Accommodation in Spain

You can start looking for housing as soon as you have a signed internship agreement.  Summer housing does book up quickly, so it is good to start researching early.  You can decide if you prefer to live on your own (in a shared apartment) or live with other MIT students.  MIT-Spain will provide a list of students participating in the program.

MIT-Spain will provide you with a list of websites (student housing, apartment shares).  Talk with past interns about their experience.  It is important to make sure you know the exact address of your workplace, and how to arrive by public transportation. 

Students usually pay between €400 and €700 for a room in a shared apartment. Keep in mind many agencies charge a deposit and additional months rent.  Costs may be more expensive in university housing, but this may include cleaning and meals.

Spanish apartments, called pisos, are often listed as “interior” vs “exterior”. This means that an interior apartment may have windows that directly face another building or interior courtyard while an exterior apartment faces the street. Interior apartments may be quieter and darker while exterior may have direct sunlight but will also be louder, especially on a busy street.

If smoking bothers you, make sure to find a non-smoking apartment. 

Typically, there is a washer in the kitchen. The majority of Spanish apartments do not have a clothes dryer. Be prepared to hang your clothes to dry on a drying rack!

You might also be surprised by the windows in your apartment. European windows in general tend to use a tilt-and-turn design to allow for different levels of air circulation and have external shutters, called persianas in Spain, instead of curtains or internal blinds.

Most rentals are fully-furnished with bedding, towels and a fully stocked kitchen. You will have to check to see if bills are included or are charged separately from the rental cost. Most rentals will not have air conditioning, if this is important for you, make sure to search places that list air conditioning. Spain is very hot in the summer months.

Most apartments have Wi-Fi, but it may not be as fast as you are accustomed to!

A typical commute in Madrid or Barcelona is 30 minutes - 1 hour. If your host is outside of the city center, you want to make sure you are close to a train or metro station that is more direct to the host.  In some cases, you may be able to find an apartment that is close to your work and be able to walk.

You will need to speak directly with the housing provider to try to resolve the issue. MIT-Spain can step in to support you but cannot accept any responsibility for the issue. Take screenshots of the advertisements and keep all email correspondence with the provider. Make sure to read in detail any contracts the provider asks you to sign.

Madrid

Madrid's most expensive and central neighborhoods are Salamanca and Retiro. More affordable areas are El Centro, La Latina, Lavapiés, Huertas, Malasaña, Chueca, Argüelles, and Moncloa--all within easy walking distance to public transportation, shops, and restaurants.  

Avoid: Carabanchel, Vallecas Bridge, Usera.

Barcelona

Recommended Barcelona neighborhoods are Gràcia, Barceloneta, Eixample, Poblenou, Ciutat Vella, Sagrada Familia, el Born

Avoid: Raval, Park Güell, La Mina, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Rambla de Raval Boulevard.

*** Feel free to consult with MIT-Spain when finalizing your apartment search!