Best places to learn Spanish around the world

Are you thinking of learning Spanish for your next trip? Why not immerse yourself in a Spanish-speaking country and learn Spanish abroad? As Spanish is the official language of 20 countries, there are many fantastic places to learn Spanish.

Spanish has the second-largest number of native speakers in the world. This makes it a really useful language to learn if you are a keen traveller.

There are so many incredible places to learn Spanish worldwide, each with its own culture, history and unique features.

Best places to learn Spanish

Some of the Best places to learn Spanish are Peru, Cuba, Spain, and Costa Rica. You can spend time in these Spanish-speaking countries absorbing the language.

You could also learn Spanish online or with Spanish language CDs and programs and pick up key phrases for your next trip.

Learn Spanish abroad

I’ve compiled a list of some of the best places to learn Spanish in Spanish-speaking countries around the world, from the sunny beaches of Spain to the Latin American vibes of vibrant Mexico.

Spanish is said to be one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. To improve your Spanish language skills, you could hire a language trainer when you are abroad.

Madrid, Spain

Madrid is the best place to learn Spanish in Spain if you want culture and vibrant city life.

Whilst in Madrid, spend time learning Spanish surrounded by contemporary architecture, buzzing nightlife, and foodie finds.

Madrid is also Europe’s culinary capital, and ordering an array of Spanish dishes is a great way to practise your Spanish.

Learning Spanish in Madrid

Try ordering some of the local dishes in Madrid. It’s a great way to use your Spanish skills. Make sure to try Cocido Madrileño [Spanish Stew] and Huevos Rotos [fried potates].

Learn a few simple phrases to make ordering food in a Spanish-speaking country a little easier. To get a table for two, you can say “Una mesa para dos, por favor,” and to ask for the menu, you can say “el menú.” When ordering your dish, you can add “para mí” and then whatever menu item you have chosen.

Madrid Spanish school

The AIL Madrid Spanish school offers small-group Spanish Classes from Monday to Friday. Expect to pay around €170 per week for classes here.

They also offer private Spanish classes for €35 a class. If you want to practise your Spanish in an informal setting, could you also join a Spanish Conversation Meetup group?

Lima, Peru

Lima is one of the best places in Peru to learn Spanish. This sprawling metropolis also has a stunning coastline to explore and admire.

There are lots of things to do in Peru, and the more immersed you get in city life, the more Spanish you will learn. Some of the best Spanish schools in Peru are located here if you want to take Spanish classes.

You can expect to pay roughly £60 a week for 10 hours of private Spanish classes in Peru. Group language class costs will vary depending on the size of the group.

Spanish language school Lima

If you are looking for an immersive Spanish course in Peru, the Peruwayna Spanish School in Lima is highly recommended.

This school is located in the middle of Miraflores and is easily accessible. The classes are flexible and you can choose between small groups and private tuition.

They also hold several social events every week so students can get to know each other and have new friends with whom to explore Lima. You’ll be nailing Peruvian Spanish in no time!

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the whole world. So it’s a great place to soak up some Spanish and Latin culture.

Mexico City is a densely populated, gritty city bursting with culture and foodie finds. Make sure to eat incredible Mexican street food and visit funky art galleries.

The best time to visit Mexico is during a major event, such as the wildly popular ‘Day of the Dead’ holiday.

Learning Spanish in Mexico

When learning Spanish in Mexico, combining language classes with real-life, immersive learning is important.

No matter how many Spanish textbooks you study, nothing will help you learn a language faster than conversing with locals.

Order Mexican street food, try to buy a bus ticket, and ask for directions in Spanish. This way you’ll learn the most useful Spanish phrases rather than “o veo las noticias”, [I watch the news].

Best Spanish Schools in Mexico City

Mexican Spanish is known for being one of the most fast-speaking and colloquial Spanish-speaking countries. So, you will definitely need to learn from locals as well as from language classes. There are many Spanish language classes in Mexico City, all varying in cost and structure.

One of the best Spanish Schools in Mexico City is the Frida Spanish School. Their Spanish classes focus on conversations and immersing students in the local culture and community. Expect to pay around $160 for a standard, one-week course that includes 20 lessons.

Havana, Cuba

Havana is an incredible place to learn Spanish. It has colourful and atmospheric colonial streets, music, and art culture. Cube has a rich history full of fascinating historical features, retro cars, and quirky traditions.

Practise speaking Spanish in one of the many hip cafes springing up and immerse yourself in Cuban cafe culture. If you can, try ordering your coffee in Spanish. Remember, ‘Fuerte’ is ‘Strong’ and ‘Escaso’ is ‘Short’.

