Study Abroad in Bilbao, Spain with WorldStrides

Studying abroad in Bilbao was more than an academic opportunity—it was a transformative experience of the vibrancy of Basque culture. Having previously studied in Salamanca, Madrid, and Toledo, I expected familiarity, but Bilbao offered something unique. With its seamless blend of tradition and modernity, the city embodies a cultural heartbeat that pulses proudly through every aspect of life here. What set this program apart was the care and passion of our program leader, Genoveva Garcia Gallardo. She curated engaging excursions across the Basque Country and beyond, creating an experience that went far beyond the classroom. Classes in the Basque language bridged former cultural gaps, providing insight into Bilbao’s identity, a proud Basque identity that stands apart from Spanish or French influences. Bilbao’s charm lies in simplicity and authenticity. From frequent visits to the Guggenheim Museum to strolling the historic streets of Casco Viejo while enjoying pintxos, the city’s vibrant soul is undeniable. While some might see its location as a limitation for international travel, I found it an invitation to fully embrace the lush green landscapes of the Basque Country. Day trips to San Sebastián or hikes to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe revealed a region bubbling with beauty and tradition. The warmth of my host family and Genovava’s emphasis on community fostered an unforgettable experience. Though the academics at the University of Deusto were not as rigorous as desired, the cultural richness and environment more than compensated. Bilbao doesn’t teach; it transforms. Walking past the Guggenheim every day for three months was a privilege, but the real gift was a deeper understanding of Basque culture. If you’re considering studying abroad, choose the road less traveled. In Bilbao, you’ll discover the beating heart of a people, a culture, and a city like no other.

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Bilbao is a small, walkable city with great public transportation, amazing food, and stellar cultural offerings. There are numerous free exhibits and concerts every week, and I took full advantage of the cheap, incredible food options across the city. I went to Spain as a Spanish major wanting to cement my language skills, and ISA's Bilbao program let me do exactly that. Homestay was the only housing option (which I wanted), and my host family was incredible; my host parents supported my language immersion tirelessly (talking with me over daily family-style lunch about Basque culture and and Spain and teaching me new vocabulary) while also giving me the independence to explore the city and travel. ISA's pre-program visa-support process in the US left a lot to be desired, but Genoveva (the on-site coordinator in Bilbao) was the absolute best. She connected me with volunteer opportunities, cultural experiences, and students seeking English tutors who hired me to give private classes in the afternoons. Be aware ISA offers classes through CIDE (el Centro Internacional de Español) at Deusto University. CIDE is a language exchange program designed specifically for North American students, so you'll start and end the semester on a North American schedule and take classes with mostly other North Americans unless you opt into classes with locals (although you will have to push to take more than one class with Spanish students per semester). The CIDE instructors are excellent, and they offer a variety of classes designed to meet requirements for Spanish and Business degrees. I joined Deusto's Basque dance group, and you can take language classes separate from your CIDE classes at the university's language center in the evenings (including French and Basque). There is also a chapter of the international student group Happy Erasmus in Bilbao that organizes weekly events and weekend trips in English for students from around the world. I loved Bilbao so much I took a gap year after my program to continue volunteering on a tall ship based in the city in order to stay. For a student who had never left the united states before but wanted as much Spanish immersion as possible, it was an incomparable experience.

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Bilbao is a beautiful city rich in culture with amazing views, inspiring art, delicious food, and kind people! The city's vibrant atmosphere and welcoming spirit allowed me to feel at home within days of arriving. The city offers experiences for everyone to enjoy: lively nightlife, picturesque hikes, world class gastronomy, and spirited fútbol matches of Bilbao's own professional team. The public transportation is in a class of its own as it is reliable, clean, and efficient allowing easy access to explore the city within or take quick day trips to nearby cities and beaches. Whether it was walking around historic Casco Viejo, riding the metro to nearby beaches, taking in the views of the city from above per the funicular, eating pintxos at La Ribera market, or simply sitting on a bench in the park, my time in Bilbao was a once in a lifetime experience with memories I will cherish forever.

