Zaragoza, or as it’s known in English, Saragossa, is a city situated in central Spain, flanked by Bilboa in the north, Madrid and Valencia in the south, and Barcelona in the east. This city, one of Spain’s lesser known ancient treasures, is an excellent destination for those interested in art, architecture, religious history, and culture.
Apartments in Zaragoza, Spain are available to rent all year round and a full flat costs only between 500-700 EUR per month, depending on the available amenities, age of the building, location, etc. Rent often includes a parking spot, a storage unit in the basement of the building, and if you’re lucky, access to a pool. A deposit of two-month’s rent is typical and going through a real estate agent can come at cost. They usually charge a fee of an additional one month’s rent.
Flats in Zaragoza tend to be cheaper than in other cities in Spain, but they also tend to be on the smaller side. If you are looking for more space, there are homes available for rent in the smaller provinces outside the city center. It costs the same to rent these homes as to rent apartments in the Zaragoza city center. However, buses to these exterior provinces stop early and come infrequently, so be prepared to live a more isolated lifestyle. That being said, if you have a car, you’re only a 10-15 minute drive from the city center.
Types of Accommodations in Zaragoza
Moving to and Finding Zaragoza Apartments
The weather can be very warm, exceptionally in the summertime. Many residents vacation in the mountains or on the coastline in August to escape the heat. The city is much less crowded during the summer months and the peak seasons are the fall and spring. The city comes alive for nine days in October for the annual Fiestas del Pilar. The celebration culminates on October 12th on what is said to be the date Christopher Columbus first sighted the Americas. In the offseason in the winter time, those moving to Zaragoza can visit Aramon to ski in the Pyrenees mountains. It’s only two hours away by car.
It’s also known for its’ folklore, local cuisine -- meats, tapas, scrambled eggs and chorizo -- and ancient landmarks. Plus, here they have clean air, low population density, and an affordable cost of living -- and it’s off the typical tourist track.
Zaragoza Apartments by District
Flats in Zaragoza Center
Centro Zaragoza, or Zaragoza Center, is the city’s downtown district. Characterised by wide boulevards and stylish shops, this neighborhood’s epicenter is the tree-lined 1920s avenue, Gran Via. Here, in the center of Zaragoza, shoe and clothing stores, restaurants, bars, and churches are aplenty. You can find practically anything you need in Zaragoza Centro, “farmacias” or pharmacies are everywhere, and there are many lovely parks in the neighborhood, including Parque Miraflores and Parque Pignatelli.
The Centro neighborhood is just south of the Casco Histórico, or the Old Town District, the most historical part of the city, dating back to the 11th century. From Centro Zaragoza, you can visit many ancient monuments by foot, including two of the city’s hallmark cathedrals, the Basilica del Pilar and Catedral del Salvador, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ebro River runs directly through the Old Town District and you can visit preserved Roman ruins there -- the city’s name ‘Zaragoza’ is descendant from ‘Caesaraugusta.’
Flats in Valdefierro
Valdefierro is a district in Zaragoza that lies on the outskirts of the city. Closer to the countryside, there are lots of camping facilities in Valdefierro, Zaragoza, but if you chose to live here and you want to be in the city center often, it is recommended to have a car.
In Valdefierro, Zaragoza there is also Al Campo Los Enlaces, a massive retail facility that is both a supermarket and department store combined. Here you can shop inexpensively for food and other items in bulk -- there’s even a gym on the premises!
Las Fuentes Apartments
Las Fuentes, literally translated to ‘The Sources,’ is an eastern district in Zaragoza, flanked by the Ebro River and further away from the city center. This neighborhood earned it’s name due to the springs and lagoons that were created by the flooding of the nearby river.
Stadium La Fuentes is private swimming pool in Las Fuentes, Zaragoza that comes highly recommended. Here adults can pay an affordable 6 EUR entry fee to escape the heat on a hot summer’s day and escape the mayhem of a public pool. Once inside the facility, you have access multiple swimming pools, sport courts (tennis and basketball), and a bar. The facility is pleasantly surrounded by wooded, green areas.
There are plenty of public schools in La Fuentes, Zaragoza -- for those who may be relocating a family.
Student Accommodation in Zaragoza
Zaragoza, Spain is a wonderful option for students looking for an affordable study abroad experience as the city is less expensive than many others in Europe -- a beer costs only between 1-3 EUR! Zaragoza, not too big and not too small (around 700,000 people live here), is in general a rather friendly, lively place with a laidback atmosphere.
The city is also the home of the esteemed Universidad de Zaragoza, one of the oldest universities in Spain, dating back to 1542. More than 40,000 students attend this public university and they offer 96 subjects taught in languages other than Spanish. Universidad San Jorge is another private university located in Villanueva de Gállego. There is a large community of international students here. The universities accommodate some students in residential halls, but most opt to share private apartments. Student housing in Zaragoza is readily available and flatshares are relatively cheap, on average 200-350 EUR per month for a bedroom.
Many students live nearby the university in the Delicias district. It’s a bit cheaper here and there is a very young, lively energy in the neighborhood. You’ll discover lots of coffee shops, tapas restaurants, bars and other nightlife destinations -- Zaragoza is known to stay lively until the early hours of the morning.
Transportation in Zaragoza
As for public transportation in Zaragoza, Spain, most people take the bus if they need to. It is cheap -- 7 EUR for your first day pass and 5 EUR thereafter -- but some consider the bus system to be a sometimes confusing and unreliable option. That being said, if you are in the city center, you can navigable Zaragoza mostly by foot.
Another attractive thing about Zaragoza is the fact that is so centrally located within Spain. Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao are all within 200 miles by motorway. If you are without a vehicle, you can travel via Spain’s notoriously fast high speed railway, AVE. Via this intercity train you can reach Madrid in 75 minutes and Barcelona in 90 minutes.
If you’re not in a rush and want to experience the astonishing landscapes of the surrounding countryside, you can take a rather cheap, but ancient regional express train to Barcelona. A one-way ticket costs 22 EUR and the ride lasts around 5 hours. The train stops in every tiny village along the way, including some infamous, post-industrial ghost towns.