Guide · Neighbourhoods
The best neighbourhoods to live in Madrid
There is no single best neighbourhood in Madrid: there is the best one for you. We compare 16 areas where we have apartments — what they are like, who they suit, how to get around and what they cost.
Your situation
Which neighbourhood suits you
Sol and the CentrePalacio, Ópera and La LatinaLiterary Quarter (Las Letras)
Chamartín and Avenida de AméricaTetuán and the CastellanaSalamanca districtAirport area (Rejas)
At a glance
The 16 neighbourhoods compared
| Neighbourhood | Best for | A whole month for two |
|---|---|---|
| Sol and the Centre | Walk everywhere · Nightlife · Sightseeing | €2,810 – €4,630 |
| Palacio, Ópera and La Latina | History · Tapas · Central | €2,870 – €4,970 |
| Lavapiés | Creative · Good value · Central | €2,600 – €4,090 |
| Literary Quarter (Las Letras) | Culture · Museums · Central | €2,690 – €4,240 |
| Chueca and Malasaña | Atmosphere · Restaurants · Central | €3,280 – €4,320 |
| Chamberí | Local life · Families · Students | €3,020 – €4,200 |
| Argüelles, Moncloa and Plaza de España | Students · Sunsets · Green spaces | €2,520 – €3,980 |
| Retiro | Park · Families · Quiet | €2,840 – €4,420 |
| Salamanca district | Elegant · Shopping · Safe | €3,530 – €5,500 |
| Arganzuela and Madrid Río | Good value · Green spaces · Quiet | €2,370 – €3,500 |
| Chamartín and Avenida de América | Business · Airport · IFEMA | €2,600 – €4,230 |
| Tetuán and the Castellana | Business · Space · Castellana | €4,600 – €6,550 |
| Airport area (Rejas) | Airport · Pool · Parking | €2,380 – €3,810 |
| Usera | Best price · Authentic · Madrid Río | €1,710 – €2,690 |
| Vallecas | Best price · Local · Line 1 | €1,770 – €2,700 |
| Villaverde | Best price · Work · Quiet | €2,110 – €3,450 |
Prices for two people, from cheapest to most expensive month, from our price guide.
Neighbourhood by neighbourhood
What each neighbourhood is like
01Sol and the Centre
€2,810from, a whole month
The heart of Madrid: everything on foot, from Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor, Gran Vía and the Royal Palace.
- Best for
- First time in Madrid, stays where you want to make the most of every minute
- Atmosphere
- Lively day and night; choose an inner-facing or well-insulated flat if you are a light sleeper
- Getting around
- Sol (lines 1, 2 and 3) and Cercanías trains; almost everything is walkable
- Per night
- €130 – €210 · cheapest month: August
02Palacio, Ópera and La Latina
€2,870from, a whole month
Habsburg Madrid: the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, the tapas bars of Cava Baja and the Sunday Rastro market.
- Best for
- Anyone looking for a Madrid steeped in history and good food, right in the centre but calmer than Sol
- Atmosphere
- Stately and monumental around Ópera; traditional and lively in La Latina
- Getting around
- Ópera (lines 2 and 5), La Latina (5) and Tirso de Molina (1)
- Per night
- €110 – €190 · cheapest month: August
03Lavapiés
€2,600from, a whole month
Madrid’s most diverse and creative neighbourhood: independent theatres, the Reina Sofía, food from half the world and lots of street life.
- Best for
- Young people, creative profiles and anyone who wants to live centrally for less
- Atmosphere
- Multicultural, alternative and very local; sloping streets and plenty of life
- Getting around
- Lavapiés (3), Embajadores (3 and 5) and Antón Martín (1); Atocha within walking distance
- Per night
- €100 – €170 · cheapest month: August
04Literary Quarter (Las Letras)
€2,690from, a whole month
Between Plaza de Santa Ana and Paseo del Prado: Cervantes’ Madrid, with the Prado, the Thyssen and Retiro Park a few minutes away.
- Best for
- Culture lovers and anyone who wants to be central with a slightly calmer feel
- Atmosphere
- Literary, with bookshops, theatres and vermouth bars; lively on Calle Huertas at night
- Getting around
- Antón Martín (1), Sevilla (2) and Sol; Atocha nearby
- Per night
- €110 – €140 · cheapest month: August
05Chueca and Malasaña
€3,280from, a whole month
Madrid’s two liveliest neighbourhoods: terraces, cafés to work from, design shops and life until late.
