Au Pair in Spain - Summer or Academic Year

Au Pair in Spain - Summer or Academic Year

Location
  • Spain
    • Santiago
    • Madrid
    • Barcelona
    • Alicante
    • Mallorca
    • Zaragoza
    • Salamanca
    • Valladolid
Length
4 - 52 weeks
Program Tags
After College Au Pair Cultural Immersion Language Immersion Study Abroad

Program Details

Timeframe
Academic Year Fall Spring Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Host Family
Primary Language
Spanish
Age Min.
18
Age Max
30

Pricing

Starting Price
100
Price Details
Free information video call
Admin fee of 100$: translating docs, checking refs, matching process, follow up stay
Other costs: Round flight fares, visa fares (if applicable), language course (if attending), travel and medical insurance.

Au pairs from outside of the European Union
Depending on how long you plan to stay in Spain, you may have to appy for a student or au pair visa.
What's Included
Accommodation Meals Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

Weekly pocket money from 75€ to 80€ per week - minimun
Family pick up at airport
Family support to NON EU au pairs with 50% cost of health insurance

What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
May 06, 2025
Dec 14, 2025
219 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Would you like to improve your Spanish? Take a gap year? Or just your summer holidays?
Do you like children? Travelling? Family life? Why not being an Au Pair?

Get free board, accommodation and pocket money from a host family + free time to attend language lessons or travel.
In exchange, you will provide childcare and share your culture and language with the host kids.
Vetted and welcoming host families await for you.
You count with the advice and expertise of Destino Idiomas as your au pair agency.

Summer: 4 to 12 weeks.
School year September till end of June: 3 to 9 months. 3 months' stay: September - December / January - March / April - June.

EU citizens no visa needed.
NON EU citizens visa needed for stays over 90 days.
Visa implies booking full time language course at au pair's own expense.
I cannot match nationals from SouthAmerica, Africa or Asia.

More than 10 years of expertise caring for au pairs.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Participants often praise the warm, welcoming host families and supportive agency staff who maintain regular contact and assist with challenges.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • All year round placements
  • Welcoming families
  • Diverse locations all over Spain
  • Continuous support and follow-up from Destino Idiomas
  • Host family provides free board + lodgings + weekly stipend + free time

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.76 Rating
based on 45 reviews
  • 5 rating 75.56%
  • 4 rating 24.44%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.8
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.3
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 1 - 8 of 45 reviews
Maja
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My 3 Month Stay

I had the opportunity to au pair in northern Spain for 9 months, I ended up leaving after 3. During my time I visited many nearby cities and learned a lot about the culture and the language. I developed a lot from this programme while having the comfort of a host family. The communication and support from both the agency and the family were wonderful. I found an amazing Spanish teacher here and she taught me so much!

For me, being an au pair simply wasn't a match and I would just suggest that you really have to have the skills and enjoyment of every part of being with a child otherwise it may not be for you. Nevertheless, the wonderful moments I had here with the family and friends make me feel very grateful and happy that I came here with this programme.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I ate many new things while being here: kakies, paella, gunciale, turron, polvorone and so much more! I've always been so picky but I had a wonderful time trying all these new foods.
Pros
  • there are very few expenses (for me just school)
  • you get to explore and travel
  • you can make friends with other au pairs from the programme
Cons
  • it can be restricting as being an au pair may take up a lot of hours depending on the family
  • there can be big cultural differences that are difficult to get past
44 people found this review helpful.
Dalia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Summer Au Pair for a summer

I loved my experience with Destino Idiomas! Ana helped match me with a wonderful family for a summer au pair experience in a suburb of Madrid. She guided me through setting my my profile and organizing documents, how to answer questions withs families in interviews, etc. The family was wonderful (all thanks to Ana's vetting process)--they had great kids and a lovely home. Work/life balance was great. Thank you Ana for helping place me with a great family!! I strongly recommend using Destino Idiomas for your abroad experience.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Fuet! It's sort of like salami, but better :)
Pros
  • improved my spanish
  • make connections with new people
  • explore the city
59 people found this review helpful.
Caoimhe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Au Pairing in Spain

I spent a month au pairing with a family in Galicia, and from the start, Ana was incredibly helpful—guiding me through setting up my profile and organizing all the necessary documents. Her attention to detail made me feel safe and supported. Even during my stay, she offered help beyond her working hours, which I truly appreciated. The family was lovely - (no doubt thanks to Ana) and I was able to experience authentic Spanish family life and improved my language skills. I highly recommend Destino Idiomas to anyone seeking an au pair experience!

60 people found this review helpful.
Amy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A great experience!

