Are you visiting Madrid on a tight budget, but still want to have fun and knock back some cheap cervezas? In this article you will learn a little about spanish party culture and receive some hot tips about inexpensive drinks in various Madrid neighbourhoods.

Partying in Spain

Few countries know how to party like Spain. Judging by how they do it in Madrid, you would think partying was invented by Spaniards. In the Spanish capital there is absolutely no shortage of places to get your drink on, dance up a storm, or stay out until the wee hours of the morning (or late afternoon, should that be your bag).

15 euros for a drink? Get out of here!

In Madrid there are discos where it’s more customary to buy an entire bottle as opposed to a drink, and there are bars where a whiskey and coke will set you back 15 euro. For a budget traveller this is simply not acceptable. Why does Madrid has to be so expensive? After all, you only want to get out there and enjoy yourself with a cerveza or five. Relax, if you know where to go, you can also get wasted for pretty cheap. Based on our insider knowledge of the spanish capital, here are tips about three neighbourhoods of Madrid and where you can drink for less in those neighbourhoods:

Moncloa/Arguelles – Hundreds of party people

Get off at Metro Moncloa and follow the crowds up to an unsuspecting interior patio. Now take in the view: hundreds of party people drinking in the patio and running in and out of the dozens of bars that run together and are completely interchangeable. Drink specials abound, music blares, and early in the morning vomit adorns the floors, but here your five euro will take you far. Full of locals so get to talking and make friends with Spanish students.

How to get there/Nearest metro: Metros Moncloa (L3), Metro Arguelles (L3, L4)

Alonso Martinez – Popular among students

This is another neighborhood that’s popular with students, and the party starts quite early in the Plaza de Santa Bárbara, where Spaniards get all gussied up to stand outside to drink 40s and make their own minis. The crowd eventually disperses along Calle Santa Teresa and Fernando IV.

How to get there/Nearest metro: Metro Alonso Martínez (L4, L5, L10)

Chueca – Trendy but fun

Chueca is really a high fashion neighborhood where each bar competes in an unspoken “I’m cooler than you” style competition. Still, as there are sooo many places to party, one can always find booze at bargain basement prices. In summer, Plaza Chueca is insanely crowded with people drinking, hanging out, and smoking joints. You can always bring your own liquor to the square, pop a squat and get your party started. If you’re not into peeing on the street and prefer to be somewhere with plumbing, head to any of the bars on Calle Pelayo or Calle San Marcos.

How to get there/Nearest metro: Metro Chueca, Metro Gran Vía (L5)