Madrid is the third largest municipalitty in the European Union. The city is located on the river Manzanares and as the capital city, it is also the seat of government and residence of the Spanish monarch. Despite its rather modern infrastructure, it has preserved the historic look and atmosphere of many of its neighbourhoods and streets. The Atocha Railway Station is home to a distinctive indoor garden a huge variety of tropical plants, making it an extremely popular destination for plant enthusiasts, with more than 500 species of plant life. A trip to Madrid would not be complete without a visit to the ecological theme park Faunia, which is a combination of a natural history museum and a zoo. It contains eight distinct eco-systems, ranging from tropical rain forests to polar regions, and over 1,500 animals, most of which roam freely.
Madrid also hosts the largest Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Spain, Las Ventas, established in 1929, which has a seating capacity of almost 25,000. Madrid's bullfighting season begins in March and ends in October.
Accommodation in Madrid's student residences
Madrid’s student residences are independent entities and the vast majority are assigned to the two most prominent universities: The Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and The Universidad Complutense de Madrid. It should be understood that these residences are designed primarily for students and not children or adults expecting a high level of luxury. However, with this in mind, the halls do meet a level of comfort that we expect most visitors to be happy with, and we will welcome any feedback where this is not the case.
Getting around Madrid
Madrid is served by Barajas Airport, which is located about a 20 minute drive from Madrid city centre with excellent bus links. The fastest way to get around Madrid would be the Madrid Metro, which is one of the most extensive and fastest-growing metro networks in the world.