My Experience in Madrid, Spain - by Karla

What's it like living in Madrid? Would you recommend it?

Madrid is a great place to live. There are people from all corners of the globe, and lots of culture, theatres, museums, etc.

I would recommend Madrid as it's a lively place, the people are friendly and pleasant, though of course not everyone.

The weather is also always great there, it's sunny most days and the sky is almost always blue. There are days when it rains of course, but they seem to be few and far between. Madrid is a dry city, so when it's cold or it rains, you've just got to wrap up well.

What's the student life like in Madrid?

The student atmosphere in Madrid is great since it's the Spanish capital. Lots of people from across Spain come here to study. This is great as it means you meet people from all different places, and learn lots.

The best area to live in if you're a student in Madrid is the Ciudad Universitaria (University City), since this is where the majority of student residences are or Colegios Mayores Universitarios.

Madrid also has loads of party events on for students, such as 'El fiestón canario' and loads more clubs. If you're not a fan of clubbing however, there are also loads of places you can find quieter bars in the city. These are Malasaña and Lavapies, among others.

How expensive is living in Madrid?

Living in Madrid is a bit expensive, since the rent in the residences, flats and Colegios Mayores is high. A flat and a residence cost about 200 euros a month, which includes food, clothes washing, etc. A Colegio Mayor costs approximately 1, 000 euros a month, but this usually includes everything.

Going out in Madrid is expensive, as you have to pay to get into clubs, and half pints are usually around seven euros. People tend to pre-drink before they go out because of this.

The public transport in Madrid is also pretty expensive, but this depends on how frequently you use it. There are monthly and yearly tickets, which are better value for money. Taxi prices seem pretty cheap to me.

And finally, if you're looking to eat out here, there's an endless amount of places: both cheap and expensive.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Madrid? Do you have any flat-hunting tips?

Finding somewhere to live in Madrid isn't hard, since there are so many places available. As I've said before, flats and residences cost around 300 euros a month but this does include your food and washing facilities. I think the best option is to stay in a Colegio Mayor Universitario since though you pay more, you have everything you need provided for you, and cultural trips are usually organised, such as visits from celebrities, museum visits, extracurricular activities...

What's Spanish food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Spanish food is mainly what you'd call Mediterranean food, which is based on cooking with oil. You usually eat a starter, a main meal and a dessert. For dinner, you usually eat two courses too, and breakfast depends on an individual person's habits. It's like this in Madrid too.

What places do you recommend visiting in Madrid?

I recommend visiting all of Madrid city centre, since although it's big, you can see all of it in time. Madrid is interesting as it has so many buildings and streets, generally lots of architecture too, dedicated to Spanish history.

I recommend visiting the surrounding towns too, which are a huge contract with the urban centre which is Madrid.

What about eating out in Madrid? What are your favourite places?

There are loads of places to eat out in the city. The best-known are Vips, Ginos, Tommy Mel's, Rodilla, Burger King, KFC, Mc Donald's... all these are chains however and therefore aren't that interesting to me. A place that's worth a visit is 'Madrid Madriz' on Fuencarral Street, which serves Spanish food, 'La vengaza de Malinche' on Los Jardines Street, an authentic Mexican restaurant perpendicular to Montera Street and parallel to Gran Via, 'Barandales' at Menorca Street 31, near Ibiza metro station and serving Leonese food...

What are the best places for partying in Madrid?

There's everything here, depending on what suits you best. There are clubs are bar areas. I recommend Malasaña and Lavapies districts, as they both offer a really great atmosphere.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Madrid?

If anyone has any questions, they can contact me on here or by sending an email to [email protected]. I live in Madrid and will help you with anything I can.