CIEE College Study Abroad in Barcelona, Spain

My experience abroad was incredible. The staff of CIEE was wonderful and made the experience as educational and enjoyable as possible. This program allowed us to travel throughout Spain and immerse ourselves in the culture. The staff in this program went the extra mile to make sure we were comfortable and able to thrive. The front desk staff especially was always so friendly and willing to give recommendations for everything, even if it is just where to go to lunch that day. This program brings in people from several different schools so you have the opportunity to meet a plethora of new people and make lifelong friendships.

CIEE Barcelona Program was an immersive experience where I was able to explore new cultures, meet new people, and travel throughout Europe. I really enjoyed all the activities CIEE offered while in Spain, such as the Tapas Cooking Class and Montserrat day trip! My teachers at CIEE were always willing to give out travel recommendations to all their students. They were fully invested in their jobs as teachers and always made sure to make their classes fun, yet informative. The location of the school was on a quiet side street in the center of Barcelona with purple flowers surrounding the building. I loved my metro and walk to school everyday and felt like a true local!

My journey with the CIEE program Advanced Liberal Arts was an experience I will never forget. From being immersed in Spanish University classes, to meeting other US students from around the country, to going on excursions, I had such an amazing time. I recommend this program and CIEE to everyone who is wanting to study abroad. I learned so much, experienced so much and wish I could do it all over again. I truly will never forget all of the memorable experiences CIEE provided me with and the amazing staff and classes I was able to experience.

The CIEE staff were supportive and explained about tourist traps and safety tips. They were helpful with recommendations from bookstores, entertainment, and restaurants.

Barcelona is one of the best cities in Europe for nightlife due to the siesta culture. Like anywhere be safe about traveling at night especially as a female.

Public transportation is the best! The metro and bus was fun for first-timers like me. But, I mostly walked everywhere. It's also very accessible other to places in Spain (& Europe) like Ibiza which I took by ferry.

My homestay location was safe. However, think again about housing if you are a picky eater. But it did help my Spanish skills. Spanish food isn't everyone's favorite though. When going out I ate anything but Spanish food.

My favorite part about CIEE was the experiences they offered every week. My first weekend in Barcelona I went with my friends on a day trip to Sitges which is a small town on the coast of Spain. I did another day trip to Girona and Tossa de Mar. Both of these trips were coordinated by the CIEE staff and all we had to do was sign up and get to the meeting point. They also offered small activities during the week such as visiting the best tapas restaurants in Barcelona and going on cable cars up to a castle. These activities helped us feel immersed in the Barcelona culture, meet people and explore the city.

I had an amazing experience in this program, particularly because of the connections that I made. I lived with a host family and felt so welcomed by them. I got to practice my Spanish with them, learn traditional recipes, and participate in cultural activities. I highly recommend taking advantage of this housing option if you feel your language abilities are strong enough. I also made some amazing friends through the program who I still keep in contact with. Finally, the city of Barcelona had an abundance of cultural activities. I tried to go to a new place everyday, and was able to get through an entire month without getting bored. One of my favorite things was the modernist architecture all over the city.

By studying with CIEE, I was able to meet so many people from different schools who were in my program that became lifelong friends. I lived in a very nice apartment in Barcelona with 6 other girls. This helped me to really feel like I was living on my own in the city, but still provided me with the support of other girls who were in the same boat as me because it can be scary at first. Living in an apartment I was able to integrate into the culture while practicing independence. The two months that I spent there were the best two months of my life and I have the best memories around Barcelona. In addition to all of the fun memories, I also learned so much from my professors who were very qualified and from all around the world. The provided me with perspectives that I wouldn’t have found at my university in America. This experience changed my life for the better and I highly recommend studying abroad with CIEE.

I had an amazing time and CIEE made it all the more better. The weekend excursions provided gave all students the opportunity to embrace the great culture and sites all across Spain. The teachers in the program were very nice and helpful. The teachers created a collaborative environment and even took us on field trips throughout Barcelona that helped us better our understanding of class content and the city itself. I highly recommend to any college students who are looking for a easygoing- relatively neutral place in Europe to study abroad.