You know Madrid is Spain’s capital. Maybe you’ve seen photos of the Royal Palace, Retiro Park, or plates of churros con chocolate.
But what is it actually like to study abroad in Madrid?
Your study abroad experience is about more than the places you visit. It includes the classes you’ll be taking, moments spent navigating public transportation, grocery shopping, meeting new people, and connecting with the community.
While it may feel unfamiliar at first, little by little, one of Europe’s biggest cities can start to feel a lot more like home.
Here’s what you should know about student life in Madrid before you study abroad.
What Is Student Life Like in Madrid?
Madrid gives you the energy of a major European capital with plenty of opportunities to design your own routine around your interests and personal preferences.
A typical week could include classes, studying at a café, walking through Retiro Park, checking out a museum, grabbing tapas with friends, or exploring a neighborhood you haven’t visited yet.
And then there are the everyday things: figuring out your commute, exploring the aisles of your neighborhood grocery store, and finding your favorite spot to order delicious patatas bravas. Once you’ve learned how to get around, where to eat, and become familiar with the local rhythm of life in Madrid, a certain change takes place. You may find yourself feeling less like that nervous visitor who arrived at the beginning of the program, and more like a confident local who understands the culture.
Do You Need to Speak Spanish to Study Abroad in Madrid?
No. You don’t have to speak fluent Spanish to study abroad in Madrid. Depending on your preference and the AIFS Abroad program you choose, courses may be taught in English or Spanish. Universidad Nebrija, for example, offers coursework in both languages.
But even if your classes are taught in English, living in Madrid gives you opportunities to hear and use Spanish every day.
Knowing a few basics can help you feel more confident when you’re out and about and being willing to try matters more than speaking perfectly every time.
What Can You Study in Madrid?
A lot more than just Spanish! Depending on your program, Madrid offers opportunities across subjects including business, economics, STEM, engineering, international studies, social sciences, humanities, and Spanish language and culture.
It helps to start with your academic plan and determine which requirements you still need. Then look for courses that could earn you major, minor, general education, or elective credits. (You’re welcome to explore new subjects that interest you, too!)
Once you have a better understanding of what requirements you need to fulfill, you can find a study abroad program in Madrid that meets both your personal and academic goals.
Is Madrid Easy for Students to Get Around?
Living in Madrid provides plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the city’s excellent public transportation.
Madrid’s extensive Metro and bus systems make it possible to get around without relying on a car, and walking is one of the best ways to discover what makes individual neighborhoods feel different.
While your first few trips may require some extra attention, it won’t be long until you’re getting around the city like a local.
What Do Students Do in Madrid Outside of Class?
There’s no end of things to do and explore in Madrid. You can browse the gardens of Jardín del Capricho, wander through the city’s multicultural neighborhoods, explore local markets, visit renowned museums, meet friends for tapas, watch fútbol, enjoy live music, and much more! With an endless array of options, you can dive deep into lifelong passions or drift through the streets until something unexpected captures your attention.
Madrid also has a famously late schedule, so don’t be surprised if dinner happens much later than you’re used to!
Remember: you don’t have to experience everything immediately. Give yourself time to find the places you actually want to return to—when you study abroad in Madrid (rather than just visiting as a tourist), you won’t feel so rushed to do it all at once.
What’s the Food Like in Madrid?
Food can become one of the easiest (and most delicious!) ways to experience Spanish culture.
In Spain’s capital, you’ll find everything from tapas and tortilla española to bocadillos de calamares, croquetas, and churros con chocolate, in addition to restaurants representing cuisines from around the world.
Part of living abroad is figuring out what you like—and one of the best ways to do it is by trying new things. Your new favorite snack could be sweet manolitos from a neighborhood bakery or savory queso manchego enjoyed with steaming breadsticks and weekend drinks.
Studying abroad in Madrid is a chance to discover the city’s full cultural menu, allowing you to treat that delicious dessert or last tapas not as an indulgence—but an authentic cultural experience.
Can You Travel While Studying Abroad in Madrid?
Yes, you can travel while studying abroad in Madrid. In fact, the city’s location in the center of Spain makes exploring especially convenient.
Depending on your program and schedule, you may have opportunities to visit other parts of Spain or travel elsewhere in Europe. For example, you can take a train from Madrid and be in Barcelona, Granada, or Seville in just a few hours. You can also visit neighboring Portugal and France by train or via a short flight. Traveling throughout Europe (and even to nearby Morocco in North Africa) is surprisingly easy when you’re based in Spain’s well-connected capital.
But one of our biggest Madrid study abroad tips is simple: leave yourself time for Madrid, too.
It’s easy to spend every free weekend chasing another destination. Staying local gives you time to explore neighborhoods you haven’t seen, revisit favorite places, and experience more of the city beyond the major attractions. Keep in mind that studying abroad isn’t about crossing out destinations on a checklist—the most impactful experiences are often those that prioritize genuine cultural immersion in your host city.
So, if you study abroad in Madrid, take advantage of the opportunity to travel—just don’t let it take away from the experience of living in Spain’s capital!
What’s It Like Studying Spanish in Madrid?
If improving your Spanish is one of your goals, living in Madrid provides you the language immersion you need to really “elevar el nivel” of your Spanish language skills!. Studying the language in the classroom is one thing, but navigating Spain’s capital on a daily basis is a unique opportunity to accelerate your learning in new ways. For example, AIFS Abroad’s partner university in Madrid, Universidad Nebrija, offers program options like Hispanic Studies and International Studies, allowing students to pair classroom learning with real-world language immersion that can only come from living and studying in Spain.
Can You Intern Abroad in Madrid?
Yes, if you’re more focused on gaining professional experience, you can absolutely choose a full-time international internship in Madrid.
AIFS Abroad offers Madrid internships during semester and summer terms, with optional academic credit available.
It’s another way to experience everyday life in the city—this time while building your resume and learning how professional culture can look different abroad.
What Should You Know Before Studying Abroad in Madrid?
Give yourself time to adjust. Some things about Madrid may click immediately, while other things may take a few days or weeks to get used to.
Branch out and try to make the most of your time abroad. Students who ask questions, explore the city, say yes to new experiences, and try to use (at least some basic) Spanish even when they’re not completely confident, tend to find studying abroad the most rewarding. And don’t put pressure on yourself to have the “perfect” study abroad experience. Instead, just make it yours.
So, What’s It Really Like to Study Abroad in Madrid?
Studying abroad in Madrid is a balance of enriching classes and cafés, museums and Metro rides, big weekend adventures and completely ordinary weekdays. It’s world-renowned art and hidden galleries, popular restaurants and family-run alleyway bar de barrio. It’s learning your way around a new city until you grow to love it so much, you can’t imagine leaving. It’s letting the city and its culture in, and knowing you’ll carry a piece of Madrid with you for the rest of your life.
And while thousands of students study abroad in Madrid, no two experiences are exactly the same.
Ready to see what your time in Spain’s capital could look like? Explore AIFS Abroad study abroad and international internship programs in Madrid.
