The Top 5 Places in the World to Learn Spanish
Tl;dr: the top five places to learn Spanish in the world are Medellin, Colombia; Valencia, Spain; Valparaiso, Chile; Sevilla, Spain; Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am not sponsored by any of the links you may click on, this article simply reflects my honest opinion.
Spanish is picking up speed! More and more people decide to learn it as a second language when they’re traveling or simply for the fun of it.
After all, it is both an agreeable and not-so-hard language to learn and it is very pretty.
I personally think of Spanish as the language of love, holidays, and party.
Having experienced (and succeeded) at learning the Castillan language, I thought I’d throw a shortlist of the best places in the world where you can learn Spanish.
Ready?
1. Medellin, Colombia
The former world capital of crime has done a herculean job at cleaning up its streets and decrease violence. Medellin, the “city of the eternal spring”, has transformed today into a hub for digital nomads and is one of the safest and nicest spots to visit in South America.
I actually lived in Medellin to learn Spanish, and it was one of the most informative experiences of my life. The nature was incredible, the food was amazing, the people were lovely, the city was cheap, the streets were safe and the teachers I had were extremely knowledgeable.
Medellin has no downside, and I would highly encourage anyone that is thinking to learn Spanish to consider it.
If you decide to choose Medellin, check out Total Spanish School, they are located in the heart of the city and welcome students every Monday from all levels. They also organize cultural trips and dinners for newcomers in a local restaurant serving local food.
2. Valencia, Spain
Valencia, Spain is one of my favorite cities in the world for several reasons. First, its beaches are the safest in all of Spain.
Second, the Jardins del Turia provides an easy escape in nature, with its sports infrastructures and parks and gardens.
Third, the Ciudad de Las Ciencias is one of the most impressive architectural projects I have ever seen, offering arts, cafes, clubs, and a cinema.
Finally, the city offers what any other Spanish city located by the coast offers: it is flat, it has public bikes, it’s easy to move around, the weather is amazing, the streets are safe, the food is tasty and cheap…what else to ask for?
Valencia is the city I went to originally to learn Spanish. I spent a month there, went to class during the day, and partied at night. It was one of the craziest and most extreme months in my life, and I was relieved to go back to Belgium after it because I don’t know if I could have survived two other weeks.
In Valencia, I went to school at Hispania, a local school. I chose it because they seemed to have the best quality/price ratio, and I ended up being very happy with my choice!
3. Valparaiso, Chile
Valparaiso is a coastal town located about an hour away from Santiago, Chile’s capital. It used to be a rich and famous city thanks to its port which brought in South American Asian and Western American products in the 19th century.
Unfortunately, when the Panama Canal opened, bridging the Atlantic with the Pacific, trade literally collapsed in the Valparaiso port, and so did the population of the city.
Today, however, Valparaiso has been resurrected. It is an important touristic, cultural and economic center in Chile thanks on one hand to its port, the biggest of the country and one its amazing architecture, bringing tourists and artists from around the world.
This is not surprising since the city’s colorful buildings made it a very pleasant place to live in, and finding accommodation is not too hard.
While the Chilean accent is for sure weird compared to the rest of Spanish speakers in the world, Valparaiso is nonetheless a great city to learn Spanish!
4. Sevilla, Spain
I am going to tell you a secret. Sevilla is the sunniest place in Europe. It also boasts three UNESCO protected sites due to its rich history being the capital of the European Muslim Caliphate for almost a thousand years.
One of the most tourist cities in Southern Europe, Sevilla is also an ideal place to live…and to learn Spanish! The fourth biggest city in Spain, it is located about 1h30 away from the nearest surfing beach.
Just like Valencia, you can easily move around with public bikes since the city is flat. On the plus side, the streets are safe to walk at night.
You will have more than enough to do during the weekend. From museums and exhibitions to outdoor activities in parks and the city itself, Sevilla has every cultural pastime you could wish for. The food is cheap and great, the city retains an international and student population, and the rent won’t be as high as in Barcelona or Madrid.
Sevilla is therefore a great choice to learn Spanish!
5. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires directly translates to the “good winds” in English. It is therefore not surprising it stands as one of the most amazing cities to spend time in South America.
Despite the city boasting amazing architecture, crazy parties, a rich history, and the sexiest tango dancers on the planet, you will learn to appreciate Buenos Aires…for its food! Some say it is even better than European food, but I won’t comment on that statement.
Buenos Aires is the ideal destination for anyone wishing to learn Spanish. Situated at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, you’ll certainly appreciate the atmosphere of the city wrapped in the colonial architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries. Considered one of the most European towns of the continent, you’ll get the best of both worlds!
The city will give you plenty of activities to do. From parks to museums, you will be able to choose among 26 public libraries to sit at and revise your Spanish vocabulary.
After all, isn’t this why you came to Buenos Aires at first?
Picture: Photo by Daniel Vargas on Unsplash