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Coming to Bilbao has been an extraordinary experience that I will cherish forever. Located right in the middle of gorgeous mountains, I genuinely felt that it was meant for people to live comfortably in. I have never felt more connected to a big city. Bilbao stands out from other cities in Spain with its fast, clean metro with direct access to beaches, mountains, and surrounding charming towns. Bilbao is perfect for nature lovers who want to be connected in a modern, safe, city. I had an amazing host family, who I still talk to after the program, which made me feel so at home despite being over 4,000 miles away.

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I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but I chose Bilbao specifically because I wanted to experience the culture, language, nature, and people of Spain without having to deal with ginormous cities like Barcelona or Madrid. Bilbao is absolutely one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been in. It's surrounded by green mountains on either side with plenty of hiking and multiple insanely beautiful beaches 20 minutes away on the Metro. In Bilbao, I lived in a homestay, and between my host mom, Elena, and my program manager, Genoveva, I always felt safe. I also felt supported in my academics at the university and adjusting to the homestay. This freed me up to experience Bilbao, Spain, and Europe. I took many trips to the historic cities near Bilbao, like Pamplona, San Sebastian, and Guernica. I experienced nightlife with some great friends I met on the trip and got to eat some of the best food I'd ever had. On a normal day in the first month, I would walk across the river, with a great view of the Guggenheim, and into Universidad de Deusto, which is this beautiful European building full of smart Basque students and teachers. After my language, history, and culture classes, I would most likely take the metro to the beach with my friends, where we would relax under the sun and cool off in the Cantabrian Sea. Then we'd grab a pintxo, probably tortilla de patata, and head home to have dinner with our host parents and siblings. I will never forget all those beautiful moments I had while studying abroad, and I can't recommend Bilbao, or anywhere in Spain for that matter, enough! It's also great if you're looking to build your resume. There are local programs that hire students to teach local kids English.

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It is hard to believe that my study abroad program in Bilbao was coming to an end almost a year ago this day. It is weird to think that an experince I reflect on so much ws that long ago. I know it is corny to say but studying abroad was the best time of my life. There were many highlights of the trip and almost impossible to mention them all but I will name a few favorite moments. First off, living with a host family was such a cool experine as it was a great way to be immeresed in the culture and practice my spnish. I feel I got extmemly luck with my family as we connected immidieatly and they did so much for me to try to give me an accurate representation of spanish/basque culture. The many events ISA through made it easy to make friends and I never ran out of things to do. I felt I could have easily spent a year in Bilbao still without completly getting to know the city. With that being said, I felt Bilbai was the perfect size as everything was within walking/commuting distanc. I miss my ride to school in the metro, starting with a beautiful walk through the city. I miss the nightlife and packed streeets of Casco Viejo on the weekends. I even miss the rain a little bit too(even though everyone told us we got lucky as its usually much worse). The only part of the experince that I would have wanted a littl different was the lack of oppurtunities to meet local friends. My host family was a great local connection, but the kids whom i stayed with were younger and it would have been fun to have some people my own age to share the experience with.

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The ISA Bilbao Program is perfect for students looking to get the most out of their study abroad experience. A combination of prestigious art and history museums, easy and manageable public transportation, and a nurturing educational environment made it the perfect place for me to meet locals, practice Spanish, and learn about a completely new culture to me. For those looking to occasionally travel outside of Bilbao, there is an airport, train, and bus station that allows you to do so--although it may become pricey depending on the season and destination. Situated within the rolling green Basque Mountains and a 30-minute metro ride out to Spain's Eastern Cantabrian coastline, there was always something new to explore around the region. On the academic side, the course-work was challenging but very manageable and super applicable to the greater social context of living in the Basque Country. I chose the ISA Language and Liberal Arts program, so my classes were focused on bettering my reading, conversation, and writing skills while learning about the history and culture of Bilbao and its surrounding regions. My university provided a ton of extra-curricular opportunities (sports and hobbies) that all students (both international and local) could participate in together. I went on a couple hikes with the hiking club and they were some of the most memorable experiences of my semester. ISA offers a home-stay or independent housing option for living, and I would 100% recommend a homestay. My host family made my experience so much more incredible and it was a very easy way to understand the city better. My host family has given me a personal connection to the city, and I already can't wait to go back to visit them some day!