Last September, I moved into an old apartment in Madrid’s Malasaña district. At the time, I thought the location was perfect—close to the metro station and surrounded by bars and restaurants. But after six months, I’m going crazy. The noise problem is seriously affecting my normal life.
Let me start with my upstairs neighbors—apparently a young couple who only become active after 11 PM every night. The sound of dragging chairs, footsteps, and occasionally moving furniture—it feels like the entire building is shaking. The most absurd incident was hearing them dancing at 2 AM, with music penetrating through the ceiling. Downstairs is a small bar. Weekdays are okay, but every Friday and Saturday night, the sound of customers chatting and music continues until 3 or 4 AM.
I consulted several local friends who said apartments in Madrid’s old town are basically all like this. The buildings are old, with thin walls and floor slabs. Some structures built in the late 19th to early 20th century never considered modern soundproofing standards. Later, I researched and found that Spain’s building code CTE DB-HR only began enforcing stricter soundproofing standards in 2009. Older buildings basically don’t meet these requirements.
Solutions I’ve Tried
I tried communicating with my upstairs neighbors. They were friendly enough and said they’d be careful, but there wasn’t much actual improvement. After all, normal living generates noise—you can’t expect people not to walk or move chairs in their Madrid housing. I also complained to property management, but they said they could only mediate without enforcement power. I wanted to install a soundproof ceiling, but the landlord refused any renovations.
Later, I bought noise-canceling earplugs and a white noise machine, which helped somewhat at night. I also added weather stripping to my bedroom window, which at least blocks some street noise. But these are just temporary fixes. They don’t solve the fundamental problem of sound transmission through floor slabs.
Noise Level Comparison Across Different Areas
| Madrid District | Noise Level | Main Noise Sources |
|---|
| Malasaña/Chueca | Very High | Bars, nightlife, tourists |
| Chamberí | Medium | Mainly traffic noise |
| Retiro area | Relatively Low | Quieter residential area |
| Salamanca | Low | Upscale residential, better soundproofing |
I’m now seriously considering moving. Although I love the convenience of the city center, the chronic sleep deprivation is unbearable. Friends have suggested moving to Chamberí or Argüelles, saying those areas are relatively quieter with somewhat newer buildings. But rent would definitely be more expensive, and even Madrid old apartment prices can’t guarantee a completely noise-free situation.
I’d like to ask everyone on the forum: Has anyone encountered a similar situation? How did you solve it? Did you choose to endure it, renovate, or simply move? If moving is the answer, which areas of Madrid housing have relatively better soundproofing? My budget is around 800-1000 euros, and I’m hoping to find somewhere quieter.