Spanish School Havana

One of the best Spanish schools in Havana is the Sprachcaffe School. This modern language school has fantastic facilities, including air-conditioned classrooms, a student cafeteria, and a computer area with Internet.

You can choose from a range of Spanish classes, including private, intensive, and part-time classes. The school also offers salsa classes and drum lessons if you want to sample some Cuban culture and learn new skills.

Monteverde, Costa Rica

Costa Rica surely is the best place to surf and learn Spanish in Central America? If surfing isn’t your jam, then why not head to the cloud forests of Monteverde? Here you can learn Spanish surrounded by beautiful nature.

If you love the outdoors, there are many adventurous things to do in Monteverde. You can walk through the cloud forest on suspension bridges. There is also horseback riding and wildlife spotting in the evenings.

Learning Spanish in Costa Rica

You can learn Spanish in Monteverde at the prestigious Centro Panamericano de Idiomas [CPI]. This highly regarded Spanish school offers students a full linguistic and cultural immersion into Costa Rica.

They also have Spanish school campuses based across three sites within Costa Rica. You can also choose to stay with a local host family or in an apartment.

Expect to pay around $460 weekly for 20 hours of intensive group classes with a maximum of 4 students per class at CPI.

Buenos Aires

This lively Latin Capital is an exciting place to learn Spanish. Seek Argentinian steakhouses [Parrillas] and Tango lessons to fully immerse yourself in city life.

Buenos Aires is renowned for its crazy nightlife. Restaurants serve dinner late, nightclubs get going around 1 a.m., and parties and dancing take place across the city.

Going out dancing or clubbing in Buenos Aires is a great way to mix with locals and practise your Spanish!

Learning Spanish in Buenos Aires

Learning Spanish in Buenos Aires is relatively straightforward, thanks to the number of Spanish Classes available.

One of the best Spanish schools in Buenos Aires is ‘Living your Spanish’, located in the nearby town of San Antonio de Areco.

Here, you can combine conversational Spanish class activities. You can mix with locals outside of the classroom and really put your Spanish into practice.

Expect to pay $300 for a weekend Spanish course at ‘Living your Spanish’. There are also one-on-one Spanish classes, costing $35 per class. It’s one of the best Spanish immersion programs for adults in Buenos Aires.

Self-study Spanish

If you want to learn Spanish on a budget, you could always teach yourself Spanish. You could buy some Spanish Textbooks and phrasebooks and start learning the basics.

There are also several learn Spanish podcasts and apps to get you going. It’s a less formal learning method and cheaper than paying for Spanish classes.

You could also start prepping to learn Spanish abroad by teaching yourself some of the basics at home; that way, you will have a headstart before you even arrive.

There are also many online resources for learning Spanish, such as websites, e-books, audio courses, YouTube, and blogs, to help you practice and learn basic Spanish phrases.

Why not try a few different online resources and find out which works best for you?

Best places to learn Spanish online:

• Duolingo
• Fluent in 3 Months
• Babbel
• Fluent U
• Rosetta Stone

Best country to learn Spanish

So, where is the best place to learn Spanish? It depends on what you are looking for in an immersive Spanish experience.

Do you want to be in a vibrant city? By the seaside? Surrounded by nature? There are so many places to choose from to start your Spanish-speaking adventure.

Spend some time researching the best option for you and pay careful attention to your budget and travel itinerary. Check out my list of travel resources to start planning your dream trip today!

Are you planning to learn Spanish abroad? If so, where are you going? Let me know in the comments below!

Recommended travel resources

Flights: To find flight deals, check out sites such as Skyscanner and Google Flights to compare flight costs and book.

Accommodation: I use Booking.com for hotel bookings as they have fantastic flexibility and cancellation.

Airport Parking and Lounges: With Holiday Extras, you can save money on airport and travel extras, including airport parking, airport hotels, and airport lounges.

Travel Insurance: I highly recommend you always get travel insurance – I use the Post Office Travel Insurance for single trip coverage and Safety Wing for comprehensive travel medical insurance.

Car Hire: I use Discover Cars to hire cars abroad as they have free cancellation, free mileage and no card fees.

Travel Money: I recommend Post Office Travel Money as you can get competitive rates and 0% commission for your holiday cash.

E-sim Cards: Use Airalo’s eSIM app to buy an eSIM for 200+ countries and stay connected when you travel abroad.

For more travel tools, head to my bumper travel resources page now!

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