Top 10 Things to do in Spain

Nearest universities: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; University Complutense Madrid; Universidad Carlos III de Madrid; Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros (Cunef); Escuela de Administración de Empresas (EAE); Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia;  Universidad Francisco de Vitoria

Spain’s capital Madrid is famous for its legendary nightlife. ‘Madrilenos’ like to party throughout the night, coming home when you would normally be getting up for breakfast. So either put on your dancing shoes and join in, or have a more relaxed evening in the Puerta del Sol, over some late-night tapas and sangria.

During the daylight hours, Madrid is packed full of things to see and do. Check out the Prado Museum, one of the world’s greatest art galleries; head to the Gran Via for a bit of retail therapy; cheer on the mighty ‘galacticos’ of Real Madrid at the Estadio Santa Bernabeu stadium, or catch some of Spain’s best flamenco action at the Casa Patas.

Nearest universities: University of Granada; Universidad de Huelva; Universidad de Sevilla

The home of flamenco and the capital of Andalusia, Seville is perhaps the most quintessentially Spanish of cities. It  is famous for its extreme heat; summer temperatures regularly soar over 40°C (104°F), making it one of the hottest spots in Europe.

This climate is reflected in the hot-blooded and passionate culture for which the city is known: with fiery flamenco performances, dramatic fiestas, exuberant nightlife and lavish Catholic iconography, Seville is a city that seriously knows how to express itself. Seville also has a strong student culture, which means if you choose to study abroad in this extrovert city you are sure to be welcomed with open arms.

Nearest universities: Universidad Politècnica de Valencia; Universitat de Valencia

Valencia is the home of paella:  a rich, spicy and brightly colored rice-based meal, traditionally served in a huge pan and teeming with fresh seafood. There are numerous restaurants throughout the city serving up the real deal – head down towards the beach in the evening and you’ll be spoilt for choice.

If you fancy a drink, you can do this extremely cheaply indeed; ask for a spirit in some of the smaller establishments, and the bartender will just keep on pouring until you say stop!

The city center’s highlights include the whitewashed Roman buildings of the Barrio del Carmen, a lavish baroque cathedral, the Moorish relics of the city’s Ottoman past, and the futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias complex.

If you study in Spain, you will have endless opportunities to get involved in the fiestas (festivals) that are held throughout the year and the country – from huge, internationally famous extravaganzas to those held in tiny villages well off the tourist trail, all are steeped in centuries-old culture and mythology.

Perhaps the biggest and best-known Spanish fiestas are Valencia’s Las Fallas, the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona and Holy Week in Seville. Las Fallas attracts hundreds of thousands of revellers each year, who come to party for five days (and nights) in March. You will need some serious stamina or rocket-fuel coffee to see you through this one, unless you can sleep through the daily wake-up parade at 8am!

Why not release some stress with a good old food fight? Thousands of people get splattered at the La Tomatina food fight in Bunol, near Valencia, each year. The fight, held on the last Wednesday in August, involves people chucking over-ripe tomatoes at each other, and generally getting very messy indeed. (Portable showers are provided!)

A charge of about US$15 was introduced in 2013 for the first time, but that didn’t deter people from participating in this truly unique event.

For those who aren’t familiar with tapas, it is basically a way of eating that means ordering a selection of small dishes that are shared among a group, so everyone samples lots of different dishes and flavors. This is ideal for getting to sample lots of different aspects of Spanish cuisine, as well as getting to know your new course-mates.

Tapas dishes cater for all preferences and persuasions. Carnivorous eyes will light up at the many varieties of ‘jamon’ (ham - ubiquitous throughout the country), Spanish meatballs and chorizo. Meanwhile vegetarians can enjoy a variety of roasted vegetables, grilled aubergines and the famous patatas bravas (fried potato chips served with paprika and mayonnaise). Seafood fans will be spoilt by a huge variety of prawn, sea bass, calamari, octopus and lobster-based delicacies.

Nearest universities: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; University Complutense Madrid; Universidad Carlos III de Madrid; Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros (Cunef); Escuela de Administración de Empresas (EAE); Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia; Universidad Francisco de Vitoria

Toledo, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Spain’s major tourist attractions. Situated just an hour from Madrid, it’s a popular day-trip for those based in the capital.

Attractions include the majestic San Servando castle, the 16th century Alcazar fortress and the oldest synagogue in Europe. But with over 100 monuments crammed into its labyrinthine historic center, the best way to explore Toledo may be to ditch the guidebook and just follow your nose – you couldn’t choose a more scenic place to get lost on a sunny day!

Once you’ve finished these top 10 things to do in Spain, try these:

- Hike the beautiful El Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail

- Expand your artistic horizons – the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Prado in Madrid, the Picasso museum in Barcelona, and the home of Salvador Dali, the father of surrealism

- Cool off in the rugged snowy mountains of Sierra Nevada

- Discover the beautiful islands of Majorca and Mallorca – and if you really want to party, head to Ibiza

- Bask in Basque culture; visit historic Bilbao

Alcalá de Henares: Universidad de Alcalá

Andalusia: University of Granada; Universidad de Sevilla

Aragon: Universidad de Zaragoza

Catalonia: Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona; University of Barcelona; University Pompeu Fabra; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Galicia: Universidad de Santiago de Compostela

Madrid: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; University Complutense Madrid; Universidad Carlos III de Madrid; Politècnica de Madrid

Murcia: University of Murcia

Pamplona: University of Navarra

Salamanca: University of Salamana

Valencia: Universidad Politècnica de Valencia; Universitat de Valencia