Where to live if you work at Distrito Telefónica or Ciudad BBVA
Two of Spain's biggest corporate headquarters sit in the same new neighborhood in north Madrid. These are the areas with a good connection — and the ones that look close on the map but are not by Metro.
- Metro
- Ronda de la Comunicación and Las Tablas (line 10); ML1 light rail next to Ciudad BBVA
- Road
- M-40, M-11 and A-1 a few minutes away
- Nearby
- Business parks continuing towards Alcobendas
Telefónica moved its headquarters to Las Tablas in the late 2000s, and BBVA opened Ciudad BBVA, with its La Vela tower, in 2015. Together they account for thousands of jobs in a new residential neighborhood in north Madrid, surrounded by business parks that continue towards Alcobendas.
The key when choosing a home is that the two headquarters, barely more than a kilometre apart, do not behave the same way. Telefónica has its own station on line 10; Ciudad BBVA is better reached by light rail from Las Tablas or Pinar de Chamartín. That is why the table gives both times.
Areas and commutes
Time by Metro, light rail and Cercanías commuter rail to arrive before 09:00 on a weekday, leaving from the station shown. Road distance and rent per m² relative to the Madrid city average (= 100).
| Area | From | To Telefónica | To BBVA | By road | Rent per m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Tablas and Sanchinarro | Las Tablas | 4 minL10direct | 12 minML1direct | 0.8 km | 102 |
| Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes | Marqués de la Valdavia | 11 minL10direct | 26 minL10ML11 change | 4.7 km | 85 |
| La Moraleja | La Moraleja | No Metro or train within a reasonable walk | No Metro or train within a reasonable walk | 5.1 km | no data |
| Chamartín | Colombia | 33 minL9L102 changes | 44 minL8L4ML12 changes | 7.9 km | 122 |
| Tetuán | Tetuán | 30 minL1L102 changes | 37 minL1ML11 change | 11 km | 115 |
| Centro | Tribunal | 33 minL101 change | 47 minL10ML12 changes | 14.4 km | 127 |
| Tres Cantos | Tres Cantos | 42 minC4L102 changes | 57 minC4L10ML13 changes | 13.3 km | 82 |
| Arturo Soria and Conde de Orgaz | Arturo Soria | 49 minL4L7L103 changes | 41 minL4ML11 change | 9.4 km | 111 |
| Salamanca | Velázquez | 38 minL4L102 changes | 52 minL4L10ML13 changes | 13.2 km | 131 |
| Chamberí | Iglesia | 38 minL1L102 changes | 45 minL1ML11 change | 13.5 km | 133 |
| Ciudad Lineal | Ciudad Lineal | 47 minL5L7L103 changes | 62 minL5L7L103 changes | 11.9 km | 95 |
What each area offers
- Las Tablas and SanchinarroLiving in the neighborhood itself: a few minutes to either headquarters and gated developments with pools.
- Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los ReyesStraight to Telefónica on line 10 and cheaper than Madrid city; for BBVA, add the light rail.
- La MoralejaA few kilometres by road, but no Metro within a reasonable walk: the car option.
- ChamartínResidential Madrid with the best Metro link here: lines 9 and 10 to Telefónica; BBVA needs one more change.
- TetuánLines 1 and 10 heading north, with a real neighborhood and lower rent per square metre than Chamartín.
- CentroLine 10 goes from Tribunal to Telefónica with a single change at Tres Olivos: the option for people who do not want to live in a new-build area.
- Tres CantosCercanías to Chamartín and line 10: a longer trip, in exchange for a quiet, cheaper town.
- Arturo Soria and Conde de OrgazClose on the map and far by Metro, with several changes. By road it is about nine kilometres.
- SalamancaA great place to live, but you will travel: two changes to Telefónica and three to BBVA.
- ChamberíJourney times similar to Salamanca's, on lines 1 and 10.
- Ciudad LinealThe longest on the list: closeness in kilometres does not translate into Metro time.
How to choose
Telefónica and BBVA are not the same destination
From Alcobendas, Telefónica is a short ride on line 10 while BBVA means adding the light rail. From Las Tablas, both are close. If one person in your household works at each, the neighborhood itself is the obvious answer; if not, read the column that applies to you.
A car changes the list
La Moraleja, Arturo Soria and Conde de Orgaz are a few kilometres away by road but poorly connected by Metro. If you will drive — and access via the M-11 and A-1 is good — the road distance in the table tells you more than the public transport time.
Frequently asked questions
Which Metro station serves Distrito Telefónica?
Line 10, at Ronda de la Comunicación station. Las Tablas, also on line 10, is next door and connects with the ML1 light rail.
What is the best area to live in if you work at Ciudad BBVA?
For commute time, Las Tablas and Sanchinarro itself, with the light rail a few minutes away. If you prefer somewhere more urban, Chamartín and Tetuán are the best-connected options in Madrid city, with one or two changes.
Can I live in central Madrid and work in Las Tablas?
Yes: line 10 connects the centre with Distrito Telefónica with a single change at Tres Olivos, in a little over half an hour according to official timetables. Ciudad BBVA takes a bit longer.
Where the numbers come from
Commutes: scheduled times from the official GTFS feeds of Metro de Madrid and Metro Ligero (Consorcio Regional de Transportes) and Cercanías (Renfe) for 29 September 2026, arriving before 09:00. Includes walking to the station and changes; excludes buses.
Road: distance calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap. We give no driving time: without real rush-hour traffic it would be misleading.
Rent: SERPAVI, Spain's Ministry of Housing, contracts declared in 2024. Index 100 = Madrid city average. A position, never euros.