Móstoles is the second-largest city in population belonging to the autonomous community of Madrid. It is located 18 kilometres southwest from central Madrid. Móstoles was for a long time only a small village, but expanded rapidly in the twentieth century.

To some extent it is a dormitory suburb of Madrid, but it is also home to several polígonos (industrial estates). The city also hosts the main campus of the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.

Politically, the city has moved from the left to the right in recent years. Since 2003, the mayor of Móstoles has been Esteban Parro del Prado (Partido Popular).

Mostoles has about 206.015 residents, Mostoles is located in the Community of Madrid, near the city of Madrid, is the municipality with more residents of the Community of Madrid.

Móstoles became famous on May 2, 1808, when, although it was only a small village, one of its two mayors, Andrés Torrejón, declared war on France, following the Dos de Mayo Uprising the same day in Madrid which started the Peninsular War. A resident of Móstoles, Manuela Malasaña, became a popular heroine of the uprising that day; a subway station and secondary school in Móstoles and a neighbourhood in Madrid are named after her.