Catedral de la Almudena, in the Palacio neighborhood

3 Best Neighborhoods in Madrid

The capital of Spain is an incredible city. If you are going to exchange there, you need to know the best neighborhoods in Madrid well before moving, in fact, to be able to choose where to live. To help in this discovery and, consequently, in the choice, here we select 3 places in the city that are ideal for young people who are going to study there, and we list everything you can like about them. Come on?

Best neighborhoods in Madrid to live in the exchange

1. Lavapies

Lavapiés has a completely bohemian vibe! The neighborhood is known in the city for being a multicultural area, representing the fusion of different traditions in Madrid. In this area, you are sure to never run out of things to do. There, you will find the La Tabacalera cultural center, the San Fernando market and several bookstores, theaters and cafes. Madrid’s largest flea market, El Rastro, is also very close, a 5-minute walk away.

In addition, Lavapiés is one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid to live in because there you can find cuisines from all over the world, in addition to the typical restaurants in the city. The narrow streets around it preserve the neighborhood’s medieval heritage, and the typical architecture of the area is called corralas . They are buildings of varying heights, built around a central courtyard. In other words, Lavapiés is the most authentic in Madrid!

🏘️ The neighborhood :
Lavapiés is a meeting place for different cultures, so you will have neighbors of different nationalities!

💙 You will fall in love with:
There are cultural activities in the surroundings all the time, always with solidarity and with a social character.

Interessantes Interesting points :
La Casa Encendida is a cultural center where the most avant-garde artistic movements share space with workshops and courses. Also, book a Sunday morning to go to El Rastro.

🚌 Transportation:
You can really walk to the city center! Otherwise, you can take metro line 3 (stop: Lavapiés). Alternatively, you can also take a bus or train.

💶 Average rental price : € 632

Calle del Amparo, in the Lavapiés neighborhood

2. Sun

According to COUNTRYAAH, the Sol district is located right in the heart of Madrid. It is the place where you find the famous Kilómetro Cero – point that marks the geographical center of Spain. And that means that in this neighborhood you have everything! This area is the tourist epicenter of Madrid and one of the liveliest places in the city, full of shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, markets and charming squares. You will also be very close to Gran Via, one of the most emblematic avenues in the city that basically concentrates three types of establishments: fashion stores, restaurants, and cinemas / theaters.

There you will never be bored. That’s because you can have a coffee or try the jamón sandwich at Museo del Jamon for € 2, have a drink on a terrace or visit a theater. If you are a person who loves the city full of movement 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Sol will definitely be one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid for you to live in!

🏘️ The neighborhood :
The view over the river is absolutely stunning.

💙 You will fall in love with :
La Mallorquina’s traditional breakfast and sweets.

Interessantes Interesting points :
There, visit the Circulo de Bellas Artes, a cultural center with many different exhibition rooms. At the end of your tour, climb to the roof and have a 360º view of the city!

🚌 Transport :
In Sol, you can walk almost anywhere, and still have great transport connections!
Metro: lines 1, 2 and 3 (Sol stop);
Several buses and trains too.

💶 Average rental price : € 617

Plaza Mayor of Madrid, in the Sol district

3. Palace

The Palacio neighborhood is right next to the Sun, that is, in the city center. Like its neighbor, it offers some of Madrid’s most popular attractions, such as the colorful Mercado de San Miguel, where you can taste traditional tapas at reasonable prices.

The Palace is one of the places in the city that receives the most tourists, so you have the opportunity to make friends with people from different parts of the world! Other attractions in this neighborhood are the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral. It is a neighborhood full of buildings that are significant to the city’s history.

🏘️ The neighborhood :
As it is a very central place (besides being really one of the best neighborhoods in Madrid), there are students and tourists from all over the world at the Palacio.

💙 You will fall in love with :
The culture, the people and definitely the food!

Interessantes Interesting points :
The colorful Mercado de San Miguel, the Royal Palace and the Cathedral of Almudena. Be sure to check out the Sabatini Gardens, outside the Royal Palace!

🚌 Transportation :
As with other neighborhoods, you can walk almost anywhere from the Palace. If you are not in the mood to walk, you can use as transportation:
Metro: line 5 (stop: Opera / direction: Casa de Campo)
Alternatively, you can also take a bus (WiFi) or train.

💶 Average rental price : € 662

Catedral de la Almudena, in the Palacio neighborhood