Moving to Madrid

Hola!

After years of planning I'm finally moving to Spain. I'm a 23 year old female who is dropping her life in Canada and moving to Madrid to teach English for a year. I got a job with a conversational English school who promised they'd help me:
1) Obtain an NIE number
2) get a bank acct
3) find a place to live

I've never actually been to Spain before and I was wondering if anyone has and could give me advice on neighbourhoods that I should search for apartments in, schools that teach Spanish, and anything else of interest. My school is located in Puerta de Sol, so I don't want to live too far away from it...

Thanks for all of your help!

How exciting, you're moving to Madrid . I was in the exact same position a few years back and I really loved the time I lived in Spain's capital! Puerta del Sol is very central, so you could look for somewhere to live in a few neighborhoods which would still be in walking distance. You are looking into a flatshare, I take it? Definitely the best way to mingle straight away.

Some options are (check on a map so you'll know where they are located)

Malasaña - a vibrant neighborhood full of lively bars and clubs, very popular amongst people so it might be hard to find something there that is affordable
La Latina - a bit posher with lots of narrow cobbledstoned streets and nice little tapas bars
Lavapies/Arganzuela - that's where I lived. It's the artsy and international neighboorhood, but also a bit rougher, e.g. at night. I never felt unsafe, but just needed a little more common sense. Still, I wouldn't have wanted to live anywhere else. Rent was cheap for Madrid standards (expect to pay € 350 plus a month) and it just had that certain flair to it.

To find a room check at the uni boards or alternatively at loquo.
And if you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask me. Best of luck getting started, you'll have a great time .

Steff

Watch yer pockets on the subway, the little scumbags are everywhere