Spain: Spanish Culture and Exploration

Orientation in Madrid

Photo of two girls in Spain.

Your adventure begins with an action-packed three- or four-day orientation in Madrid. Put your Spanish to use as you order tapas in a local café, ask for directions to the Palacio Real, and explore the city’s medieval streets. Visits to incredible museums on the "museum mile," discussions in city parks, and exploration of diverse neighborhoods strengthen your understanding of contemporary Spanish life and culture. Your orientation concludes with a full-day excursion to historic Toledo.

Homestay and Travel

Participants at lunch

Following orientation, spend two weeks in a small Spanish town, where your homestay family welcomes you as one of their own. Take day trips into the lush countryside, along the coast, and through picturesque surrounding towns. Your Spanish experience concludes with a four-day journey through historic towns and bustling cities. Past groups have explored the dynamic Basque cities of Gexto and Bilbao, the Catalonian capital of Barcelona, and the Andalusian city of Sevilla.

Sample host communities: Vejer de la Frontera, Girona, Getxo, Gijón

Sample activities: Explore castle ruins and cathedrals; relax with your friends at street-side cafés; visit the Alcazar in Sevilla; experience the Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres; take part in street fiestas; stroll through Barcelona’s famous Las Ramblas.

Code: ESS (3 weeks)
Features: Travel
Prerequisites: Spanish (at least 2 years)
Depart/Return: New York