In recent years, Madrid has experienced a true boom in the short-term rental of all kinds of spaces. In the Spanish capital, you can rent not just an apartment or a room, but also a private swimming pool, a rooftop terrace, or even a bed for a quick nap. This approach to urban real estate is becoming increasingly popular, especially during the summer season when temperatures consistently hover around 30 degrees Celsius.
Demand for swimming pools in Madrid is traditionally high: the city has only 25 municipal pools, while there are thousands of private and community pools. This shortage quickly turned into a business opportunity. Homeowners in the suburbs, such as in Boadilla del Monte, started renting out their plots with pools by the hour for parties, family gatherings, and barbecues. During the season, such rentals can bring owners up to several thousand euros, and the average cost of admission is 20–30 euros per person for six hours of leisure.
Platforms specializing in short-term pool rentals manage the entire process: they publish photos, set usage rules, inspect the facilities, and provide legal protection for owners. In Madrid, hundreds of such offers are already available, and across Spain their number is approaching one thousand. Over the summer, these services process thousands of bookings, and renting a pool does not require a tourist license since it does not involve overnight stays.
Terrace and rooftop rentals have also become highly sought after. Online platforms allow users to book private spaces for events, meetings, or corporate parties. One of the largest catalogs features more than 500 venues in Madrid alone, ranging from cozy downtown terraces to castles on the outskirts. Rental prices range from €150 per hour for small gatherings to several thousand euros for major events. The primary audience is people aged 30–40, with most bookings made by women. This format is popular thanks to a combination of savings, flexibility, and access to unique locations that are normally closed to the general public.
Interestingly, in Madrid you can even rent a place for a daytime nap. In the Nuevos Ministerios district, there’s a venue where, for €1.5 to €7, you can rest for half an hour in a private booth or on a bed. There is no luxury here—just the basics: clean linens, air conditioning, power outlets, and relative quiet. Originally inspired by Japanese capsule hotels, the project gained popularity with a diverse clientele after being relaunched following the pandemic. Most visitors are not there to rest during work hours, but for the novelty or on a friend’s recommendation.
Experts note that such fragmentation of urban space and the transformation of familiar areas into short-term rental venues is changing the face of Madrid. On one hand, this makes more efficient use of the city’s resources and creates new earning opportunities. On the other hand, it raises concerns about the loss of traditional urban life, increasing inequality, and the displacement of permanent residents. The question of how to regulate these services and their impact on the quality of life in the capital remains unresolved.
For now, Madrid continues to develop as a city where almost anything can be rented by the hour—from a swimming pool to a bed for a short rest. This approach reflects current trends in the sharing economy and the desire of city residents for flexibility and new experiences.
