¡Bienvenido a Madrid!
Birthplace of flamenco, a haven for world-class football, and one of Europe’s most sun-drenched capitals, it’s no wonder that the city was named the best European destination in 2026.
But it’s also home to over 300,000 students and a whopping ten universities.
Needless to say, Madrid has an endless list of things to do for curious minds and experience-seekers. Being just a two-minute walk from Ramón y Cajal train stop, living at Vita Student Oria means you can effortlessly zip right in and explore them all.
Start with our recommendations below and go from there…
Soak up art and culture down the Paseo del Prado
If one thing’s for certain, it’s that Madrid is spilling over with art, culture and history. And nowhere in the city reflects this quite as well as the beautiful, tree-lined avenue, Paseo del Prado.
Take your pick of the city’s most famous museums and galleries along this boulevard, boasting works of art centuries-old right through to modern masterpieces.
If museums aren’t your thing, it’s worth strolling down Paseo del Prado purely to snap a few pics of the street’s classical architecture, babbling fountains and hundred-year-old trees.
Embrace the vibrant atmosphere of El Rastro
Treasure hunters, listen up!
There’s nowhere better to pick up a unique souvenir to take home for your family than Madrid’s most famous flea market, El Rastro.
Come for the tourist trinkets, but delve a little deeper and you’ll surely stay for the artisanal goods, vintage albums, retro magazines, second-hand books, and all manner of stalls where gems are hiding in plain sight.
Open every Sunday and public holidays, the buzz of El Rastro is a world away from lectures and seminars.
Slow things down in the Parque de El Retiro
If you’re looking for a lazy weekend activity, spend an afternoon wandering the dappled paths and gardens of El Retiro (literally “The Retreat”).
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is Madrid’s beloved green oasis and an ideal place to take a breath and relax with course mates.
While you’re there, walk to the heart of the park to discover the ethereal Glass Palace, seemingly straight out of another world. Otherwise, find a shady spot and settle down with a picnic, or hire a couple of rowing boats and admire the views from the lake.
Be inspired in Barrio de las Letras
If you need a little motivation to keep that essay deadline in check, take yourself down to Barrio de las Letras, a favourite haunt of great writers and thinkers in centuries past.
That essentially makes it one of the oldest study spots in the city.
It’s still a cultural feast today, with its rustic streets, historic theatres, and arty murals round every corner, but you’ll also want to pack a shopping bag and fill up on one-off finds in indie boutiques.
When it’s time to refuel, pick a tree-filled plaza and let inspiration come to you at one of the neighbourhood’s many watering holes and eateries.
Follow in the footsteps of football legends
Whether you’re a fan of the beautiful game or not, Estadio Bernabéu is a sight to behold and well worth a trip.
Home of the star-studded Real Madrid football team, the stadium is one of the most iconic landmarks in the capital, with its futuristic architecture and innovative design.
Book onto a tour to stand where football’s greatest players have stood before you, stepping onto the playing field, exploring the changing rooms, and visiting the museum to dive into the club’s history.
Indulge in Madrid’s most celebrated sweet treat
Just around the corner from the famous Plaza Mayor, down a rickety alley, you’ll find Chocolatería de San Ginés.
This beautiful, white-marbled café has been serving up chocolate con churros since 1894, so you can bet it’s doing something right (and we reckon there’s only one reasonable way to find out).
Expect a queue, but don’t worry: your reward is a cup of thick, hot chocolate, with melt-in-your-mouth sticks of sugared dough to dip.
Truly the study snack from heaven.
Time travel at the Museo Sorolla
If you want to get a feel for the Madrid of a century ago, make a trip to the home of renowned Spanish painter, Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida.
It might not be the biggest or most famous museum in the capital, but it frequently crops up as one of the city’s hidden gems not to be missed.
The artwork (by Sorolla himself) adorning the walls is evocative, but the real pull is getting to explore this enchanting house and secret courtyard garden, still decorated as it would have been when the artist lived there from 1911 to 1923.
It’s one of the best-preserved house-museums of any artist in Europe, and it’s sure to take your mind off uni deadlines for a peaceful afternoon.
Live out your fairytale in the Royal Palace of Madrid
Have you really lived in Madrid if you haven’t got a little bit lost inside its 3,000-roomed Royal Palace?
Spain’s 18th-century royal family spared absolutely zero expenses in the design and build of their official residence. The result is one of the biggest palaces in the world and the perfect way to get to grips with Spanish royal history.
All that glitters is quite probably gold in this decadent triumph of architecture and glamour, so make sure you’ve got plenty of room on your camera to show your family and friends back home.
Extravagant royal palaces are cool and all that, but they’re a little far away from your uni campus. That’s why we built our new student accommodation, Vita Student Oria, just a 20-minute walk from the IE Tower, with easy links into the centre.
And you can still expect the five-star treatment.
With a rooftop pool, 24/7 gym, exclusive weekly events, and career resources at your fingertips, Vita Student Oria has everything needed to help you shoot for the stars.
