GALICIA

You’ll want to think carefully about which neighborhood you’ll want to live in. It’s a good idea to be close to work if you will be walking, or to the bus you will take to get to your school, but it is important to consider your life outside of school as well. One 2018-2019 grantee remarked:

“I enjoy living in my neighborhood (District 6) because it gives me invaluable exposure to different communities in Coruña, but relative to my friends who live in the center, it is significantly more difficult for me to get around, meet up for impromptu social events, stay out late for drinks, etc”

A Coruña has ten districts made up of a few different barrios.

Dictrict 1: Ciudad Vieja – Pescadería – Orzán 
This is considered to be the city center. La Ciudad Vieja, or in galego, A Cidade Vella, is what used to be the nucleus of the city in the 11th Century, with a high concentration of monuments and sights, and characterized by small cobble-stone streets and quaint plazas. La Ciudad Vieja is an important tourist attraction has beautiful and old buildings, making it a slightly more expensive barrio. Orzán, also known as Zalaeta, is next to the Zalaeta beach, at the end of A Coruña’s boardwalk, and is the location of the Museum of Fine Arts. This neighborhood is right in the center of the city, next to the beach, pubs, and shopping streets. Pescadería, or in galego, Peixería, is what used to be the Ensanche, or new area of the city back in the 19th Century. It consists of A Coruña’s boardwalk, Orzán beach, and port. Here, you will find the famous Plaza de María Pita, with the Town Hall, and the galerías, which are A Coruña’s iconic glass buildings. Today, it is known as Soho coruñés, from the neighborhood’s indie/alternative revival, making it the place for young people to go out these days.

District 2: Monte Alto – Atochas – A Torre – Adormideras
Monte Alto was built in the 50s and 60s, and is a blue-collar neighborhood home to some of the most important museums in the city. It is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in A Coruña. On the other hand, Atochas, located by the Plaza de España, is one of the smallest and expensive barrios in the city, where you will surely be during Carnaval, where thousands of people gather in this small area to celebrate Carnaval Tuesday. A Torre refers to the Hercules Tower on the edge of the city, which is very similar to Monte Alto. Adormideras is a quaint little community right next to A Torre that has a small beach and sports club.

District 3: Ensanche – Cuatro Caminos
The Ensanche area was built at the beginning of the 20th Century for the new bourgeoisie, built with avant-garde architecture from that time. This area has some of the most important plazas in A Coruña, Praza Ourense, Lugo, Pontevedra, Vigo, and is a commercial and more expensive neighborhood.  Cuatro Caminos, located between Avenida del Ejército, Calle Posse, and Calle Alfondo Molina, has some of the tallest buildings in the city, and the Corte Inglés. It also has the famous Cuatro Caminos fountain, where soccer fans of the Deportivo club will celebrate victories. Be aware that Cuatro Caminos is a bit farther out!

District 4: Os Mallos – Sagrada Familia
Os Mallos was a blue-collar neighborhood built in the 50s and today is one of the most densely populated barrio in A Coruña with 30,000 inhabitants. Sagrada Familia was built in the 60s and 70s, and is located between Avenida de Finisterre and Avenida de Arteixo, and is the home to several government buildings. This district is also fairly far out, and a 2019-2020 grantee noted that she didn’t always feel safe walking in Sagrada Familia at night.

District 5: Riazor – Labañou – Os Rosales
Labañou, sometimes called San Roque, is the eastmost barrio of the fifth district and is one of the best preserved neighborhoods of A Coruña. It also has the Millenium attraction, boardwalk, and university campuses. Riazor is a small barrio, and the location of the soccer stadium, named after the neighborhood. Os Rosales, or As Roseiras, located right under the Mount of San Pedro, is a large barrio, with many green spaces and a shopping mall.

District 6: Agra de Orzán
This barrio is the most densely populated neighborhood, with 35,000 inhabitants, and with the least amount of locals living in it. It used to be the destination for immigrants coming in from rural Galicia, but today is home to African and South American immigrants.

District 7: Os Castros – Elviña – Castrillón
Os Castros is the northernmost barrio of this district, where you will find the San Diego docks and the small Oza beach. It has green spaces and parks, and is known for its mirador, or scenic view of the port and the ría. Both Elviña, Castrillon, and the Barrio de las Flores, located in this district are the results of big urbanization projects, characterized by large buildings, with spacious streets and green spaces in between the structures.

District 8: Eirís – As Xubias – Zapateira
These barrios are residential, with many schools and individual family homes. Zapateira is known for having become more expensive recently.

