We stayed at Pension Arcos for 2 nights, with no advance reservations. For 40 euros, we got 2 beds and a bathroom off the balcony. The room is comfortable, though not spotlessly clean (we noticed a toothpick on the bathroom floor that wasn't removed during our stay). The couple that runs the place is nice, but as mentioned by others,... More

We just returned from staying in Madrid for three nights. We found Pension Arcos recommended on the another major travel advisor system. They charged a low 40 Euros per night, for a balcony view room overlooking Plaza del Carmen, a short walk away from Plaza del Sol, and lots of action. Even the major museums and parks were well within... More

This place had its pluses and minuses.My husband and I were traveling with our twin girls, age 10, and we wanted accommodations near some key sites (e.g., the Prado) that were quiet and comfortable but not expensive. We found that at Pension Arcos, a five-bedroom apartment on the fifth floor of a secure building with an elevator. We had the... More

My husband and I stayed at Pension Arcos in December 2011. The accommodation is a room (which includes a bathroom) in the home of an elderly couple. The couple speaks no english, so it is best if you know spanish. My husband speaks spanish so he did all the communicating. The only way to reserve a room is to call... More

My wife and I really enjoyed our stay here. We stayed for several nights at the end of our trip. It was an excellent place to soak up the Madrileño vibe and bustle from the fifth floor balcony. Having exhausted much money from traveling in Andalusia, Tangier, and Barcelona, we found Pension Arcos to be a very reasonable price for... More

We booked the hostel for three nights and told the couple to expect us to arrive at night, but due to transit issues we did not arrive until the next morning. The man was grumpy about it, repeatedly telling me that he waited all night for us, but we paid him for that night and everything was better. They're actually... More

Sabino and Anuncia were excellent inn keepers. They don't speak English but if you know the basics you will do fine. 40.00 euros was cheap and perfect location. Just 5 minutes away from Puerta del Sol. We walked everywhere, was a great exercise. They keep the rooms clean. We got the room with the balcony and was awesome; every night... More

This is not the place for anyone who wants a modern hotel, but is excellent for anyone whose primary needs are for clean, safe, cheap and great location. There is no online booking - you must book by phone in Spanish.

I read about Pension Arcos in Rick Steves' guidebook and I LOVED it. A small double room with a full en suite bath was only 40€ per night, and it is seriously no more than a 5 minute walk to Puerta del Sol, the CENTER of Madrid. However, if you are looking for luxury DO NOT STAY HERE! If you... More