I was matched with two families that were both brilliant and really supportive for the whole trip. I worked with 3 girls under the age of 8 and it was definitely hard work but it was also so rewarding. The family also paid for my gym membership and language lessons, as well as giving me an allowance, so I was able to be independent when I wasn't looking after the children. I have stayed in touch with the families since returning to England, too, and hope to visit them next summer as well. All in all, I'd recommend Destino Idiomas to everyone and have been telling all my friends about it since I came home!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Throw yourself into it!
119 people found this review helpful.
Bryn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Au Pairing in Spain

I can highly recommend au pairing in Spain with the help of Destino Idiomas! After my three months living abroad, it genuinely feels as if I have a second family in Spain. I have made lifelong connections. Ana made the entire process easy to navigate and is a very personable and efficient communicator. I felt supported each step of the way. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is looking for an authentic language exchange and truly special experience learning about Spanish culture while contributing in a meaningful way. I also had ample time to explore and visit new cities in my free time on weekends. I would not change this experience for the world and am walking away with so much new knowledge and relationships. If you are an open-minded and adventurous individual who loves working with children, this could be a very special experience for you to have life long memories.

Pros
  • Language exchange
  • Building relationships
  • Free time to travel and explore
131 people found this review helpful.
Anissa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Málaga Experience!

I had an amazing time as an au pair in Málaga. My host family was extremely sweet, understanding, and funny as well. I even turned 21 turning my time with them and they celebrated with me by putting up decorations, getting a cake, and even got me some gifts as well! Socially, it was hard (but not impossible) to meet people my age that I could consistently hang out with, but this was not a huge deal for me. I did have some time to solo travel which I enjoyed, but I had a great time with the family each day as well. They invited me to lots of their social events, and although there was a bit of a language barrier, it was still super fun and nice to be included and experience more authentic Spanish culture.

Everything is very well laid out by Ana and her planning and preparation, she helps through every step of the process and keeps in touch during the stay. My time in Spain was short, only six weeks during my summer vacation, because that's what fit into my life plans at the time. Ana matched me perfectly with my host family that was searching for a shorter stay as well. I totally would have stayed longer if I could have!

I would not pass up the opportunity to do this experience if you are considering!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I ate a ton of fish straight from the bone (with the head and all), which I did not have a lot of experience with before! I love fish, so this was amazing for me. We has espetos pretty often at different chiringuitos (beach side restaurant/bar) which was so fun to try!
Pros
  • Perfect way to experience another culture
  • Improved my Spanish speaking
  • Meeting new people
Cons
  • Difficult to make friends
  • Working with children everyday can be tiring
  • Doesn't make money
141 people found this review helpful.
Emily
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience as an pair in Santiago/Sanxenxo

This was a wonderful opportunity where I learned a lot and met many great people. The family I stayed with were so kind and went above and beyond to make me comfortable. I studied child development in college and plan to work with children for my career which I feel definitely gave me the tools I needed to best support and care for the children in the family. I do wish I met more people my age, but it was a bit challenging to socialize with new people outside of the family and friends I was staying with because of the language barrier. However, I did make a few really good friends and still had so much fun! I also feel like my spanish improved a lot! Lastly, I gained good skills in being by myself and figuring things out.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Octopus and barnacles.
Pros
  • Improved spanish
  • Comfortability in being alone and being outside of my comfort zone
  • Gained perspective
Cons
  • Worked more than I agreed to in the beginning.
  • Spent the summer away from friends and family.
  • Missed out on making as much money a I would have at my normal summer job.
135 people found this review helpful.
Alessandra
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Another point of view

Being an au pair is an experience that is different from any other. It's a combo between the challenge of a new job and the challenge of living with other people, sharing their culture and habits. It has not always been easy, living and working in the same place can be frustrating, but it's a test to your patience and adaptability.
In addition, if there aren't any other au pair in the city (as in my case), this is a boost to your confidence, to open up to people and to start making friends completely on your own!!
If you want to give a twist to your future and your capacities, Destino Idiomas is made for you!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I chose to travel to Comillas, in the north of Spain, and our bus broke down in the middle of nowhere! At first we were all frustrated, but in the end it was the occasion to get off the bus and start chatting! I made a lot of good friend thanks to a broken bus!
Pros
  • Improving the language
  • Meeting new people
  • Get to know a new culture
Cons
  • Living and working in the same place
  • Working with children can be difficult
  • At first I didn't know anyone and I didn't know where to start to make friends
138 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi, Amelia, Sure you can, the only thing you need to consider is that depending on your citizenship you may have to apply for a visa to enter Spain. Generally speaking any non EU country will need a visa for any stay over 90 days. Visas to enter Spain as au pair are called "au pair visa" but you could also be told by the Spanish consulate in your country about "student visa". Either case, you will...

Hi Lockie, thanks for your interest in au pairing in Spain. Of course you get time off during your stay. General rule is during the week to attend language lessons + at least one complete weekend a month. However, average families offer au pairs full weekends on top of time off during the week. And you also get some holidays: For every 12 months of stay, the au pair has the right to 2 weeks paid...

HI, Lockie thanks for your interest in au pairing in Spain. Basic knowledge of Spanish will help you settle in quicker, but many families host au pairs with no Spanish. What it is most important is that you speak good English regardless of your nationality as English is by far, most requested language by Spanish families. You will interact at all times with the kids in English. Host parents will...

Hi, Anabella, Thanks for your enquiry. Yes, you can. There are a couple of things to be taken into account. Being a Mexican citizen I think your motivation is not learning the language - as we share one - but about our culture, traditions, way of living and so on. That is fine, but you have to bear in mind that Spanish families' motivation to host an au pair is that their children learn a foreign...