Best places to study in Spain

Many foreigners currently residing in Spain got their first taste of the country’s lifestyle, language, and culture during their time studying abroad – and Spain is consistently ranked as one of the most popular destinations for young students.

In 2024, IIE Open Door reports that 24,000 American students studied in Spain – making it the third most popular destination, and the popular European Erasmus+ welcomed more than 152,000 the year prior.

As an American whose life course was changed by studying abroad in Spain, it’s hard to imagine a better place to spend a summer, a semester or a school year – in fact, I worked in international education for a decade and could see first-hand the benefits of overseas study. But with so many destinations in Spain, where do you even start? Location, expenses and ease of transportation are just part of the puzzle.

What factors to consider when choosing where to study abroad in Spain?

It goes beyond a picture-perfect place for your Instagram feed: keep these things in mind when you’re deciding where to study abroad in Spain:

• Location. Is it close to a big airport? Is it well connected with a train station and other transportation links? Is a city important to me, or would I prefer something closer to nature? Spain’s geography is varied, and it’s a bigger country than you might have previously thought!
• Language. Castillian Spanish is the official language of Spain, but there are six regions that have co-official languages, and it’s a good idea to know if you’ll be studying in one of them.
• Cost of living. Spain is an affordable country compared to the US or the UK, but as with any place, the cost of living can vary greatly depending on where you are and whether or not you will have housing included. Knowing this will help you decide if your city of choice is within your budget. You should also make sure your program has your student health insurance sorted, as you’ll need insurance from a Spanish broker for your visa or your residency.

Another great resource to have a look at before you embark on your adventure is our checklist for moving to Spain for a year or more, to make sure you don’t forget any necessities or have any hiccups with your visa process.

1.   Seville

Think of Spain, and you’ll likely conjure Seville’s cobblestone streets and cultural references, like flamenco and bullfighting. It’s beautiful, walkable, authentic and the capital of Andalusia. Your new favorite pastime will be getting lost in the colorful, narrow streets of Santa Cruz, and tapa-hopping all around the city center. Boasting not one, not two, but three UNESCO world heritage sites, Seville is also home to two of the most famous Spanish festivals known internationally– the Fería de Abril and Easter Week, or Semana Santa. It lands somewhere in the middle as far as cost of living, beating out Madrid and Barcelona, but more expensive than smaller cities around the country.

Drawbacks:

• The only official language here is Spanish, and the level of spoken English isn’t extremely high. In addition, the regional accent in Andalusia can prove difficult even for native Spanish speakers.

2.   Madrid

Exciting and culturally vibrant, the Spanish capital offers literally everything and is a favorite for many people headed to Spain for the first time–students and tourists alike. Madrid has lots to offer, from a bustling gastronomic scene to some of the best museums in the world, plus an airport that connects you to almost anywhere on the map in a matter of hours. Another great reason to choose Madrid is because it is a city of students. Thousands of international students choose Madrid as their destination for studying abroad because of the number of world class universities and programs of study. And the famous nightlife, of course!

Drawbacks:

• The cost of living in Madridis steep, and it is the most expensive city in all of Spain. Also noteworthy is that student housing is scarce and expensive if you plan to live alone or even an international student residence hall.
• Many people will point to Madrid as the “gold standard” of the Spanish language. The accent is easy to understand, and the level of English is higher here than in other areas of Spain, which makes it a good choice for those with a beginner’s level of Spanish but perhaps a pitfall if you want to improve your level.
• Madrid isn’t small–it is the biggest city in Spain and the 3rd largest city in Europe with just over 3.1 million people. Consider if you want to spend a lot of time on the Metro or prefer a more compact city.

3.   Barcelona

No list of the best places to study in Spain could fail to mention one of the crown jewels of Spain. While it isn’t what you would consider “typically” Spanish, it has a flair all its own that truly stands out. Between the incredible architecture of Gaudí sprinkled around the city, the mountains to the east, the Mediterranean to the west, a world-class restaurant scene, world-renown events and concerts every other weekend, and a few of the world’s best universities, Barcelona is for those who are ready to dive in headfirst. While the cost of living is right up there with Madrid, if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.

Drawbacks:

• Catalonia, the autonomous community (similar to a state), that Barcelona belongs to, has strong cultural, political, and linguistic roots that aren’t all Spanish. Catalán is a co-official language and spoken by most locals –sometimes exclusively. Barcelona is also an incredibly international city with quite a high level of English. For these two reasons, if learning Spanish is your primary goal, Barcelona might not be the place where you’ll be able to use it most.

• As with Madrid, Barcelona does not come out a winner in the cost of living department. Be sure you are prepared for the potential costs. 

4.   Salamanca

Salamanca is home to the oldest university in Spain, and the third oldest in Europe. Established in 1218, it has become renowned worldwide for its Spanish language programs, and the engaging student life culture in Salamanca is one of the best in the entire country with nightlife, festivals, restaurants, and cost of living that reflect its young population. With just under 150,000 inhabitants, 28,000 of which are students, it is a relatively small city, and Salamanca is at the top of many students’ list of best places to study in Spain.

