Best areas for students in Malaga

Teatinos

This is the university district par excellence of Malaga. This is mainly due to the fact that one of the main campuses of the University of Malaga is located there, in the area called “Ciudad Universitaria” (University City). Thanks to that, in Teatinos there are a lot of residences and a lively student atmosphere. It’s also a very safe and modern neighbourhood, located west of the Andalusian city centre, about half an hour by transport from the historic centre.

Teatinos is full of affordable bars and restaurants for students, so there's a great youthful atmosphere on its streets. In fact, one of the liveliest areas in the neighbourhood is around the metro station Ciudad de la Justicia, called Hacienda Bizcochero.

There aren’t many cultural visits that attract attention in this neighbourhood. However, there are several façades with urban art murals that make the area more beautiful.

This area of Malaga stands out for its access to natural outdoor spaces. These include parks and gardens like:

• The Parque del cine, an open-air space with references to cinema, sports and play areas, and open-air movies at certain times of the year.
• The Parque de la Laguna de la Barrera, which has an artificial lake, rest areas, and sports areas.
• The Botanical garden of the University of Malaga, with a greenhouse, fountains, and a pavilion.

Teatinos is well connected to the rest of Malaga thanks to several transport options: line 1 of the metro, buses, and bike lanes.

El Romeral

El Romeral is a neighbourhood that’s west of Teatinos and north of the University City, so it’s also one of the best neighbourhoods for students in Malaga. It’s also a good option for those who are going to study in the faculties that are in the area of “Ampliación Universidad” (the extension of the university), which is even further west.

The restoration offer of El Romeral is very varied! From tapas to pizza and burgers, there's a lot of affordable restaurants for students to choose from. There are also several bars and taverns, and at least one nightclub.

There are few cultural and interesting places that can be visited in this neighbourhood, but there are several sports venues for exercising. As for green spaces, the reality is that it has few parks, like the Juan Soiza Park and the Calle Teseo Park. Of course, you can also easily reach all the natural spaces near Teatinos

To get to other places in the city, from El Romeral you can use the bicycle or several bus lines. In addition, there are some stations of the metro that are very close.

Centro Histórico

Living in the historic centre of Malaga is a very good idea for students who want to be in the liveliest area of the city. Of course, as expected, the cost of rent in this neighbourhood is usually higher than in surrounding neighbourhoods.

From the historic centre you can easily reach the different campuses of the University of Malaga, so it’s a good option for your students.

The restaurant and shopping options in this neighbourhood are the most varied in the city. There are restaurants and bars of all kinds and for all budgets, but try to avoid the ones that are tourist traps!

In the historic centre of Malaga there are a lot of cultural sites, monuments, and historic buildings worth visiting. Among them are:

• La Alcazaba: a medieval fortress and palace with beautiful views.
• The Roman Theatre of Malaga: an open-air museum in the ancient theatre.
• The Cathedral of Malaga (La Manquita): an iconic monument with Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and a beautiful garden.
• Constitution Square: the most central square, from which the famous and picturesque Chinitas Passage departs.
• The Picasso Museum Malaga: an exhibition of the works of the famous painter Pablo Picasso, born in Malaga, in a 16th-century palace.
• The Museum of Malaga: one of the most important fine arts museums in the city.
• The Carmen Thyssen Museum in Málaga: another museum of Spanish and international art.

Next to the historic centre is Malaga Park, one of the city's green lungs. It's an ideal place for walking and exercising. It doesn't have any picnic areas, but it does have plenty of fountains, benches, an amphitheatre, and sculptures. We also highlight the Pedro Luis Alonso Gardens, with incredible views of the sea. And, in fact, from the historic centre you can reach the seafront promenades and beaches in no time!

Much of Málaga's historic centre is pedestrianised, but, as you'd expect, this area has good public transport links throughout the city. The streets that border the neighbourhood include bus and subway stops, and the city centre train station is just a few minutes away.

El Ejido

This neighbourhood is located north of the historic centre of Malaga. Accommodation is usually cheaper than in the city centre, without sacrificing access to the city's liveliest areas, which can be reached in about 15 minutes on foot, making it another of the best student neighbourhoods in Malaga.

In this area is the Campus of El Ejido of the University of Malaga, although keep in mind that it’s planned that in the future its faculties will move to new buildings on the Campus of Teatinos.

In the streets of this neighbourhood and the surrounding area you can find a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars which are frequented by students. Another fact to keep in mind is that El Ejido is a fairly small neighbourhood, and it doesn't have a notable cultural offering or green spaces. However, it’s very close to everything that the centre of Malaga offers, and you can reach the beach area in half an hour on foot or less than 15 minutes by bike.

As far as public transport is concerned, there are some bus lines that pass through the main streets of the neighbourhood. However, most students choose to go on foot or by bicycle everywhere, since it’s usually faster and that way you save money and enjoy the city more.

FAQ about neighbourhoods in Malaga