- Best for
- Anyone who wants to go out, meet people and have all the fun on the doorstep
- Atmosphere
- Open, diverse and buzzing at night; the side streets are quieter
- Getting around
- Chueca (5), Tribunal (1 and 10), Gran Vía (1 and 5) and Noviciado (2)
- Per night
- €110 – €180 · cheapest month: August
06Chamberí
€3,020from, a whole month
Many Madrileños’ favourite place to live: markets, terraces, tree-lined streets and a safe, calm atmosphere.
- Best for
- Families, Ciudad Universitaria students and anyone who wants to live like a local
- Atmosphere
- Residential, traditional and elegant; Calle Ponzano is one of the best tapas routes in town
- Getting around
- Excellent links: Bilbao, Quevedo, Iglesia, Ríos Rosas, Islas Filipinas and Moncloa
- Per night
- €140 – €190 · cheapest month: July
Our advice
Location matters more than square metres
In Madrid, being five minutes from the metro changes your day more than an extra room. Before choosing, look at where you will go most often — the office, the faculty, the hospital — and choose a neighbourhood with a direct line.
07Argüelles, Moncloa and Plaza de España
€2,520from, a whole month
Between the Temple of Debod, Parque del Oeste and Ciudad Universitaria, with Gran Vía and the Royal Palace a stroll away.
- Best for
- Students, lecturers and researchers, and anyone who wants to be near the centre with green spaces
- Atmosphere
- University and residential feel, with terraces and Madrid’s best sunsets at the Temple of Debod
- Getting around
- Argüelles (3, 4 and 6), Moncloa (3 and 6), Plaza de España (2, 3 and 10) and Ventura Rodríguez (3)
- Per night
- €100 – €160 · cheapest month: August
08Retiro
€2,840from, a whole month
Living by Madrid’s great park: walks, outdoor sport and the big museums within a stroll.
- Best for
- Families, quiet stays and anyone who wants an elegant area without the bustle of the centre
- Atmosphere
- Residential, safe and very green; close to Atocha and Puerta de Alcalá
- Getting around
- Ibiza (9), Sainz de Baranda (6 and 9), Pacífico (1 and 6) and Retiro (2)
- Per night
- €110 – €180 · cheapest month: August
09Salamanca district
€3,530from, a whole month
Madrid at its most elegant: the “Golden Mile” of Calle Serrano, wide tree-lined streets, good restaurants and Retiro Park a stroll away.
- Best for
- Anyone looking for an elegant, quiet area with everything close by; business trips and families
- Atmosphere
- Stately, upmarket and very safe; quiet at night
- Getting around
- Serrano and Velázquez (4), Núñez de Balboa (5 and 9), Goya (2 and 4) and Manuel Becerra (2 and 6)
- Per night
- €140 – €230 · cheapest month: August
10Arganzuela and Madrid Río
€2,370from, a whole month
Next to Madrid Río, the riverside park along the Manzanares: peace, green spaces and the centre a few stops away.
- Best for
- Anyone looking for calm and good value, runners and families; very handy if you arrive by high-speed train at Atocha
- Atmosphere
- Residential and quiet; Matadero and the Planetarium for culture
- Getting around
- Delicias (3), Legazpi (3 and 6), Palos de la Frontera (3) and Atocha station
- Per night
- €90 – €140 · cheapest month: August
11Chamartín and Avenida de América
€2,600from, a whole month
A residential and business area next to the Salamanca district, with direct links to the airport and IFEMA.
- Best for
- Business trips, trade fairs at IFEMA and anyone travelling to and from the airport
- Atmosphere
- Residential, orderly and with plenty of local shops in Prosperidad
- Getting around
- Avenida de América (4, 6, 7 and 9), Cartagena (7) and Prosperidad (4); direct airport bus
- Per night
- €100 – €170 · cheapest month: August
12Tetuán and the Castellana
€4,600from, a whole month
Next to Paseo de la Castellana and AZCA, Madrid’s financial district; our most spacious apartments are here.
