Mariana's Experience in Madrid, Spain

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What appeals to you about living in Madrid? Do you recommend it? What is it like?

Living in the centre of Madrid is one of the best things that you can do. Everything is just a short walking distance away and it's very easy to get around to any other part of the city on public transport. The people are very friendly, and climate in both spring and autumn is exceptional.

What is student life like in Madrid?

The atmosphere is generally good. Something that I have learnt as a student here is that people are pretty drastically divided into their "groups". In saying this, I mean that the people from Madrid stick with other people from Madrid, the Erasmus students with other Erasmus students, and the people from the provinces with other provincial folk, etc. Nevertheless, between all of these groups, the camaraderie is really good, and this is something that I have noticed in general; I don't want to say that this is the case everywhere and at all universities, though.

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How much does it cost to live in Madrid?

Rooms in Madrid compared to those in other parts of the world are very cheap, although, to us, they don't seem like it. A 'good' room costs around 300€ to 350€ a month (although, you can find cheaper ones with less mod cons). Food is relatively cheap if you eat at home and, even still, if you go out, as you can find decent menus for 12€ or by going to 100 Montaditos, for example, you can eat for just 4€ on Mondays and Wednesdays. There are places with delicious, yet expensive, food, and others that are also good and are well-priced. Madrid is a place that is suitable for all budgets and tastes.

With regards to nightlife, there are is an endless amount of options, just like there is for eating out: there is something for everyone. You can go out with just 15€ in your pocket and buy drinks all night going from bar to bar, or finding a free bar in a pub for 8€, and you can find entry tickets to nightclubs from 5€ to 50€.

The best thing about Madrid is that you don't need lots of money to ensure that you can make plans on any given day of the year. There are parks, lookouts, terraces, lakes, and little markets; any place is good for having a wander around.

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Was it difficult for you to find accommodation in Madrid? Can you give any advice about this?

The best thing to do when it comes to searching for accommodation in Madrid is to give it time and energy. Look on all of the housing websites, on all of the forums, and look at all of the options, as there are thousands. Also, at some universities in the outskirts, they offer flats and residences to their students, although I 1000% recommend living in a shared flat in the city centre: the more rooms and people there are, the better. Your life in the city will be shaped by your flatmates during the first few months there (they will be equally as lost as you) and, although you will find friends at university, your flatmates will still be your little, big family.

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

The food is great, you can find pretty much anything anywhere. You have to try everything: Serrano ham, tortilla, empanadas, paella (although it's better in Valencia), but especially 'cocido madrileño' in winter.

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Which places do you recommend visiting in Madrid?

• Templo de Debod during sunset
• Parque del Oeste
• Buen Retiro Park
• Gran Vía
• Sol
• Go shopping on Calle Fuencarral
• El Rastro on Sundays (it's best to go earlier in the morning)
• Teleférico de Madrid to see the city from up above
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• The lookout at the Palacio de Correos
• Enjoy the sunset in front of the Royal Palace of Madrid
• Spend a night in the bars in the Malasaña neighbourhood and another in the Huertas neighbourhood (this is something that the Erasmus students do more than others)

And, if you have the luxury of being able to travel to the city's outskirts, you have to visit the surrounding little towns like Toledo and Ávila, as well as spending a day in the countryside...

Which places do you recommend for nightlife in Madrid?

I recommend going to Huertas, the bars in Moncloa and Malasaña (these are what I like the most). Chueca has a really fun nightlife scene if you go out with people you know and have fun with. Madrid has every kind of nightclub, so there is something for everyone suiting all budgets. Cheaper places, located in the Orense neighbourhood, include: La Nuit, Rococó, Maná, Nells, and Badoo (costing between 10€ and 15€ for entry and a drink). If you fancy a crazier kind of night, Kapital is a great option (18€-20€ for entry and a drink): the club has several floors with different genres of music, and at the top of it all, a terrace with sofas and tables... you can even eat a slice of pizza or a burger if you get hungry during the night. Gabana is another nightclub that is really good, but it is very fancy - you'll need to put high heels and a dress on to go there - and I'd say that it's one of the most expensive places you could go to. Sala Marco Aldani is more casual, with both techno music (in one room) and reggaeton and chart music (in a different room), but it makes for a fun night and costs between 18€ and 20€ (entry and drink). With this particular club, however, you have to look at which event is being held on that day because the music and vibe changes completely from one night to the next. If you want a really intense night out, Fabrik is the place to go. Entry with one drink comes to a cost of 20€ to 25€ (sometimes it's even more). Admittedly, it's far from the city centre and is a pain to get there on public transport, but it is really incredible when you are finally there.

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Is there any advice that you want to give to future students in Madrid?

Move into a flat with lots of people and a good atmosphere if you are only going to be there for one year. If it's your first year of university, you should live in a student residence: you will make countless friends, and then later on, you will be able to move into a flat together. Hold onto both the good and funny moments, and eliminate any bad vibes as best as you can. Go out, go out a lot, and enjoy life in the city.

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