As a matter of fact, I chose nearby Valladolid as my study destination over 20 years ago, and it is still “real Spain” to me. The small-town city with a large student population and fame as the region with the purest Spanish drew me to the Castillian capital. If you’re looking for an authentic Spanish experience, don’t be afraid to consider a smaller city like Salamanca, Valladolid or even Trujillo in the Cáceres region!

Drawbacks:

• Salamanca is not well connected with the rest of Spain as with other destinations. There is no high-speed train tracks, so coming from Madrid takes just over two hours, and most other travel around Spain will have to be by bus or through Madrid. If international travel is your thing while abroad, Salamanca may not be for you.

5.   Granada

There is a famous quote that, roughly translated, means, “There is nothing sadder than being blind in Granada,”- and it couldn’t be more true. It is impossible not to be enamored with the charm and beauty of Granada and the vibrant, young, alternative energy that pulsates throughout the city. Rich history abounds around every corner: the city was the last Muslim stronghold before being taken over by the Catholic King and Queen, Ferdinand and Isabella. The incredible Alhambra and accompanying Generalife gardens and narrow, cobbled white streets of the Albaycín neighborhood ooze charm, and the city’s location boasts both mountains and coastline nearby. Moreover, the numerous well-respected universities and university programs available in Granada afford ample opportunities when it comes to student life and activities, plus a wallet-friendly culture (and did I mention free tapas?!).

Drawbacks:

• Like Salamanca, Granada isn’t as well connected as nearby Sevilla or Málaga. The high-speed train arrived just five years ago, and the airport is small and has mostly domestic destinations.

6.   San Sebastian

One of the most stunning towns of northern Spain, San Sebastian, or Donostia as it is called locally, is a great choice for students thinking about a semester or year abroad. The mid-sized city with a population just under 190,000 people wraps itself around the turquoise Concha Bay and is just a half an hour south of the French border. San Sebastian is known the world over for its incredible culinary scene and pintxo culture, making it an absolute foodie haven. Being a part of the Basque country means it has a unique history, both politically, culturally, and linguistically. San Sebastian would be the best place to study abroad in Spain for those looking for something outside your traditional Spain experience.

Drawbacks:

• The local and co-official language of the Basque country is euskara. Unlike other co-official languages in Spain such as Catalan or Galician, whose roots are Latin and therefore similar in many ways to Spanish, Euskara’s exact roots are still unknown and the language itself is difficult to master.
• San Sebastian is on the more expensive end as far as cost of living, so be sure to check out the cost of living there before you decide on your study abroad destination. 

7.   Valencia

Another coastal gem is the city of Valencia. At almost 800,000 inhabitants it is Spain's third biggest city, but despite its size, the cost of living is relatively low. In fact, it beats out every city on this list except for Granada and Salamanca, which makes it perfect for someone looking for a bigger city feel with a smaller city budget. Valencia is easy to get around walking and by bike. The city also boasts the stunning Arts & Science Museum and Aquarium, as well as a beautiful old town city center, perfect for walks along the historic cobblestone streets. And who could forget paella? Valencia is the birthplace of this traditional Spanish rice dish, and you won’t find paella of this quality anywhere else! Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is that the city sits along the beautiful Mediterranean, and you can find many students reading and studying along the famous Malvarrosa beach during the warmer months of the year.

Drawbacks:

• Valencia is part of another autonomous community that has two co-official languages: Spanish and Valencian, which is similar to Catalan. While Valencian may be taught in schools and most locals will speak it fluently, the majority of residents will speak in Spanish so if one of your main goals during your year abroad is to learn Spanish, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice.

It is easy to see that there are many things to take into consideration when deciding where to study abroad in Spain. Cost of living, languages spoken, location and connectedness, just to name a few.

Do you need insurance for your study abroad visa?

To get a student visa to study in Spain, you will absolutely need to take out a health insurance plan that gives you full coverage with no deductible, plus repatriation. Ask your university or program provider if your tuition covers insurance for your student visa, or if you must take it out on your own.

Caser’s health insurance plans meet the requirements for your study visa, and you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing you have full coverage for GPs, specialists and more in Spain – and even as you travel. You’ll have access to a full range of healthcare products and professionals.

Get a free quote in minutes by using Caser’s easy-to-use health insurance quote generator, using your personal information to give you the best price.

A final word of advice

I worked for an American university in Madrid for nearly a decade, welcoming both short-term study abroad students as well as degree-seeking kids from more than 60 countries. My biggest piece of advice is to start your search at your university’s study away office to ask about program compatibility and be sure you stay on track for graduation. I was set on studying in Granada with a friend from a different college, only to find out that my university wouldn’t count my courses taken for credit. In the end, I opted for a smaller city, between castles and vineyards, because it was sponsored by my university and would allow seamless credit transfer to my Spanish degree.

And you know what? It was the perfect place for my goals in language learning. Twenty years later, I speak regularly with my host family and visit as often as I can! Beyond that, I urge you to stay in your host city a few weekends to get a taste for local life and focus on personal connections.

No matter where you end up, your time in Spain will be an incredible experience. Try new foods, stay up late and take advantage of every second of it!