Find your favorite area
Barrio las letras
The Barrio de las Letras (the Literary Quarter) is one of Madrid’s most charming and historic neighbourhoods, tucked between the Prado and Puerta del Sol. Once home to Spain’s Golden Age writers — Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo and others — the area keeps that literary spirit alive with plaques, quotes embedded in the pavement and streets named after authors.
Wander its narrow, mostly pedestrian streets (the main artery is Calle de las Huertas) and you’ll find a lively mix of cosy cafés, tapas bars, small theatres and independent shops. The neighbourhood is beloved for relaxed daytime strolls and a buzzing evening scene.
Barrio Chamberi
Chamberí is one of Madrid’s most elegant, traditional, and authentic neighborhoods. It preserves the charm of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with iron-balconied buildings, stately façades, wide doorways, and quiet squares where life moves at a gentler pace.
It’s a residential yet lively district, full of cozy cafés, classic taverns, small theaters, unique museums, and streets where history blends naturally with modern life. It’s less touristy than other parts of the city, which gives it a more intimate, truly madrileño character.
Barrio Universidad
The Barrio de Universidad, often known simply as Malasaña, is one of Madrid’s most vibrant, youthful, and alternative neighborhoods. Located just north of Gran Vía, it combines historic charm with a strong creative and bohemian spirit.
Traditionally linked to the old University of San Bernardo, today it is a lively district full of street art, independent boutiques, vintage shops, quirky cafés, music bars, and cultural spaces. It became iconic during the Movida Madrileña in the 1980s, a cultural movement that transformed Madrid’s nightlife, music, and artistic identity—and that legacy still lives in its streets.