Hortaleza is a district of Madrid located in the northeast of the city with origins of town and that today comprises six districts: Pinar del Rey, Canillas, Valdefuentes, Apostle Santiago, Piovera and Palomas. It is a mainly residential area and, despite not being in the center, many young people choose to seek university accommodation in Hortaleza, due to its good connections to the University City (a 27-minute metro ride from Pinar del Rey) and its good Offer of rooms for students. It is also very convenient to go to Barajas airport.

The district has excellent public transport services. It has two train stations of Cercanías (in Fuente de la Mora and Valdebebas) and numerous regular and nocturnal bus lines. The metro is the most common way of transportation and lines 4 and 8 are the main axes that cross the district. Some of the most important stops are Pinar del Rey (line 9), Hortaleza (line 4) and Canillejas (line 5). Other universities are less than 40 minutes from Hortaleza. For example, from Pinar del Rey it takes 34 minutes by subway to the ICADE business school and 38 minutes to the main campus of the Autonomous.