Best 7 places to learn Spanish in Spain

Are you thinking of learning Spanish but you’re not sure where to go? Don’t worry, here we’ll help you narrow down your choices.

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world after Chinese and it’s the official language in 20 countries. Therefore, it’s a great choice if you want to pick up something new and live an unforgettable experience.

Even though going to a language institute is a good start, if you want to learn faster, the best way is to do a Spanish course in a Spanish speaking country. You could go to many places but Spain is definitely one of your best choices. What better way to learn Spanish than doing it in the place where Spanish was born?

There are many cities to choose from but some are better than others for language learning. That’s why today we’ll have a look at the best 7 places to learn Spanish in Spain.

The Best 7 places to learn Spanish in Spain

Barcelona

If you’re looking for a beautiful place to learn Spanish, Barcelona is one of your top options. The second-biggest Spanish city is the most famous city in the Iberian Peninsula and a very popular destination among travelers. 

Apart from stunning beaches, the city offers plenty of incredible attractions such as the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Gothic Quarter, and Las Ramblas. Additionally, it’s an excellent place for football fans as it’s home to Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s stadium.

It’s true that many locals in Barcelona speak the local language (Catalan). However, they also speak Spanish with a very clear accent making it easy to understand.

Being a tourist destination, Barcelona has a big airport and excellent train and flight connections to other places in Europe.

It’s worth noting that Barcelona isn’t the cheapest city in terms of accommodation or eating out, especially in summer. But that doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune. If you stick to local places and look for rooms or flats outside the tourist areas you can find affordable options.

Valencia

Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain and arguably one of the most underrated. It enjoys agreeable temperatures year-round and fantastic beaches making it one of the best places to live in

Valencia is home to the famous City of Arts and Science built by Santiago Calatrava, a beautiful old town, vibrant Central Market, and the Fallas, a local festival that takes place in March. In addition, this city is famous for being the birthplace of paella.

Even though some locals speak Valencian (a dialect of Catalan), they also speak Spanish and their accent is very clear making it an excellent choice to learn Spanish.

Want to know more? Read 13 reasons why you should visit Valencia

Málaga

The coastal city Malaga has experienced an incredible development in the last 10 years. Its stunning beaches, warm weather year-round, and rich Moorish history make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Andalusia.

With nearly 570,000 inhabitants, Málaga is also known as the “capital of the Costa del Sol”. However, it isn’t as big as Madrid or Barcelona so you can walk or cycle to most places. 

Málaga is well connected to other major cities in Europe and to many other coastal towns along the Costa del Sol making it an ideal destination for beach lovers.

Granada

Granada is the favorite city of many Spaniards for good reason. This city has a rich Moorish history, a beautiful cathedral, and it’s home to the Albaycín neighborhood and the famous Alhambra. Additionally, the Sierra Nevada Mountains are only 30 kilometers away and there are amazing beaches nearly 1 hour away. 

Even though it only has around 250,000 inhabitants, Granada has a vibrant atmosphere. The University of Granada has more than 80,000 students every year so it’s a great place to meet young people.

Granada is also famous for its cheap and big tapas making it an excellent option for those looking for a medium-size city with affordable prices.

Do you need more information? Here you’ll find the 15 reasons why you should visit Granada

Salamanca

Salamanca is a city located 200 kilometers west of Madrid, and only 1 hour from Portugal. It has nearly 150,000 inhabitants of which more than 30,000 are students.

Salamanca has a stunning old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s full of monuments. Some of the highlights are the famous Salamanca University, the Old and the New cathedrals, Plaza Mayor, and the Roman Bridge.

It’s said that Salamanca locals boast one of the clearest accents in Spain. Additionally, accommodation and eating out are cheap making it a great place to study Spanish.

Madrid

Madrid is one of those cities that the more you know it the more you like it. The Spanish capital has a lot of great attractions such as the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, San Miguel Market, La Latina and Malasaña neighborhoods, and its magical plazas.

It’s also home to Santiago Bernabeu and Wanda Metropolitano, Real Madrid’s and Atlético Madrid’s stadiums respectively, making it an excellent option for football lovers.

From Madrid, you can take day-trips to Toledo or Segovia, both less than 1 hour away. Additionally, Madrid is in the center of Spain and it’s very well connected with the rest of the country and with other cities in Europe.

It’s worth noting that Madrid isn’t as cheap as Salamanca or Granada. However, there are plenty of cheap bars and accommodation options in the city so you’ll find the ones that best suit your budget.

San Sebastián

San Sebastián is a beautiful coastal city in the Spanish Basque Country. It’s arguably one of the most famous cities in northern Spain and for good reason. 

San Sebastián is home to La Concha, one of the best beaches in Europe, and Monte Igueldo, from which you can enjoy amazing views of the city. Additionally, it has a lovely old town and a world-class gastronomy scene with three 3-Michelin star restaurants and its delicious pintxos.

If you want to explore more of northern Spain and France, this city is a great base. It’s only 30 minutes away from France and only 45 minutes from Biarritz and Bayonne.

In San Sebastián, many people speak a local language called Basque. However, they all speak Spanish so you won’t have any problems to practice.

It’s worth noting that this coastal city gets very busy in summer so expect higher accommodation prices and more people from June to September.

Still not convinced? Here you’ll find 7 reasons why you should visit San Sebastián.
If you like beaches, find here the 7 most beautiful and secret beaches in Spain and other places to learn Spanish near the beach, apart from San Sebastián.

Conclusion

If you want to study Spanish, taking a course in Spain is probably your best choice. You’ll learn in the classes and you’ll be able to apply all that knowledge straightaway speaking with locals. Not only will you master a new language but also have a wonderful time!

At Linguaschools we offer many different courses depending on your level, time, and preferences. You can get more information about our Spanish courses here or contact us, we’ll be happy to answer all your questions!

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