Why Study Abroad in Alicante, Spain?

If Alicante sounds unfamiliar to you, don’t feel ashamed or uncultured. The name did not ring a bell to me initially, and I had never met anyone who had traveled there. Despite this possibility, I invite you to learn about all the beautiful things Alicante has to offer when deciding where to study abroad!

When I personally began searching for a place to study abroad, the first thing that came to mind was Spain. I had been taking Spanish classes since middle school; why not apply my knowledge? I began looking closely at Madrid and Barcelona, simply because of the familiarity I had with these two towns.They are common cities for Americans to study and travel. Yet as I began looking on the CEA website, something new stuck out to me.

Alicante seemed to be a unique option compared to others. Alicante is a coastal town, and I was blindsided by the beautiful pictures of a tiled boardwalk I had seen online. Little did I know the landscape views of the castle, pier, boardwalk, and city were even more magnificent in person! With so much to offer from museums to shows to authentic tapas restaurants, boredom was never an issue. Not to mention, all the immersive excursions included -- which are diverse in interest and give students time to explore different parts of Spain as well.

Once I arrived in Alicante, I knew I had made the right decision. Having a large population did not take a toll on the speed of the city. Alicante moves at a leisurely pace. Also, everything you need is in close proximity. From the grocery store to the tram station, you will very quickly know the town like the back of your hand. Additionally, walking will be your most common form of transportation. This is something that we Americans are not used to. In no time, you will adapt to the lifestyle with ease. The toughest part is coming home!

Emily Ruby is a CEA Alumni Ambassador who studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, during the Fall 2019 semester. She is currently a student at Illinois State University.