Gran Vía: Hotels, Musicals and Shopping — The Vibrant Heart of Madrid

Madrid, 2025 — Gran Vía is experiencing a new golden age as the hotel, cultural, and shopping axis of the Spanish capital. In just a few years, several of the city’s most emblematic hotels have opened or been completely renovated, blending history and modernity. Alongside classics such as the Hotel Emperador, Círculo Gran Vía, and Vincci Capitol, new openings like the JW Marriott Madrid, UMusic Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Riu Plaza España, W Madrid, and Hotel Curio by Hyatt have joined the skyline, all boasting prime locations and spectacular rooftop views over Spain’s most cinematic avenue.

With this transformation, Gran Vía has consolidated its position as one of Europe’s most dynamic hospitality districts, offering a blend of luxury, design, and leisure in the very heart of the city. Several new projects — including Soho House, the French luxury brand Brach, the Mexican group Nômade, Hotel Metrópoli, Rafael Nadal’s hotel, and the upcoming Radisson RED Madrid Gran Vía — further strengthen this trend.

Yet the appeal of Gran Vía goes far beyond its hotels. Madrid has established itself as the third city in the world with the most musicals on stage, behind only New York and London. Today, the capital hosts more than 25 productions simultaneously, featuring global hits such as The Lion King, Les Misérables, Matilda, Mamma Mia! and We Will Rock You, together with Spanish productions that fill the avenue’s theatres every night.

The shopping experience along Gran Vía and its surrounding streets is another major draw for visitors. Within just a few blocks, travelers can find flagship stores and iconic brands: Primark (the largest in Europe), Zara (its largest store worldwide), H&M, Mango, Adidas, Nike, Bershka, Uniqlo, as well as El Corte Inglés Callao, FNAC, and local designer boutiques. It’s a walk that combines classic and contemporary, global and distinctly madrileño — an experience that attracts millions of national and international visitors every year.

Gran Vía thus stands as a symbol of Madrid’s vitality: an avenue that unites luxury hotels, architecture, gastronomy, culture, and fashion — and remains, more than a century after its inauguration, the city’s brightest showcase.

‍