District 9: Mesoiro – Castro de Elviña
Mostly residential neighborhoods, and might be too far off from the city.

District 10: A Grela – Bens – Ventorrillo
Ventorrillo (Ronda de Outeiro and Avenida de Finisterre) has large buildings and wide streets. A Grela and Bens were very industrial areas, that have been somewhat abandoned and are not recommended to live in.

Carballo isn’t in A Coruña, but can be a good option for grantees with school placements in Laxe. Carballo is a smaller town about 30 minutes outside of A Coruña by car. From a 2019-2020 grantee who worked in Laxe: 

“I wasn’t living in A Coruña nor Laxe, but in between in Carballo because I did not want to commute an hour to work and at the time, I didn’t know anyone from school that lived in Coruña. Carballo did not have as many options for rentals but they are there and are less expensive than living in Coruña. If the grantee is comfortable with being in the same pueblo as their school, Laxe is a decent option as well; however, it is more remote. “ 

However, just because it’s outside of a major city, don’t be afraid. This grantee was one of the most well-travelled in the region!

You’ll want to think carefully about which neighborhood, or barrio, you’ll want to live in. It’s a good idea to be close to work, if you will be walking, or to the bus you will take to get to your school, but it is important to consider your life outside of school, as well.

Barrio de Ferrol Vello: This is what used to be the nucleus of the city in medieval times, and today is known as Old Ferrol.

Barrio de la Magdalena: Located right in the center of the city, this neighborhood was built in the 18th Century and boasts of stunning architecture and beauty.

Caranza: The most densely populated neighborhood in Ferrol.

However, past  grantees have noted that Caranza has very few restaurants and a less frequent bus schedule than other neighborhoods.

Esteiro: Right on the outskirts of the centro–it’s also the area the university students are in.

Canido: A nice neighborhood above the Centro, Canido is known for it’s art installation “Las Meninas.”

Naron: The sister city to Ferrol, Naron (or the Naron/Ferrol border) is even cheaper than Ferrol, “… and Ferrol is already cheap.” The main street of Ferrol runs directly into Naron, making the city very accessible. 

In addition to the housing website and resources listed in the general section above, a 2018-2019 Fulbright grantee who lived in Ferrol recommended “going into buildings on the university campus to look for housing ads or writing and posting your own ad on the bulletin boards there.”

Other barrios in Ferrol include Ultramar, Ensanche, and O Inferniño, which all come highly recommended from former grantees.

The 2021-2022 grantee in Laxe recommends the following about housing in Laxe. “In a lot of ways, housing is easier in Laxe because you don’t need to compare neighborhoods and it’s unlikely you’ll find an option of having a roommate. You can look on Idealista but I would recommend asking teachers for help. I got my apartment through connections from a teacher. Most apartments are family sized so you will likely have extra bedrooms and space. Try to get one with a view of the water and/or a balcony! I’d also recommend getting one in the direction of the school.”

The same grantee also enjoyed living in Laxe because, “the town is really lovely and I was able to connect to the community more. For example, my bilingual coordinator showed me a lot of amazing places in the region. But it was also difficult at times. I think you have to decide where is the best place for you personally and keep in mind that you can change during the year. (As long as your housing contract allows it! I talked to my landlord about this when I moved in). I chose to spend most of the weekends in Coruña (staying with other grantees) and traveling because Laxe is pretty quiet during the year. And many people came to visit and it was really nice to show them the town!”

You will find the historic part of Lugo, or the Casco histórico surrounded by the Roman Walls in the center of the city. La zona histórica is the oldest part of Lugo. It has great nightlife, and is known for having the best quality food and wine. However, this area may be filled with many tourists, especially throughout the summer, and the buildings will likely be old and may not have heating or air conditioning, so make sure to ask about all these amenities and any renovations made if you are looking to live around here.

To the south of the city, you will find the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Campus in Lugo, only a half-an-hour walk from the center. You will find that most zonas around the University consist of relatively new, spacious apartments with a large student population, which come with all the perks of living in a modern building.  However, many find that the price has been inflated around this area for these same reasons. The Facultad de Veterinaria in the University Campus has popularized Aceña de Olga, a chic new area in the south of the city now filled with bars, and tapas places. Due to its proximity to the University campus, many students live in this zona, and you will find many great deals and discounts for students around here.

To the north of the city, you will find the barrio of La Milagrosa, only a 15 minute walk north of the Roman Walls. This area is much more local and inexpensive, you will get a true feel of the lucense life away from all the students and tourists, but if you need to get to the University area, it might be a bit of a walk.

