinion, it's much more safe than many other areas.

Follow-up: The Calle de Atocha, which passes the Anton Martín metro stop, is a major, 4-lane road, always with lots of traffic as well as foot-traffic. This street is also well-lighted from top to bottom.

Saludos, MadridMan

I lived in an apartment for three months at the intersection of Calle Jesús and Calle Huertas.

No problems.

We also used the Antón Martín metro a lot.

No problems.

In April, we stayed closer to Sol at Hostal Adriano .

No problems.

I am curious why you want to avoid Sol or Gran Vía.

Now Lavapies I can understand.

Buena suerte

All the areas mentioned are more dangerous than the average, although you feel safe, and you are most of the times.

I'd prefer others, and be careful not to go back home in the wee hours alone if you stay at these)(friends should escort you to the hostal/hotel door, not just the building door cause many assaults are on the entrance hall, out of sight of people passing by).

However, it's true that I have not heard of any death or mugging in the last year or so.

I think we must also consider who SCH11 is: an old delicate woman? a 250 pound rugby player? that would make a big difference.

Andres

Hola,

¡Gracias a todos para ayudarme! OK, I've been trying to brush up on my Spanish but, obviously, it's been a LONG time since I took a class.

In reply to your questions, I have been reading all kinds of guide books and Sol/Gran Vía seems to be the most tourist-y area...so I wanted to try another neighborhood. Maybe this is untrue, I don't know.

I'm taking more precautions than usual since this is my first trip on my own. I wish I were a 250 pound rugby player just for the duration of my trip!

Thanks again!

Sol is the most touristy area, make no mistake on that. As for Huertas, although not being a very big neighborhood there are parts that are safer than others.
As for safety dont forget things like not looking a tourist or not coming back at 4.00 am by yourself. The last thing may sound stupid but many girls feel so safe in Madrid that they forget the basic rules.

Andrés

I have stayed at Hostal Chelo (off Gran Vía) numerous times. Several times I have been alone and the last time I stayed there with 2 of my kids. I have had no concerns about safety. However, I am always cautious at night and I do not usually stay out 'till the wee hours of the morning. The same safety rules you would use in any location apply in Madrid. I female and like staying at Hostal Chelo because I believe they would notice if I did not come home.

Hope you have a wonderful trip. My favorite tour book by the way is Rick Steves guide book. It is small, easy to carry and filled with excellent information.

I stayed in the Huertas area in 1998 and this summer, 2004.
No problems whatsoever, walked and metro-ed around at any time. Well, until midnight at least - I am an old delicate woman, see .
No problems with finding places to stay. ( I just walked into one of the plenty pensiones and got a v small but neat room for 15 € per night.)
Later this summer I stayed on Calle Hortaleza, no problems there either, however the area felt a bit more dodgy, but nobody hassled me or anything like that.

I stayed with some friends in a hostal just off the Gran Via 2 years ago, and we didn't have any trouble at all. didn't see any trouble either. I spent the whole time walking around thinking "I could live here, I love it".