<p>Hey guys, I need some help.
I am planning to study abroad in Spain during the spring 2014 semester.
The thing is I'm having a REALLY hard time picking a city.
I just wanted to see if you guys could give me some advice and opinions on the cities.
These are the things I'm looking for:</p>
<p>-Close to the beach
-Nightlife
-Lots of things to do
-Good weather
-Outdoor Activities (I'm huge on sports, hiking, jogging, etc.)
-GREEN (From Arizona, US so it'd be nice to change it up)
-Easy to travel from</p>
<p>I've been leaning towards Barcelona BUT by going to such a big city I'm worried I'll miss out on experiencing the true Spanish culture.
My options are: Barcelona, Granada, Madrid, Sevilla, Alicante, Salamanca, Valencia, and Palma de Mallorca.
Oh and I'm fluent in Spanish so the language is not a problem.
Thanks guys :)</p>
<p>Do you speak Catalan? If not, avoid areas where it’s spoken in a big way</p>
<p>I haven’t been to all of those places but Granada is just beautiful. Alicanti is full of drunken holiday makers from northern Europe (UK, Ireland, Holland, Germany etc) so it has lots of nightlife but I expect you would learn less Spanish.</p>
<p>You’re gonna have a great time wherever you go! </p>
<p>But here is some more info:</p>
<p>Green: the only places you mentioned where you might find some green is Granada. Granada is the one place I have not been to, but I have heard great things about it from foreigners and Spaniards alike.</p>
<p>Alicante is fanstastic - any closer to the beach and it would be under the water. There is plenty to do. It is a tourist destination, but it is also it’s own city. There’s tons to do in Alicante.</p>
<p>Salamanca is also super fantastic - but nowhere near a beach and the surrounding area is pretty flat and dry. There is a small river at the foot of Salamanca which has plenty of trees and greenery, and there’s a soccer field and track, as well as a running path of sorts there, too - but hiking like you have it in Arizona…that you wont find.</p>
<p>Barcelona needs no introduction. It is also in the north of Spain, which is greener. You are close to the Pyranees…but you can’t exactly walk to them from your house. Barcelona is on the Mediterranean, so you’ll have the ocean, but it’s no where near as nice to the beaches in smaller places like Alicante, M</p>
<p>Hmm, as one who has spent a great deal of time in Spain and is moving there next year, your description of what you want says Valencia. The only time people don’t swim in the Mediterranean is December through mid-February. Very flat, so easy for jogging, cycling, walking. There is a beautiful park in the old Turia River bed that goes from the sea all the way to the BioParc. Not far from nationally protected areas.</p>
<p>Worldcho,</p>
<p>If I were studying abroad, I wouldn’t consider an hour, Which is how long it takes to get there from Granada, as “close to the beach”.</p>
<p>I would go with Valencia! :)</p>
<p>Seville would be my choice. Although remember that it is in andalucia and the accent there is VERY strong. Even if you’re fluent it might take a little while to get used to but it’s worth it. Seville shows true spanish culture and you will be able to take part in awesome events such as la feria de abril. Buena suerte y que te lo pases bien!</p>
<p>Read about the CIEE program in Alcala (near Madrid):</p>
<p>[Study</a> Abroad in Alcala de Henares with CIEE | Liberal Arts](<a href=“http://www.ciee.org/study-abroad/spain/alcala-de-henares/liberal-arts/]Study”>Study Abroad Programs | College Study Abroad | CIEE)</p>
<p>Was just studying abroad this past spring in Madrid and absolutely love it! At first I was a little hesitant because of the big city feel but soon grew to love it and would definitely call it a home. As far as what you were looking for:</p>
<p>-Close to the beach – Not really. This was the only downside. We took a few beach trips at the end of our trip to beach destinations.
-Nightlife – Never a dry moment. Plenty to do. So many cool places that you will find.
-Lots of things to do – In such a big city you will never get bored.
-Good weather – No mater where you go in Spain I think the weather is pretty comparable except for the Canary Islands which always seem to be nice.
-Outdoor Activities (I’m huge on sports, hiking, jogging, etc.) – You can find plenty of things to do around or just outside the city.
-GREEN (From Arizona, US so it’d be nice to change it up) – RETIRO PARK!!! enough said. this was my favorite place. living just on the edge, went to the park at least 3 times a week and enjoyed every minute of it.
-Easy to travel from – Trains, flights, buses…you name it, you can get anywhere.</p>
<p>Check out this video my friends and I made of our trip. [Study</a> Abroad Video - Madrid 2013 - YouTube](<a href=“Study Abroad Video - Madrid 2013 - YouTube”>Study Abroad Video - Madrid 2013 - YouTube)</p>
<p>I can highly recommend to study Spanish in Alicante. It is a very nice city on the coast. There are no dialects. I have studied in Elcano Spanish school. (<a href=“http://www.escuela-elcano.com/”>http://www.escuela-elcano.com/</a>) There are good teachers, the prices of the courses are very favorable. They also organize a lot of activities and trips and they can offer you accommodation in a shared flat or in a family.</p>
<p>I would recommend Salamanca. I’ve been living in Spain for a few months now, and I can say you might want to revise the “green” part of your wish list. Galicia is very green, as well as coastal parts of El País Vasco, but in general Spain is quite rocky. The Andalusian accent is absolutely horrendous; I’ve met quite a few people from Seville that even my native Spanish friends have trouble understanding. Salamanca really does have a great nightlife and youth culture due to the university despite its comparatively small size. </p>
<p>If you’re not willing to learn a bit of Catalan, don’t even consider going near Barcelona, Valencia, or the Balearics. Catalans are very proud of their culture/language (justifiably so considering how long it was oppressed). I just moved to the Barcelona metropolitan area and I usually see English translations before I see Spanish ones. </p>
<p>Madrid could be viable as well. You’ll never be bored there, and it’s extremely easy to travel. The AVE Madrid-Toledo line only takes about half an hour, and I’m pretty sure Madrid-Barça is about two and a half. If you’re in to soccer, you always have the Bernabeu right in front of you. </p>
<p>Geographically, I think you’d like Valencia the best. If you’re willing to learn their dialect of Catalan, I would definitely study there. If not, Salamanca or Madrid. </p>