This small hotel is located in the heart of historic downtown Madrid, just a block from Plaza Mayor and short walk from the Sol metro station. From the hotel you can easily walk, hop a bus, or ride the subway to any of the major tourist sites in Madrid. Now, do remember that you are not paying for a four-star hotel and that you should not expect the amenities in that sort of establishment, and you will be very pleased with this excellent boutique inn. Yes, you have to walk up several flights of stairs and the you don't have a big screen TV in the room, but the hotel is clean, the front desk staff is friendly and helpful (and speaks far better English than I speak Spanish), the air conditioning is comfortable, and the location and price are unbeatable. So, if you are in Madrid to see the city rather than to spend time in a luxury hotel suite, this is the price for you. While the homeless bed down in the square around the hotel late at night, do not be fooled. Madrid is a safe and hospitable city--one of the great urban centers in the world. At La Perla Austriana you are in the heart of the museums, architectural monuments, shopping areas, terrace cafes, and historic sites that make Madrid a special experience.