Best Countries to Learn Spanish: My Top Recommendations
Are you wondering about the best countries to learn Spanish? I’ve got you covered! As someone who is a lifelong language learner who has been studying Spanish for years, these are my top picks.
Studying Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country and fully immersing yourself in the language and culture is one of the best ways to learn! I’ve done it myself, and I highly recommend it for others.
Spanish is the official and primary language in more than 20 countries around the world, so there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to deciding where to learn Spanish.
I have personally studied Spanish in two of the countries on this list — I spent a month and a half studying in one country, and two weeks in another. I’ll talk more about my experience below.
I’m someone who studied Spanish in high school and wanted to pick it back up as an adult. If you’re still a student, you may be able to participate in an exchange program and earn credit for your studies. If you are not a student, there are still plenty of private language schools in all of the countries mentioned below.
I have highlighted countries that offer a mix of the following:
- Inexpensive Spanish lessons and a low cost of living
- Countries with a “clear” or “pure” Spanish accent are better for language learners
- Amazing scenery, culture, and activities to do!
Not every country on this list will tick all of those boxes, but I will try to highlight the pros and cons of each place so you can determine if it’s right for you. Even if I haven’t spent time formally studying Spanish in each of these countries, I have traveled to them all, some for an extended period of time.
Here are the best countries in the world to learn Spanish:
1. Guatemala
Guatemala is one of the best places to learn Spanish. This Central American country is known for having lots of inexpensive Spanish schools and immersion programs where you can live with a local family, have three meals a day, and several hours of private Spanish lessons for as little as $200 per week.
These are some of the top destinations in Guatemala to study Spanish:
- Antigua: A charming colonial town surrounded by volcanoes and mountains, Antigua is one of the best places in Guatemala to learn Spanish. It offers a great location and lots of things to do.
- Lake Atitlan: A stunning lake dotted with distinctive towns, many of which retain a strong Mayan culture. San Pedro La Laguna is one of the most popular towns on the lake for studying Spanish.
- Quetzaltenango: Better known as Xela by the locals, this is Guatemala’s second-largest city. It’s extremely affordable and great for immersing yourself in the local culture.
I spent more than two months in Guatemala overall and studied Spanish at schools in Antigua and Xela. I’d highly recommend either place. I will say that in Antigua, it’s a much more touristy town, and it’s easy to end up speaking English outside of class, whereas in Xela you will be forced to practice your Spanish more.
2. Colombia
Colombia is another one of the best countries to learn Spanish. The Colombian accent is often regarded as the clearest and easiest to understand, which is helpful for language learners.
Here are some of the best places in Colombia to learn Spanish:
- Medellín: This is the second-largest city in Colombia after the capital Bogota, and it’s known as the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its favorable climate. This is a major hub for Spanish schools.
- Cali: Another Colombian city where you can learn Spanish is Cali. Not only can you learn Spanish, but you can also learn to dance salsa or rumba in your free time in this city!
- Cartagena: For those who prefer to be close to the beach, Cartagena is a good option. This city on the Caribbean coast is known for its colorful colonial center and Afro-Caribbean influence.
Colombia is also an affordable place to learn Spanish, with prices for many Spanish schools on par with those in Guatemala. So if you’re on a tight budget, this is another really good option.
3. Spain
Of course, this list of countries to learn Spanish would not be complete without mentioning Spain! If you want to learn Spanish in Europe, there are tons of great places you can go in Spain.
And it’s not as expensive as you might expect. Spain is one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe, and the cost of living is significantly lower than France, Italy, or the UK.
These are some of the top destinations in Spain for learning Spanish:
- Madrid: Spain’s capital is a great place to learn Spanish if you’re looking to enjoy a major European city with tons of things to do. You’ll never get bored spending time in Madrid.
- Granada: One of the best places to study Spanish in Spain is Granada. This smaller city, located in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, is famous for its Moorish influences.
- Salamanca: Salamanca is known for being a university city with a lively, vibrant student culture, making it the perfect place to learn Spanish and have fun at the same time.
- Seville: Another great place to learn Spanish is Seville. This city is the fourth-largest in Spain and the capital of Andalusia, famous for being the birthplace of flamenco and bullfighting.
I spent two weeks studying Spanish in a program in Seville, and I really loved it. However, as you might expect, the costs are not as low as some of the programs you will find in Latin America.
