My Erasmus Experience in Madrid, Spain.

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

I love living in Madrid, it is a beautiful city with a lot of atmosphere and lots of gorgeous corners to walk through and to discover the history.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Madrid?

The student lifestyle is brutal in Madrid. The partying and the climate contribute to this; there are many exchange students and so many of the bars offer "Happy Hour", offers of shots, free entry before a certain time, themed parties, etc.

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How much does it cost to live in Madrid?

Although Madrid may seem like an expensive to begin with, it is not so bad if you compare it with the other most-visited European capitals. In any case, anything that is away from the center lowers the cost of living, both in terms of accommodation and general shopping. Living in the suburbs may be the best option as the public transport network works well and people under 26 years old have a monthly transport card that only costs 20 euros per month and allows us to move throughout the community without restrictions by areas.

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How's the country's food? What are your favorite dishes?

Spain is famous for its gastronomy and it is not surprising that we have great quality products and a lot of variety; it's not difficult to find foods that taste good. Here, we are still very far away from precooked food; although it is gaining popularity little by little. For comfort reasons, it is difficult to resist a home-cooked meal. But, in addition to this, here we have an infinity of desserts and sweets, also cooked in a traditional way, which are delicious.

My favourite dish is the Valencian paella but, whenever friends come to visit, I take them to a bar in the Plaza Mayor to eat the typical sandwiches with fried squid and, of course, we go for tapas. Tapas is a great way to try different products while drinking a wine or a fresh beer. The calamari sandwiches became a culinary symbol of the Plaza Mayor during the mid-seventies.

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What places do you recommend to visit in Madrid?

Visiting the centre is essential: the popular Plaza Mayor; Plaza de San Miguel and, from there, one of the most delightful streets in Madrid: the Cava Baja; the Puerta del Sol and the well-known "Oso y madroño" as well as the clock of the old Royal Post Office; the emblematic building of the Royal Theatre; the Plaza de Oriente, the Palace and its gardens; Gran Vía street, the most visited in Madrid, and the Metropolis building, at number 39.

From the Gran Vía, I recommend not to miss Chueca too, in addition to going for drinks, see the House of the Seven Chimneys, the Museum of Romanticism, or some food markets, very on-trend nowadays.

The House of Seven Chimneys from the south-east angle. source

And, of course, you have to pass through the Fuente de la Cibeles and the Puerta de Alcalá. We also shouldn't forget neighbourhoods such as Malasaña (the most alternative in Madrid according to some people), Lavapiés and La Latina.

It is also a must to visit different museums such as the National Archaeological Museum, free on Sunday mornings, or the Lázaro Galdiano, where the first Friday of every month entrance is free in the afternoon. And you must go to Paseo del Prado to visit the most famous museums: the Prado, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Another must-see is Madrid's best-known flea market, the Rastro. It is in the neighbourhood of La Latina, in a place with an incredible atmosphere, not only for the shopping but also due to the number of bars in the area. Prado Museum:

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And what about eating in Madrid? Can you tell us your favourite places?

As for my favourite restaurants, I like Tommy Mel´s, Steakburger Fuencarral and Foster´s Hollywood. Although there are so many places to choose from, with different offers, I am 100% pro-hamburgers.

Where do you recommend to go out in Madrid?

The main party areas are: Moncloa, Argüelles, Chueca, Malasaña and Huertas. As for clubs, some of my favourites are: Copernicus, Mitty, Kapital, Penelope, Star Coyote, Moon, Gotham, Mon, New Garamond, Bowi, La Nuit or Joy Eslava. Front of Joy Eslava's:

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