The best neighbourhoods for students in Madrid

Moncloa

This is one of the student neighbourhoods par excellence in Madrid, due to the proximity to the University City (Ciudad Universitaria). The main campuses of the Complutense University of Madrid and of the Polytechnic University of Madrid are located there, and they welcome a large number of students every year.

Moncloa has an active student life, with bars and cafes with affordable prices. Also, this is where a large number of student residences and residence halls are located.

Another of its attractions is the Oeste park, where young people go for a walk or to exercise, and the famous Temple of Debod, from where you can enjoy very beautiful sunsets in the city.

The neighbourhood of Moncloa is very well connected with the rest of Madrid, mainly through metro lines (line 3 and Circular) and bus.

Chamberí

Chamberí is another of the best neighbourhoods for students in Madrid. It's located next to Moncloa, so it’s also close to Ciudad Universitaria. It’s a more residential neighbourhood than the others, but it still has a variety of leisure sites and cultural attractions. These include theatre, cinemas, gyms and museums (such as the Sorolla Museum).

In Chamberí, there's also a varied restaurant offering, with bars and cafes for all budgets. Students usually meet in those around the square Plaza de Olavide, where there are good ‘tapas’ places. Furthermore, despite being a more residential neighbourhood, Chamberí has a large number of nightclubs.

Something to keep in mind is that this neighbourhood doesn’t have many green spaces or facilities for outdoor sports. However, the Oeste Park is relatively close, so you can go there or also exercise in the nearby Tercer Depósito Park.

Chamberí is very well connected with the rest of Madrid. It has several bus stops, metro stations (lines 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and Circular) and trains (at the Nuevos Ministerios station).

Malasaña

This neighbourhood is known for having a lively student atmosphere. In fact, students often meet at Plaza del 2 de Mayo, a square surrounded by bars. Malasaña has lots of cafes and vintage clothing stores. It also has several nightclubs, all with a different and varied atmosphere.

In this neighbourhood there are some buildings of the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas.

Between the cultural offerings, several museums in Malasaña stand out, such as the ABC Museum, the Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Palace of Liria with its exhibits.

Being part of the centre of Madrid, it doesn't have many green spaces. However, it’s just a few minutes walk from the Parque Oeste, which provides a respite in nature.

From Malasaña you can get to different important parts of the city on foot, such as Gran Vía, the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta de Alcalá. It also has very good public transport connections, with bus and metro lines (2, 3, 4, 6, and 10).

Lavapiés

The neighbourhood of Lavapiés is known to be multicultural and economic (actually cheap considering the rest of the prices in the city centre). In fact, thanks to this it’s considered one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Madrid.

It's full of leisure and cultural sites to visit, such as the world-famous Reina Sofía National Art Museum and several theatres.

Given its multicultural environment, Lavapiés has restaurants offering cuisines from different parts of the world. There are also several markets, such as Anton Martin Market or the San Fernando Market.

One thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't offer many green spaces or parks, but it’s very close to Retiro Park.

As to nearby institutions, it’s very close to the Puerta de Toledo campus of the University Carlos III of Madrid.

Regarding transport, it has good connections, especially by metro (with lines 1 and 3). It's also a few minutes walk from Puerta de Atocha Station, which not only connects with the rest of Madrid, but with other cities.

FAQ about neighbourhoods in Madrid