Malasaña neighbourhood

The Malasaña district, in Madrid

The Malasaña district is the trendy and bohemian district of Madrid, the cradle of the Movida madrileña. The Madrid audio-guided tour stops here, on the pretty Plaza de San Ildefonso, to evoke this alternative, vintage and creative sector, full of life.

The bohemian district of the Movida

Here you arrive on the pretty Plaza de San Ildefonso, lively with numerous terraces and dominated by the eponymous church. It is the heart of the Malasaña district, one of the most creative and alternative of Madrid. This working-class district entered legend in the 1980s, when it became the epicentre of the Movida madrileña, this great cultural, musical and artistic movement that exploded after years of repression and made Madrid a capital of freedom and festivity. Still today, Malasaña has kept its bohemian, young and creative spirit: there you find vintage shops, second-hand shops, bars with a retro atmosphere, trendy cafés, bookshops and galleries. Authentic and full of character, the Malasaña district embodies alternative Madrid and the underground culture of the capital.

What to see

Here you enjoy the Plaza de San Ildefonso lively with terraces and dominated by the eponymous church, in the heart of this bohemian and creative district, the epicentre of the Movida madrileña of the 1980s, full of vintage shops, second-hand shops, retro bars and trendy cafés. The Malasaña district embodies alternative Madrid. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Malasaña district lies in the heart of Madrid, around the Plaza de San Ildefonso, reachable on foot and by public transport. It is a freely accessible public district; the shops, bars and cafés have their own hours. It is particularly lively in the evening.

What is the Movida madrileña, linked to the Malasaña district?

A great cultural, musical and artistic movement of the 1980s, which exploded after years of repression and made Madrid a capital of freedom and festivity; the Malasaña district was its epicentre and keeps its bohemian and creative spirit.

Where is the Malasaña district?

In the heart of Madrid, around the Plaza de San Ildefonso, in Spain.