Study abroad in Zaragoza
Housing, Erasmus groups, universities, costs and student life for exchange students in Zaragoza.
Country
SpainStudent Budget
EUR 750 – 1,000/month
Transport Card
Tarjeta Bus: EUR 0.55 a bus or tram trip in 2026, against EUR 1.70 for a single ticket. Under-30s with the Carnet Joven pay half price on 30-day, 90-day and yearly passes.
Population
727,475 residents on the municipal register (October 2025)
Study abroad in Zaragoza: student life
Studying in Zaragoza means the University of Zaragoza in an affordable, walkable city on the Ebro between Madrid and Barcelona.
Who loves this city?
Students who want a big, affordable Spanish city with everyday life in Spanish, good tapas and easy trips to Madrid, Barcelona and the Pyrenees.
What makes it special
The Basilica of El Pilar on the Ebro, the Moorish Aljafería palace, Roman ruins under the old town and the El Tubo tapas lanes, all within walking distance.
Newcomer shocks
- The cierzo, a cold north-west wind, can blow for days in winter.
- Summers are hot and dry; many locals leave the city in August.
- Fewer English speakers than in Madrid or Barcelona, which is good for your Spanish.
Student housing in Zaragoza
Most students rent near Campus San Francisco or in the centre; the University of Zaragoza Accommodation Service lists rooms for free.
Universidad and Romareda
MediumWalking to Campus San Francisco; full of student flats, cafés and the Parque Grande.
Centro
Medium-highLiving around Paseo Independencia and Plaza España, close to everything.
Casco Histórico and El Tubo
MediumOld-town flats near El Pilar and the tapas lanes.
Delicias
LowThe cheapest rooms in the city, close to the Delicias train station.
Actur
MediumEngineering and architecture students at Campus Río Ebro; modern blocks across the river.
Official contacts
University of Zaragoza Accommodation Service
Free listings of rooms and flats for students, plus advice on colegios mayores and residences (alojami@unizar.es, 976 762 318).
Colegio Mayor Pedro Cerbuna
The university’s own hall inside Campus San Francisco; check whether places are open to exchange students for your term.
Student residences
Residencia Ramón Pignatelli
Large residence owned by the Zaragoza Provincial Council, with 324 single rooms.
Private platforms
Idealista
The largest Spanish listings site; filter rooms (habitaciones) in Zaragoza.
Fotocasa
Second big Spanish portal, mostly whole flats.
Uniplaces
Rooms for students with online booking; check what the booking fee covers.
Badi
App for rooms in shared flats in Spanish cities.
Student groups
ESN Zaragoza
Erasmus Student Network section: welcome events, trips and a buddy network for exchange students.
Documents to prepare
Passport or national ID card
Admission or Learning Agreement letter from the host university
NIE (foreigner identity number): EU citizens staying more than three months register for it; non-EU students get it with their student visa or TIE card
Proof of income, a scholarship letter or a guarantor if the landlord asks
A Spanish or EU bank account for direct debits, if possible
Timing
Rooms near Campus San Francisco go first; look from July for September.
February arrivals find more choice, as some students leave after the first semester.
The city and university run an affordable shared-housing programme (Universitarios Solidarios); ask the Accommodation Service.
Deposit & contract notes
Spanish law sets the deposit (fianza) for a flat at one month’s rent; the landlord may ask for an extra guarantee of up to two more months, so never more than three months in total.
Since the 2023 Housing Law, agency and contract fees for a long-term rental are paid by the landlord, not the tenant.
Get a written contract that says which bills (water, electricity, gas, internet) are included, and keep photos of the room on the day you move in.
Red flags
Asking for a deposit or “reservation” before you have seen the room or a video call of it.
Payment by Western Union, gift cards or crypto.
No written contract, or a contract that does not name the landlord.
Agency fees charged to you for a long-term flat (the landlord pays them by law).
A rent far below similar rooms on Idealista or Fotocasa.
Before you rent: practical guides
- Student Accommodation Abroad 2026: Types, Costs and How To Avoid Scams
- Erasmus Student Residences 2026: Prices by City and How to Get a Place
- Room, Residence or Shared Flat: What to Choose for an Exchange
- When to Look for Student Housing Abroad: Month by Month
- Where to Live on Exchange: How to Choose a Neighbourhood (with City Examples)
- Before You Sign: 12 Questions and the Student Rental Contract Checklist
Weather in Zaragoza & what to pack
Zaragoza has cold, windy winters (about 11°C by day in January) and hot summers around 33°C.
| Month | Conditions | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January 11° / 3° | 🌤️ 23.6 mm of precipitation23.6 mm of precipitation, cool | |
| February 13° / 4° | 🌤️ 19.8 mm of precipitation19.8 mm of precipitation, mild | |
| March 18° / 6° | 🌤️ 28 mm of precipitation28 mm of precipitation, mild | |
| April 20° / 9° | 🌤️ 40 mm of precipitation40 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| May 25° / 12° | 🌤️ 40.2 mm of precipitation40.2 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| June 30° / 16° | 🌤️ 28.5 mm of precipitation28.5 mm of precipitation, hot | |
| July 33° / 19° | 🌤️ 16.5 mm of precipitation16.5 mm of precipitation, hot | |
| August 32° / 19° | 🌤️ 17.8 mm of precipitation17.8 mm of precipitation, hot | |
| September 27° / 15° | 🌤️ 27.3 mm of precipitation27.3 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| October 22° / 11° | 🌤️ 34 mm of precipitation34 mm of precipitation, warm | |
| November 15° / 7° | 🌤️ 34 mm of precipitation34 mm of precipitation, mild | |
| December 11° / 3° | 🌤️ 19.1 mm of precipitation19.1 mm of precipitation, cool |
Cold, dry winters (about 11°C by day in January, often with the strong cierzo wind) and very hot summers, around 33°C in July.
