Experience in Madrid, Spain by Iliana

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

Living in Madrid was the best experience of my life! The weather is very good, as it should be in every season of the year, with no humidity or sudden and unpredictable changes. There are many opportunities for entertainment, for every taste and age, the public transport is good enough (I used only metro but it was clean, with frequent stops and no long delays or dangerous incidents) and the prices vary, according to the area you live or the places you decide to eat, drink, have fun etc. For example, the touristic places and the places in the centre are kind of expensive but if you decide to explore the city you can find cheap and amazing places! The food is based on the Mediterranean cuisine, it contains a lot of rice, chicken, vegetables and sea food. You will never feel hungry in Madrid, since there are a lot of tapas bar, the traditional bars which offer (not for free most of the times) food in smaller or bigger portions and the supermarkets are very cheap (not Corte Inglés, Dia for example). As far as the culture is concerned, there are plenty of museums, festivals, parks and bars with live music or flamenco shows etc. so you will never run out of choices for cultural activities. I would definitely recommend Madrid for studies and for work, you will love the atmosphere, the weather, the people, the food, the entertainment and the whole feeling of the city!

What is the student lifestyle like in Madrid?

Students have the time of their life in Madrid! There a lot of clubs, bars, pubs, cheap tapas bars, parks for picnic, discounts for museums and cultural activities and the university where I studied (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) offers a lot of choices for getting to know each other and spend time with the students. The only problem is that it is a big city and it requires some time to get from one place to other by metro or by bus because usually the distances can't be walked, but it depends on the place where you are going to rent a room.

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How much does it cost to live in Madrid?

From my experience I would say that 600-700 euros are enough per month. Normally the prices for a room are between 300-450 euros, the most expensive are those who are in the centre but you could rent also in an other area, for example I rented a room in Delicias and it cost me around 320-330 per month including bills. So the only expensive thing you have to face in Madrid is the renting. The monthly card for students costs 35 euros and the supermarket is very cheap, except for Corte Inglés which is expensive. The bars and the food can be cheap if you find the right places exploring the city and going to places where the locals eat and have fun.

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

It is difficult to find accommodation in Madrid if you are not there, so my advice is to find a few apartments that interest you from the Internet before going there and arrange a meeting with the owners when you get there.

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

The food in Madrid is great! But you have to find the right places so that you don't pay too much. My favourite dish is paella with seafood and the traditional churros with chocolate, for dessert! You can also choose between a grand variety of bocadillos, small sandwiches with many things, like meat, sea fod etc.

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What places would you recommend visiting in Madrid?

My favourite place in Madrid is Retiro park, it is close to the centre, is green, full of young people and families. So for me it is the ideal place for hanging around, have a picnic, ride a bike, go for a walk, jogging, studying etc. Also, some nice neighbourhoods for students are Lavapiés, Malasaña and La Latina, they are full of student bars, tapas places and young people. Also, don't forget to enjoy the view from the terrace of Círculo de Bellas Artes building, close to Cibeles Palace.

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

Well, I didn't eat out very often but when I did it was usually in some tapas bar in Lavapies or Malasaña district.

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

Nightlife in Madrid is amazing! Normally for Erasmus students the entrance to the clubs are for free, there are numerous bars with Latin music, tapas bars, pubs etc., so you won´t have any problem choosing what is suitable for you.

What advice would you give future students heading to Madrid?

I would advise them to read and search a lot of things before going to Madrid and when they arrive there to explore the city, have contacts with other students. Finally, you should learn Spanish for sure because they don´t speak English. But don´t worry because they are always willing to help you even if they don´t know much English.

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