- Best for
- Companies, work teams and families who need space
- Atmosphere
- Modern and corporate on the Castellana; very local in the streets of Tetuán
- Getting around
- Tetuán (1), Cuzco (10) and Santiago Bernabéu (10); Cercanías trains at Nuevos Ministerios
- Per night
- €160 – €260 · cheapest month: December
13Airport area (Rejas)
€2,380from, a whole month
Next to Barajas Airport and the Plenilunio shopping centre, in complexes with a pool, a gym and, in most cases, a parking space.
- Best for
- Flight crews, layovers, business trips near the airport or IFEMA, and anyone arriving by car
- Atmosphere
- Residential and quiet, with all the shopping centre’s services at hand
- Getting around
- About 15 minutes by car from the airport and IFEMA; getting around by car is easiest
- Per night
- €90 – €160 · cheapest month: February
14Usera
€1,710from, a whole month
Across Madrid Río, home to the city’s most authentic Chinatown and some of the lowest prices.
- Best for
- Tight budgets and anyone who wants authentic Madrid a few stops from the centre
- Atmosphere
- Working-class and multicultural, with lots of local life
- Getting around
- Usera (6), Plaza Elíptica (6 and 11) and Almendrales (3)
- Per night
- €70 – €110 · cheapest month: August
15Vallecas
€1,770from, a whole month
One of Madrid’s neighbourhoods with the most character, with metro line 1 straight to Sol and very competitive prices.
- Best for
- Tight budgets and anyone who prefers a real neighbourhood to a tourist area
- Atmosphere
- Working-class, proud of its identity, with Tío Pío park and its views
- Getting around
- Nueva Numancia, Portazgo and Buenos Aires (line 1, straight to Sol and Gran Vía)
- Per night
- €70 – €110 · cheapest month: August
16Villaverde
€2,110from, a whole month
A practical, affordable residential area in the south, well connected to 12 de Octubre Hospital and the business parks.
- Best for
- People working in south Madrid, companions at 12 de Octubre and tight budgets
- Atmosphere
- Quiet and practical, with local shops and supermarkets close by
- Getting around
- Villaverde Bajo-Cruce and San Cristóbal (3) and Cercanías at Villaverde Bajo
- Per night
- €80 – €140 · cheapest month: August
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the best neighbourhood to live in Madrid?
It depends on what you are looking for. To walk everywhere: Sol, Palacio or the Literary Quarter. For a calm, local feel: Chamberí or Retiro. For nightlife: Chueca and Malasaña. For value: Arganzuela, Usera or Vallecas.
Which is the safest neighbourhood in Madrid?
Madrid is a safe city overall. Chamberí, Retiro, Salamanca and Chamartín are especially calm residential areas. In busy central areas such as Sol, just take the usual care with pickpockets.
Which neighbourhood is cheapest for a monthly stay?
In our data, Usera, Puente de Vallecas and Villaverde are the cheapest, with whole months from around €1,700–2,100 for two. Arganzuela offers a good balance between price and proximity to the centre.
Where should I stay if I am coming to Madrid for work?
Chamartín and Avenida de América for the airport and IFEMA, Tetuán and the Castellana for offices, and Arganzuela if you arrive by train at Atocha. All our apartments have fibre wifi and many have a work area.
Do I need a car in Madrid?
No. Madrid has one of the best metro networks in Europe and all the neighbourhoods in this guide have a station a few minutes’ walk away. If you come by car, look for apartments with parking.
Find your apartment in Madrid
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Photo credits
- Barrio de Salamanca: original photo by Lourdes Cardenal / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0. AI-retouched image; the changes do not imply endorsement by the author.
- Argüelles, Moncloa y Plaza de España: original photo by Adrian Diez / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0. AI-retouched image; the changes do not imply endorsement by the author.
- Airport area: original photo by Bene Riobó / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0. AI-retouched image; the changes do not imply endorsement by the author.
- Barrio de las Letras: original photo by Simon Burchell / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0. AI-retouched image; the changes do not imply endorsement by the author.
- Arganzuela: original photo by Fred Romero / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0. AI-retouched image; the changes do not imply endorsement by the author.
- Usera: original photo by Nicolas Vigier / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0. AI-retouched image; the changes do not imply endorsement by the author.
- Vallecas: original photo by Javier Perez Montes / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0. AI-retouched image; the changes do not imply endorsement by the author.
- Villaverde: original photo by Zarateman / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0. AI-retouched image; the changes do not imply endorsement by the author.
Other photos: Pexels and Pixabay (free licence) and Only Charming.