Spain · Comunidad de Madrid · Madrid
Universidad, Madrid — Area Guide & Where to Stay
Universidad is a barrio of Madrid's Centro district, originally known as the barrio de Maravillas.
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Where to stay in Universidad
Where visitors usually base themselves, and why.
Universidad suits visitors who want nightlife on the doorstep. Some writers have compared the barrio's alternative scene and lively nightlife to London's Camden Town, New York's East Village and Lisbon's Bairro Alto. Bilbao, Tribunal and Plaza de España are among its metro stations.
Light sleepers should know that, despite neighbours' protests, the streets around Malasaña draw crowds at night.
Find hotels in Universidad
Direct booking search for this neighbourhood.
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Things to do in and around Madrid
Ranked by global recognition; descriptions from Wikidata (CC0).
Museums & Galleries
3- Temple of Debod Heritage
- Cerralbo Museum Heritage
- Madrid History Museum Heritage
Churches & Religious Sites
8- Convent of Las Descalzas Reales Heritage
- Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans Heritage
- Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael Heritage
- Royal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida Heritage
- Royal Convent of La Encarnación Heritage
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- Church of San Ginés de Arlés Heritage
- Church of las Calatravas Heritage
- Church of San José Heritage
Castles & Historic Sites
7- Royal Palace of Madrid Heritage
- Teatro Real Heritage
- Liria Palace Heritage
- Market of San Miguel Heritage
- Palace of Linares Heritage
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- Muslim Walls of Madrid Heritage
- Teatro de la Zarzuela Heritage
worth knowingacross 3 categories in and around Madrid
About Universidad
What are the main landmarks in Universidad?
The Church of San Marcos stands in Universidad. A monument by Antonio Solá stands beneath the arch of the old Monteleón barracks. Close by are the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, the Madrid History Museum, the Cerralbo Museum, the Liria Palace and the Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans, while the Museum of Romanticism lies toward Chueca and the Royal Palace of Madrid toward Palacio.
What is the history of Universidad?
The barrio takes its name from the Caserón de San Bernardo, the former seat of the University of Madrid. Its older name came from a Carmelite convent between the calle de la Palma Alta and the calle de San Pedro. At the Plaza del Dos de Mayo, on the site of the Parque de Artillería de Monteleón, captains Luis Daoíz and Pedro Velarde led the small force that rose against Napoleon's army in 1808.
The arch of the old barracks survives. In the 1970s and 1980s the streets around Malasaña became a focus of the Movida madrileña.
Where is Universidad?
Its historical limits, those of the old parish of Maravillas, are the calles de San Bernardo, San Vicente Ferrer, Fuencarral and Carranza. The modern barrio reaches the calle de la Princesa, the Gran Vía and the calle de Alberto Aguilera. It covers about 0.95 km².
Common questions
What is the best area to stay in Universidad?
Around the Plaza del Dos de Mayo: nights out in the alternative scene.
Good for
More areas in Madrid
Updated October 2026