District
Carabanchel
Madrid's most populous district, south of the river Manzanares: dense residential wards built around the former villages of Carabanchel Alto and Bajo, with Metro lines 5, 6 and 11, the Oporto and Plaza Elíptica interchanges and asking rents well below the city average.
Carabanchel (District 11) lies in the south of the city, between the M-30, the M-40, the A-42 and Vía Carpetana. It borders the river Manzanares and Arganzuela to the north, Usera to the east, Latina to the west and the town of Leganés to the south. With about 274,000 residents in 2023, it is the most populous district of Madrid.
It takes its name from the former towns of Carabanchel Alto and Carabanchel Bajo, which became part of Madrid in 1948. Its seven wards are Comillas, Opañel, San Isidro, Vista Alegre, Puerta Bonita, Buenavista and Abrantes, each with more than 30,000 residents.
- A large, densely populated residential district.
- Vista Alegre is the most populous ward and home to the Palacio de Vistalegre arena, a former bullring now used for events.
- Interchanges at Oporto (above ground) and Plaza Elíptica (underground) connect Metro and bus lines, including services to Leganés, Getafe and Parla.
- Metro L5
- Metro L6
- Metro L11
- Metro: 14 stations in the district, on lines 5, 6 and 11; Carabanchel station on line 5 dates from 1961, and the newest stations (San Francisco, Carabanchel Alto, La Peseta) opened in 2006.
- Urban and interurban buses from the Oporto and Plaza Elíptica interchanges.
Mostly flats in apartment blocks across densely built residential wards. Asking rents are among the lower ones in the city.
A large residential district with public and private schools. The Madrid Río park along the Manzanares lies on its northern edge.
Mixed evenings
Mainly residential; Metro line 5 runs directly to the city centre (La Latina, Ópera, Callao).
Honest trade-offs newcomers mention. They are not reasons to avoid a place.
- Wards and streets differ; visit at different times of day and check the commute to your workplace.
- Rents have been rising quickly: Brains Real Estate reported a 12.6% annual increase in asking rents in Q1 2026.
Useful links
Sources
Facts on this page come from these sources. Neighbourhoods change — check current details before deciding.
- WikipediaCarabanchel
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 8 Oct 2026Location, boundaries, population 2023, annexation in 1948, wards, Metro history, interchanges, Vistalegre.
- WikipediaArganzuela
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 8 Oct 2026Madrid Río park along the Manzanares.
- WikipediaCentro (Madrid)
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 8 Oct 2026Metro line 5 stations in the city centre.
- Brains Real Estate NewsMadrid se mantiene firme – la capital no declara zonas tensionadas para el alquiler de la vivienda
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 8 Oct 2026