Packing checklist
- A windproof coat and scarf for the cierzo.
- Light clothes and sun protection for June to September.
- Comfortable shoes: the centre is flat and easy to walk.
Cost of living for students in Zaragoza
Plan on about EUR 750–1,000 a month with a room in a shared flat, one of the lowest budgets among Spain’s big cities.
| Category | Range / mo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room - private market | EUR 314 – 385 | A room in a three-bedroom flat: Numbeo lists EUR 943 (outside the centre) to EUR 1,156 (centre) for a 3-bedroom in November 2026, divided by three. |
| Private Apartment 1bed | EUR 686 – 809 | One-bedroom outside vs. in the centre, Numbeo, November 2026. |
| Utilities And Mobile | EUR 65 – 85 | Your share of utilities for an 85 m² flat (about EUR 145 in total, split three ways), a phone plan (about EUR 10) and your share of broadband (about EUR 19), Numbeo, November 2026. Heating and air conditioning raise bills in winter and summer. |
Private-market baseline
Use the standard student budget as a private-market planning range. Shared housing can cost less than a private apartment, especially outside the centre.
University and public housing
Campus halls, CROUS or an equivalent public option may cost substantially less. Prices, shared-room conditions and eligibility depend on the institution, and availability is never assumed in the standard range.
Going out & dining
Source: Numbeo · Prices approximate, updated periodically.
Is Zaragoza safe for students?
Zaragoza is a calm and safe city for students.
Zaragoza is a calm, safe city for students. Take normal care with phones and bags in El Tubo at night and in the crowds of the Fiestas del Pilar.
Top risks
- Phone and bag theft in crowded bars and at the Fiestas del Pilar.
- Heat stroke in July and August.
- Strong cierzo gusts on bikes and scooters.
Getting around Zaragoza
Bus and tram trips cost EUR 0.55 with the Tarjeta Bus, and the tram links Campus San Francisco with Campus Río Ebro.
🚊 Tram line 1
Runs north–south from Valdespartera through Plaza San Francisco, the centre and Actur (Campus Río Ebro).
Half price on 30, 90 and 365-day passes for under-30s with the Carnet Joven.
🚌 City buses (Avanza Zaragoza)
Dense network with night buses (Búho) at weekends; the same card works on bus and tram.
Carnet Joven discount on passes.
🚲 Bizi bike share
Docking stations across the flat centre and the campuses; riverside bike lanes.
Install a travel eSIM before departure and connect as soon as you land. Use code ODISEA10 for 10% off. Check Saily eSIM plans
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Things to do in Zaragoza as a student
El Pilar, the Aljafería, the Fiestas del Pilar in October and the Holy Week drums.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
Year-round
Free; small fee for the tower lift
The baroque basilica on the Ebro with Goya frescoes, and views from its tower.
Aljafería Palace
Year-round
Low entry fee; free on Sundays
An 11th-century Moorish palace that now houses the Aragonese parliament.
La Seo Cathedral
Year-round
Paid entry
Mudéjar walls, Gothic chapels and a tapestry museum next to Plaza del Pilar.
Caesaraugusta Theatre Museum
Year-round
Low entry fee
The remains of a Roman theatre for 6,000 people in the middle of the old town.
Puente de Piedra and the Ebro riverside
Year-round
Free
Walk or cycle along the river for the classic view of El Pilar at sunset.
Central Market
Monday–Saturday
Free to visit
An early-1900s iron market for cheap fresh food near the old town.
Parque Grande José Antonio Labordeta
Year-round
Free
The city’s big park, a short walk from Campus San Francisco, for running and picnics.
hype
Fiestas del Pilar
October (10–18 October in 2026)
Free; concerts and fairground extra
Nine days of concerts, fireworks and the Ofrenda de Flores, when a huge flower cloak covers the Virgin in Plaza del Pilar.
medium
Holy Week drums
March or April
Free
Brotherhoods with thousands of drums and bass drums fill the old town; very different from the Andalusian Holy Week.
Expo site and Parque del Agua
Year-round
Free
The 2008 Expo grounds by the river, with the Water Tower, the Bridge Pavilion and a large riverside park.
Universities in Zaragoza for exchange students
The University of Zaragoza takes Erasmus and bilateral exchange students across its city campuses.
University of Zaragoza
Aragon's public university (Universidad de Zaragoza): about 33,900 students, 1,057 incoming international mobility students in 2024-25, strong engineering, veterinary, health and science faculties, and an exchange that runs almost entirely in Spanish across several Zaragoza campuses plus Huesca and Teruel.
Student social life in Zaragoza
Student life centres on El Tubo, Plaza San Francisco and the riverside, with ESN Zaragoza running trips.
What Students Usually Get Wrong
Student Associations
ESN Zaragoza
Welcome activities, trips around Aragón and language exchanges.
University of Zaragoza International Relations
Exchange admissions, welcome information and paperwork help for incoming students.
Meeting Places 5
Public Groups 2
r/zaragoza
Local forum, useful for housing and paperwork questions.
r/GoingToSpain
Forum for people moving to Spain: NIE, empadronamiento, renting and bank questions.