For example, my private lessons in Guatemala cost 50% less than GROUP lessons in Seville. But that’s the tradeoff you make for being in Europe! It’s still worth it if you want to spend time in Spain.
4. Ecuador
Moving back to South America, Ecuador is another one of the best countries to learn Spanish. Ecuador is a beautiful country, and people here are said to speak Spanish with a very clear, pure accent.
If you’re wondering where to learn Spanish in Ecuador, these are a couple of the best places:
- Quito: Ecuador’s capital city is a great place to study Spanish. You can enjoy the big city life and spend weekends exploring destinations like the cloud forests of Mindo and Cotopaxi volcano.
- Cuenca: Located in the south of Ecuador, Cuenca is a beautiful colonial city that is smaller than Quito. This city is popular with students, making it another good option for learning Spanish.
Ecuador is another place that is very affordable to learn Spanish. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest in South America. If you’re looking for a country where your money will stretch further, this is a good place to go.
5. Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a great place to learn Spanish and ideal for nature lovers. This Central American country is the safest country in all of Latin America, and it’s stunningly beautiful. It’s known for being the most biodiverse country in the world, with lush jungles, pristine beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes, and more.
If you want to learn Spanish in Costa Rica, these are the top destinations to check out:
- San Jose: Costa Rica’s capital city is where you’ll find the most Spanish schools and programs. Although you aren’t on the beach or in the jungle, you can spend your weekends exploring!
- Pacific Coast: There are several Spanish language schools dotted along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast in the more popular beach towns like Manuel Antonio, Nosara, and Tamarindo.
Costa Rica is definitely the priciest country on this list after Spain when it comes to the cost of living, but it may be worth it to you if you want the chance to live in and explore this beautiful place.
6. Peru
Another country to consider for learning Spanish is Peru. This South American country is incredibly diverse when it comes to landscapes and culture, ranging from beaches to jungles to mountains. The Inca culture is still very prevalent in Peru, and indigenous languages are alive and well alongside Spanish.
It’s a good country for learning Spanish because the Spanish spoken here is typically considered to be easy to understand, and many Peruvians have what you’d call a neutral accent.
These are the best cities in Peru for learning Spanish:
- Cusco: Located high in the Andes, Cusco has an illustrious history as it was once the capital of the Inca Empire. This is an amazing place to learn Spanish and spend your free time exploring destinations like the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, which are easily accessible from the city.
- Lima: Far from the 11,000-foot altitude of Cusco, Peru’s capital city Lima is situated at sea level. This coastal city is known for its culture and cuisine, and it’s another excellent option.
As far as costs go, Peru is not as cheap as Guatemala, Colombia, or Ecuador, but it’s still far from being the most expensive place on this list. This is a great place to go to improve your Spanish.
7. Argentina
Finally, Argentina can be a great place to learn Spanish. I will say that Argentine Spanish is very different from the Spanish spoken in other countries. The Argentine accent is extremely strong, and many words are pronounced differently in Argentina compared to other Spanish-speaking countries.
And while slang is common everywhere and varies from country to country, the slang in Argentine Spanish is next level! That being said, Argentina can still be an excellent place to learn Spanish because it’s simply an amazing country. It’s safe, affordable, and packed with diverse natural beauty.
These are some of the best cities to consider in Argentina:
- Buenos Aires: The capital of Argentina is the best place to learn Spanish. You can take Spanish lessons by day and tango lessons by night, or explore the great dining and nightlife this city offers.
- Córdoba: Argentina’s second-largest city, Córdoba has half the population of Buenos Aires (1.4 million vs. 2.9 million) so it’s a little more manageable while still having a lively big city vibe.
Currency fluctuations mean that Argentina can be extremely cheap or quite expensive. When I spent a month in Buenos Aires, it was unbelievably cheap, and I enjoyed a great quality of life, but it’s not always so inexpensive. So I’d recommend doing some research on prices before you come here.
Best Countries to Learn Spanish
This guide showed you the best countries to learn Spanish abroad. I highly recommend studying Spanish in a foreign country where Spanish is the main language to improve your abilities.
After studying Spanish in school for five years in a large classroom setting, I was amazed by how much faster I progressed in my learning when studying Spanish in a more immersive setting abroad.
There is nothing that compares to immersion and studying in a Spanish-speaking country. Not only will your Spanish skills rapidly improve, but you will also get to experience another culture.
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