Hola, and welcome to Madrid!
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! This city’s charm and lifestyle will have you hooked as a student at ESBS Madrid! A mix between the old and new, with a rich history and a vibrant future, Madrid is the perfect place for students from around the world to discover!
To ensure you have a fantastic time in Spain’s capital, we’ve put together this complete guide to make sure you enjoy Madrid and everything it has to offer.
Remember that once you arrive to Spain there will be some legal and documentation requirements for you to meet to live normally as a student in Madrid.
Here’s what you can expect to find in this guide:
- Where to live in Madrid
- Where to eat in Madrid
- Madrid’s transportation system
- Cost of living as a student in Madrid
- Where to eat in Madrid
Where to live in Madrid
In Madrid, like in any other European city, two of the most common options to live as a student are a residence or renting an apartment. In truth, there is not a right answer as to which one is the best option. The best option is always based on your own personal preferences, so make sure to research well the pros and cons of living in a residence or renting.
Some residence options in Madrid include:
As you can expect, Madrid is a very international city with some of the best universities in Spain and the world, so naturally there many options to find an apartment to live in. Some of these options include agencies focused solely on student rentals or there’s always the option to search for an apartment on a normal commercial listing platform.
Agencies focused on student living:
What are the best areas to live in Madrid you ask? Well, while it is a very personal decision focused on price and individual likes and dislikes, our campus in Madrid is located near Atocha and the city center, so looking at neighborhoods nearby could be a smart idea. The good thing is that Madrid is very well connected, and its public transport system is incredibly good.
Madrid’s transportation system
You can get basically anywhere inside and to the outskirts of Madrid thanks to its efficient transportation system. Some of these services work 24/7, while others stop at very late night.
A great thing about Madrid’s transportation system is that it’s affordable, fast and well maintained.
You can get a monthly transportation card called “abono”, that’s valid for 30 days and gives you access to Metro, bus and cercanias lines within the zone range you selected.
If you’re under the age of 26 you can apply for an Abono Joven, which currently (Until December 31st) costs 8€ a month and gives you access to all zones. If you’re over the age of 26 then prices currently vary from 21,80€ to 52,70€ per month. You can order both online.
Cost of living as a student in Madrid
While we cannot say exactly what your individual cost of living in Spain’s capital would be because of your lifestyle, we can share with you some insights that could be useful for you to plan your expenses.
Madrid is not particularly an economical city. It’s one of the most expensive cities to live in Spain. However, the cost of living can be affected in one way or another depending on the area you decide to live in.
The highest expense during your stay will undoubtedly be accommodation. Rooms vary from 350€ to 600€ depending on the area, the amount of people sharing the apartment, and more.
Where to eat in Madrid
Spain is internationally recognised for its food. So, naturally, the gastronomic experience in this city is out of this world! Some things we recommend if you want to tour the city through food is:
Explore the mercados to get a local taste of each neighbourhood in the city, our favourites are:
- Mercado San Fernando (Tirso de Molina)
- Mercado San Anton (Chueca)
- Mercado Tirso de Molina (Puerta del Ángel)
- Mercado Antón Martín (Antón Martín)
- Mercado San Ildefonso (Fuencarral)
- Mercado Maravillas (Cuatro Caminos)
Our top 5 Spanish restaurants that won’t hit your wallet and will give you the most local experience:
- El Tigre Sidra Bar
- Pez Tortilla
- Cafe Melo’s Bar
- Madrid Madriz
- Cervecería Sierra
- Chocolatería San Ginés