In addition to the housing website and resources listed in the general section above, a 2018-2019 Fulbright grantee who lived in Lugo recommended the Facebook group “Piso Compartido en Lugo” where she made a post and was able to find other people looking for housing as well as people with available rooms. 

Ourense is a very compact city; walking from the southernmost neighborhood to the northernmost takes just over an hour, and the walk from east to west is even shorter. The city is very pedestrian friendly, and warmer and flatter than many other Galician cities, which can make walking very enjoyable. However, this doesn’t mean living at the very edges of the city is recommended–walking half an hour to get to the center every time you want to socialize gets old fast!

The buses are cheap, and are good for reaching bordering pueblos, but within the city they run infrequently and have very limited routes. Make sure to consider this when looking at neighborhoods you like.

Centro, Lagunas, and Casco Viejo are the most central and historic neighborhoods in the city. These neighborhoods can also be slightly more expensive, but they’re beautiful, and you’ll never be more than a 20-25 minute walk from anything you could want. Although they’re more expensive, Ourense has a lower cost of living than many cities in Galicia, so keep in mind that “more expensive” isn’t very expensive at all! 

Parque San Lázaro is a hub for social life, dining, and buses, as well as a common landmark for giving directions. It’s just north of the Praza Maior, but apartments here can be slightly more expensive than other areas. 

As Burgas and Parque Alameda are just south of the Praza. This area is great for a relaxed life, with the biggest market, beautiful park, cultural center, several cafes, and a hot spring within five minutes. Parque Alameda also has a bus stop where several routes converge, making it one of the more convenient neighborhoods for bus commuting.

A Ponte and Veintiun are the northern neighborhoods in Ourense. A Ponte, named for the Roman bridge connecting it to the city center, is just north of the Rio Miño. It’s mostly residential, with a nice selection of small grocers, butchers, and fish shops, as well as restaurants. It’s also right next to the mall. Veintiun is farther north, and can be tiresome for walking, but it does have more frequent buses than most neighborhoods. Both A Ponte and Veintiun are very close to the bus and train stations. 

O Couto is a western neighborhood, and the walk to the Praza Maior can range from 15 to 30 minutes, as it’s a long neighborhood that runs east to west. O Couto is a cheaper area (especially the farther west you go), and is popular with immigrants from all over. The part closer to the city center is mostly residential, with several bakeries, boutiques, bars, and grocery stores, as well as a large park, Parque Barbañas. The far (west) edge of the neighborhood is more commercial. 

Campus Universitaria is an eastern neighborhood surrounding the university (surprise!). The neighborhood and surrounding areas have quite a few bars and restaurants catered to university students, and is a 15 minute walk to Parque San Lázaro, 20-25 minutes to city center. This neighborhood is a good place to be if you enjoy hiking or running, as it’s close to a few trailheads. 

San Francisco is a southeastern neighborhood that’s also relatively cheap. It has a RENFE train station, but is often considered a far walk unless you work in the area. 

Mariñamasa, Residencia, and Xardín do Posío are the southernmost neighborhoods and are often considered too far unless you work in the area. The apartments are cheaper here, but many grantees who lived in the area got tired of the 25-30 minute walk to city center. This area is full of bars and cafes! 

O Polvorín is more residential, with townhouses, and it has excellent running and biking paths. However, it’s also very far south, and isn’t recommended unless you work here.

In the words of a past grantee:

“There is not an abundance of housing in Pontevedra – there is a sufficient amount, but I don’t want to mislead someone thinking they will have a ton of great options. I would try to stay to the west of Rúa 12 de Novembro when looking for housing.” With that in mind, a 2021-2022 grantee also thinks that, “Pontevedra is pretty small anyway so location-wise, apartment hunting is not the most difficult.”

Other grantees have suggested living in the Casco Antiguo as the best location to search for housing as well because, “the buildings are really pretty and you are in the center of all the restaurants and nightlife”. The Casco Antiguo zone consists of the natural boundary formed by the river, and up to the train station and Campolongo. However, housing may be cheaper on the other side of the river, but there are more activities, events, and life on the side of the Old Town.

Don’t be discouraged! Make sure to ask around school and your neighborhood to see if anyone has leads on housing. Previous grantees highly suggest looking for housing through Idealista. With that in mind, the selection on Idealista can be scarce sometimes, but word-of-mouth can go a long way in a small city.

