Erasmus Experience in Madrid, Spain by Grace

Why did you choose to go to Madrid, Spain?

I didn't originally choose, this was simply where my best offer of work was given to me.

What is the student lifestyle like in Madrid?

The student lifestyle is not a typical Erasmus experience like you would find in other smaller Spanish university cities like Salamanca or Almeria. Because it is a large city you are not just going to bump into your Erasmus friends when you go out as well as the fact that there isn't just one particular area where students live as some of the universities are actually located outside of the centre. However this is what makes it great - Spanish people are super friendly and it's so easy to immerse yourself into the culture. Madrid always has a buzz about it and it's genuinely exciting to live there - going out in the bars, although it's a big city, can feel intimate and friendly as they tend to be small and assigned to certain areas.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Madrid to other students?

I would recommend the city highly, however, I wasn't studying so can't answer for the university.

What is the food like?

The food is one of, if not the, best thing about Madrid. It is obviously dominated by the typical Spanish tapas culture: think Spanish ham, cheese, seafood, Spanish omelette, croquetas.... but then there are so many different places to eat from different cultures as well. In Lavapies for example you can find dozens of fantastic north African and Indian restaurants. You can also find sushi, Italian food, Venezuelan, Mexican.... There is nothing you can't eat in Madrid.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Madrid?

No - I contacted the owner directly through Easypiso.

How much does it cost to live in Madrid?

To say it's a capital city the rent is ridiculously cheap. I had friends who were staying 5 mins from Plaza de Sol (THE centre of Madrid) and were paying 330 euros a month for a single bedroom. I paid 100 more a month for a more modern apartment in La Latina, 15 mins walking from Plaza de Sol.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Madrid from your city?

There are regular flights directly from Manchester to Madrid. They were really cheap as well.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Madrid?

Malasaña without a doubt - a kind of hipster/arty area full of smallish bars in cobbled back streets. At night the streets are full of people standing outside and it's really atmospheric and very Spanish feeling. Chueca, it's a neighbourhood and the gay area, has a similar vibe but with gay bars and is super fun too.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Madrid in the future?

If you are starting to study in September get there earlier - apartments go really fast once the students start to arrive - I would recommend mid august to have a decent choice in accommodation and not have to settle for somewhere not so good.