Experience in Madrid, Spain by cayetana

What is it like to live in Madrid? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

It happens to be that Madrid is the city where I was born. Madrid is a very busy city, specially in the center and all the area nearby, but it is quite a big city so you can always find places to relax and be in peace. It offers a big variation of places, people, etc.. and in just a few minutes driving you can be in direct contact with nature. La Sierra de Madrid is a wonderful place to see and spend a day or couple os days even better, its less than an hour away from the city, and in winter you can also go skiing to Valdeski. Living in Madrid is really relax, people always go for tapas, the lunch and dinner are pretty late, compared to almost all the rest of the countries, which in my opinion is much better. People are mostly very open, and friendly, but of course not everyone is like that. For clothing is also very nice, good shops and prices :) but in my feeling Madrid is a pretty conservative city in clothing terms, people do not dare to wear different styles. If you go to Madrid you should take into consideration that you will have to wait longer in bars, restaurants to get your food, bill you will get used to it :). I will fully recommend Madrid as city to live, you will get to know the spanish culture in-deep because Madrid is still a really spanish city and you will find many things to do everyday and places to go!

What is the student lifestyle like in Madrid?

The student life in Madrid is amazing!! Tons of bars, clubs, pubs.. to go out and enjoy the Madrid night life. Alcohol is pretty cheap, and as en erasmus student you will find many erasmus parties, to get to know the other expats.

How much does it cost to live in Madrid?

Madrid is not a really expensive city. You can find rooms in the centre os Madrid for 300-400 euros/month in average. Supermarkets are cheap and very variated and excellent quality. To go out is a bit more expensive, the entrance in good clubs is around 10-15 euros including a drink. Drinks in clubs vary depending on the drink but is quite expensive. Of course u can always go to places with free entrance and cheap drinks. Thats the good thing, depends on your budget you can decide, but on things is for sure, you will have an amazing night anyway.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Madrid? Is there any advice you can give?

Nowadays is not very hard, there are many websites and agencies. A good website: idealista.com

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

As I said before, the food is really good, in supermarkets and bars, restaurants... and good prices. You can not leave Madrid with out trying patatas bravas, pan tomaca, tortilla Española, many different tapas, and many other dishes!! for me morcilla is excellent but not everyone likes it.

What places would you recommend visiting in Madrid?

Plaza de sol, Gran via, Plaza mayor, El retiro, Paseo del Prado, Museo del Prado, Jardin Botanico, Plaza de España, Templo de Debod, Santiago Bernabeu, Nuevos ministerios,... and of course cities next to Madrid such as Toledo, Slamanaca, Segovia, as well as the Mountains, Navacerrada, cotos, La pinilla....

Is it good to eat out in Madrid? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

with friends is nice to go to places like La Sureña, Montaditos, Lizarran, which are cheap and typical spanish food but also to any of the local bars in your neighborhood. For other kind of food I recommend La Tagliatella for italian food, there are also many chinese...

Is the nightlife good in Madrid? Where is good to go?

As I mentioned before the nightlife is amazing! good clubs: Sala Marco Aldani most commonly known as Sala Heineken, Macumba, Fabriek... and many small clubs al around the centre.

What advice would you give future students heading to Madrid?

My advice will be to enjoy as much as possible, erasmus experience is only once in live and for me is seriously the most amazing experience where you will get to know people all around the world, a new culture and way of living, and if you are shy try to leave it behind and just be optimist and happy. Do not forget to be patient, you will be in Spain ;)