One important thing to remember when looking for housing in Santiago is that between university students and other auxiliares, there are likely a lot of other people looking for housing at the same time as you. This means that the housing market is extremely competitive when you are searching for housing here. Rent has also been rising in recent years, as Santiago is a growing city, and more and more apartments are becoming AirBnbs. This means that it can sometimes take some extra time to find accommodations, but remain calm and be patient. You will undoubtedly find a place that fits you well! You’ll want to think carefully about which neighborhood you’ll want to live in. It’s a good idea to be close to work if you will be walking, or to the bus you will take to get to your school, but it is important to consider your life outside of school, too.

The zona vieja is charming and romantic, but has some notable deficiencies: it is crowded with tourists in the summer (it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985), has few stores for locals but lots for tourists (it offers just one, rather mediocre, supermarket), and many of its apartments are old and unrenovated. It is also noticeably colder in the pisos, and the wifi is particularly bad (because of the stone buildings). They can be quite beautiful, in an old-wood-and-exposed-stone kind of way, but this can also mean that things in the apartment might not work well, and they will be less energy efficient. Take note: if you live in the historical center, you are almost guaranteed not to have central heating, so you will definitely need to buy a space heater and dehumidifier come winter, and you will pay extra for electricity to run it. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it is something to think about and budget for as electricity is much more expensive in Spain than in the U.S.

Most of the housing stock in the city is in the zona nueva, mostly constructed between the ‘60s and the ‘80s. It features large and nondescript apartment blocks. The new city has a lot going for it — tons of shops, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, bars, and nightclubs, as well as proximity to the old town, the Alameda park and South University Campus for green space, and the train station. It’s noticeably younger than other parts of the city, since many university students tend to live there (this means that it can get noisy — particularly on Thursday nights).  Because the housing stock is newer, you won’t have to worry about central heating, though the quality of apartments definitely varies from building to building. Also, keep in mind that the new town is downhill from everything else in the city, so if you are going to any of the other neighborhoods, you are going to get a bit of exercise.

When looking for housing in the new town, Plaza Roja is a good landmark as this is the ‘nucleus’ of the area. Other areas for housing in Santiago include: Campus Norte, Concheiros-Fontiñas, San Lázaro-Meixonfrio, Castiñeiriño-Cruceiro do Sar, Conxo, Campus Sur-Santa Marta. These areas are farther away from the city center, and it can be sometimes difficult to access other places in Santiago from these areas. Several 2021-2022 grantees suggest sticking with looking for housing in the Old and New Towns. Good points of reference for your housing search include north of the train station, east of Campus Vida (USC) and the Alameda park, west of Belvis park, and south of the Convent of Santa Clara.

As there is such a high student population, Instagram accounts are another great option for the housing search (in addition to Idealista, etc). A previous grantee found all of their lodging (2020-2021, 2021-2022) via these pages. Check out the Erasmus Student FB group (good option if you’re looking to live with other international students), or USC_Piso or SalseoUSC on Instagram. USC_Piso is strictly apartment hunting, while SasleoUSC is a meme page for students in/around STQ. However, many students use it to find roommates / rooms and they post ‘stories’ of available apartments often.

Vigo is the biggest city in Galicia and covers quite a large area geographically. While the city center itself is quite condensed and very walkable, getting to the neighborhoods outside of it where many grantees’ schools are located can be difficult or time consuming to do on foot. This means that, unlike in most other cities in the region, many people in Vigo rely on buses or cars to get around. The buses are reliable and go to every corner of the city, though, so this should not be a problem. It is, however, important to consider whether you would prefer to live closer to your school for a shorter commute or closer to the city center where you will likely spend much of your time outside of school.

If you decide to live near your school, check with teachers or the former grantee for recommendations on where to live. If you would like to live in the city center, keep in mind that it may be helpful to live next to a bus stop that connects with a line that runs past your school. The most central zones, as listed on Idealista, are Centro-Areal, Plaza España, and Casco Vello. Some locations in Camelias-Pi y Margall, Castelo do Castro, and Berbes are also close, but check the address on a map to see how it relates geographically to the rest of the city. For reference, the Dinoseto, Plaza España, the Farola, and the fortaleza do castro are landmarks that are quite central. Vigo’s fast growth has incorporated rural areas into its metropolitan area, and each of its neighborhoods, or barrios, has a different feel from the next. Click here to see a more thorough description of each neighborhood in Vigo, and what they have to offer. 

A note to the grantee placed at IES Valadares from a previous grantee placed there:

“If you are placed at IES Valadares, the only bus that can bring you there is the U1 line. This line begins at Plaza España or Plaza America, so it would be advised to look for housing here instead of the city center. I lived by Plaza America and it was very convenient, just a bit far from the old center and train stations.”