Where to live in Madrid: the best neighborhoods for students

When it comes to choosing where to live in Madrid, students choose very different areas, depending on preference and priorities. With that in mind, we have collated advice and guidelines to help you know know the best neighborhoods for students in the capital. This includes a mix of shared apartments and student residences, so you can read the different options and help you find the accommodation that works best for you.

What are the best neighborhoods for students to live in Madrid?

Students have very varied answers when they are asked about where to live in Madrid. We’ve listed below some basic factors, which were among the most important factors in considering a neighborhood appropriate for university students. These factors are the following:

Security: it is the fundamental element in any choice. If a neighborhood is not safe, it will never be a good choice for young people new in the capital.
Good connections: you must have good transport services: Metro, Light Rail, Commuter, urban bus (EMT), or intercity (CRTM).
Green areas in the environment: large parks are not only an oasis of tranquility and fresh air (not always abundant in Madrid), but they are also good places to practice sports and meet up with friends, especially if the accommodation does not have its own garden.
Presence of young people among their neighbors: in this way, students feel more at ease and empathise better with the area.

Adding all these factors, many points from this list take us to the northwest of the city, although there are also other interesting neighborhoods inside and outside the central almond, which is the area delimited by the M-30.

1. Aravaca

Reviewing the previous list, we must say Aravaca has everything. In fact, it is an exclusive and residential neighborhood, two steps from the Somosaguas de la Complutense campus, well connected to the surroundings of Ciudad Universitaria (bus line 657, Cercanías to Príncipe Pío, short Uber or Cabify route, etc.), at the foot of the Casa de Campo and with university accommodation such as the Collegiate Aravaca Madrid Student Residence.

2. Moncloa-Argüelles

It is often chosen as a place to live for students who use the faculties in Ciudad Universitaria, that is, students from the Complutense, the Polytechnic, the UNED, the Antonio de Nebrija, and the Pontificia de Salamanca. Until there they move through the existing bike lanes, on foot crossing the Parque del Oeste or by urban bus. It is also a lively area for nightlife.

3. Ciudad Universitaria-Vallehermoso

Within the Ciudad Universitaria there are different major schools, which is why many students choose to stay here after their classes. This is mainly due to the benefit of having the Metro line station and numerous bus stops on Avenida de la Memoria. Adjoining this area of faculties is also the Vallehermoso neighborhood, a small neighborhood where many students reside in shared flats. For all of them, the Dehesa de la Villa is a green oasis a few meters away.

The liveliest neighborhoods in the city

When evaluating where to live in Madrid, many students weigh the nightlife, tapas bars, and attractive cultural life in museums, exhibition halls, or other centers. In this sense, the favorite options are:

La Latina, near the Rastro
Tribunal-Malasaña, a symbol of the Movida Madrileña, with different higher schools, such as the IED Istituto Europeo di Design
Lavapiés, the most intercultural neighborhood in the capital and close to the Polytechnic, Carlos III and UNED faculties

Other options in Madrid

And if the preference is to combine a central location with relative daily tranquility, the best option is the Retiro district, especially the blocks close to the famous park, many of which are part of the Salamanca neighborhood. Another area that has gained popularity in recent years is the banks of the Manzanares, thanks to the Madrid Río park and the Matadero cultural complex. If you were to cycle to Ciudad Universitaria it would only be a 10-minute journey, that is why so many young students love it living here.

We hope that after this information, you begin to have a clearer idea of where to live in Madrid. Remember to take into account what your preferences are so that the selected area makes you feel at home!