How To Know If You Should Study Abroad in Salamanca, Spain

Every day I am so grateful that I chose to study abroad in Salamanca, Spain. Before arriving, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of this city that I had never heard of before. So, I have laid out a few details of Salamanca that I hope help you to decide if this is the place you want to spend a semester (or a full academic year!). 

First, if you want to be in a city, but aren’t quite sure if you’re ready for Barcelona or Madrid, Salamanca is perfect for you. Salamanca has a city feel, with tall buildings, lots of people, is very walkable, and has beautiful parks, without being the size of cities like Barcelona and Madrid. You get the best of both worlds in feeling like you’re living in a city, without feeling overwhelmed by the size. 

If you’re a fan of intricate, old, beautiful architecture with a lot of history behind it, go ahead and book your flight now. Salamanca is packed with gorgeous buildings that I could look at for hours. The cathedrals, the library, sometimes even random shops, have the most incredible designs etched in them, and each one comes with its own story. In the classes you take at the IES Abroad Salamanca center, you will get the opportunity to visit and learn all about these architectural feats. 

If you come from a small liberal arts school like I do, you are used to small class sizes and professors who know you by name and know all about your interests. If you want to keep this intimate feel, studying abroad in Salamanca through IES Abroad is the right choice. The small but mighty staff of five mimics the experience of attending my little college in Atlanta. Each one of them knows all 30 cohort members by name (and, incredibly, knew them the minute we landed in Spain), and when I stop by the IES Salamanca center, I am able to talk with each of them comfortably, as they are all very present in the experiences of the students. 

Also, if you really want to leave fluent in Spanish, Salamanca is the place for you! In Madrid a lot of people will speak English to you once they realize you’re not a native speaker, but in Salamanca, it is Spanish all the way. Of course, there are people who can and will speak in English, but for the most part you will be navigating the world in Spanish. This is a beautiful experience as it will force you to step out of your comfort zone and leave being extremely proficient in the language. 

If you love to walk, choose Salamanca! This city is the definition of walkable, especially with the location of the housing and the IES Abroad center. You are mere minutes away from the Plaza Mayor, the commercial center of the city, and can walk pretty much anywhere. Among my friends, we walk most places, with the city bus being used on occasion. This city is so walkable, you can’t even call an Uber (literally, the app doesn’t even register in the city). A 30-minute walk feels like nothing once you’ve been here a few weeks! 

If you want to be in a student town, Salamanca is perfect. Home to two prominent universities, this city is packed with college students. This makes finding friends and fun activities extremely easy. Plus, immersion is inevitable as you interact with Spanish-speaking students daily who can help you improve your Spanish skills. 

And finally, if you love to see people in love, choose Salamanca. The PDA in Salamanca (and Europe in general) is something I have never seen in my life. As a romantic, I think it is sweet how open people are with their affection (though sometimes when you’re eating breakfast in a café at 10 A.M. it can be a little overwhelming). But, if you’re a lover of love, and don’t mind seeing a couple be very affectionate in the street, come to Salamanca! 

This city is amazing, makes it easy to travel to other countries, and provides a perfect environment for a study abroad experience. I can’t recommend this program and location enough!