Study Abroad in Granada, Spain with WorldStrides

From the moment I arrived at ISA Granada, the program’s academics and immersive cultural events made every day an adventure. The Spanish courses at the Universidad de Granada were great, and all programming outside of class was guided by the dedicated team of Lorena Herrera, Ángel Garzón Peña, and Marisa, whose support and local insights unlocked hidden corners of the city. Beyond the classroom, I explored Granada’s Moorish monuments, witnessed passionate flamenco performances in the Albacin with the group, and had a lot of fun at the excursions to Toledo’s medieval streets, Madrid’s art hubs, the Alpujarra’s mountain villages, Almuñécar’s beaches, and had the most amazing spring break in Morocco. Also, the food was terrific and had great spots around every corner. All architecture and every meal celebrated Granada’s rich tapestry of Moorish, Jewish, and Christian influences, from fragrant tagines and almond-based sweets to stews, tapas, and fresh seafood. Living with my host family felt like I was at home in Spain. Their warm hospitality, home-cooked feasts, and late-night conversations turned moments of uncertainty into stories of laughter and resilience. ISA Granada didn’t just improve my Spanish; it showed me how to embrace the unfamiliar, listen deeply across cultures, and forge connections that transcend borders. I returned home more culturally aware and inspired to channel my problem-solving and adaptability skills into my career.

My semester in Granada was an experience that I will never forget. The program itself was thoughtfully designed and well-organized. The planned excursions were engaging and and gave me the chance to explore Granada and integrate myself with the city. From walking through the Alhambra to discovering smaller neighborhoods and local markets, I was constantly in awe of the architecture and the history that shrouds every inch of the city. The people also made the experience even better. The ISA Granada staff: Marisa, Lorena, and Ángel were so warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about the city. Their energy was infectious and they created a supportive environment that made it that much easier to adjust to living in Granada. I also formed lasting friendships with both American and international peers in the program. We supported each other, learned together, and shared so many memorable experiences. Overall, my semester in Granada was a life-changing experience. I left not only with stronger Spanish skills, but also with unforgettable memories, meaningful friendships, and a deep appreciation for the history, culture, and people of the city. I would recommend ISA Abroad in Granada to anyone looking for cultural immersion in a gem of a city.

My favorite place on earth! Granada is very special and has so much to offer. While being a smaller city, it does not lack excitement and activities for a younger generation. It's safe and the people there are kind and generous. I lived in Granada for almost 9 months, and my experience with the onsite directors, schooling, and fellow students was amazing. I would recommend Granada to someone looking for a smaller city with lots of culture and a slower-paced and affordable lifestyle. I cannot wait to come back and visit my directors and teachers.

I studied abroad in Granada through ISA during July of 2024. The program covered language and culture classes, all taught in Spanish, and I was able to finish my Spanish minor with the credits earned. I picked Granada over Barcelona because I wanted a more localized experience in which I could be fully immersed in the culture, and that's exactly what I got and more. I stayed with a host family in their apartment, a 20 minute walk from my classes. Every morning I would take a peaceful walk to class with other students through the beautiful, old, safe streets of the city, watching the world wake up. My host family did not speak much English so I was able to practice speaking Spanish every day, and they were patient and kind while helping me learn. ISA always had organized activities like a guided tour of the Alhambra, the ancient Islamic palace and gardens, tours of the city, wine tasting, a Flamenco show, beach trips, and mountain hikes. Our ISA chaperones, Melissa, Lorena, and Angel were kind, supportive, and always in touch. I got sick at one point and they helped me get to and from the hospital, offering support and communication to make the process as stress-free as they could. Granada is a beautiful city filled with life, stories, good food, and good people. I loved my experience and can't wait to visit again someday.

I had the best time with ISA in Granada! The ISA Staff is amazing and they are so supportive and also plan such great activities to help students get to know the city and make the most of their time. Granada is the perfect size because it is a city, so there are plenty of things to do, but small enough where it can really feel like home. Great to practice Spanish as it is not an international city like Madrid, so I really feel like I developed my Spanish skills. The University of Granada is very well-known and there are tons of students (especially erasmus), so there are tons of people to meet, activities to do, and opportunities to progress your Spanish. If you can, I recommend to live with a host family, this made me experience even better. The city itself if so beautiful, tons of of opportunities for hiking/nature, and so many hidden gems to explore (ask the ISA staff for recommendations). Cannot recommend this program and city enough!

I spent five months abroad in Granada, Spain, during the Spring semester of 2024. I lived with a host mother, and two other roommates from my university. There are so many positive things I can say about this program and my time. To start, ISA is such a wonderful organization that I highly recommend traveling through. They were so helpful with everything from getting my Visa, to the on site staff in Granada, and my return to home. They have everything organized in easy to locate places, and communication was always clear. I chose to study in Spain for the language. I am a Spanish minor, and have always loved Spanish and had a goal of becoming fluent. All of my classes in Spain were in Spanish (however, I had some friends whose classes were in English, it just depends on your language level :) and my host Mom didn't speak any English. Both of these components aided in mastering my fluency in Spanish, which I will be forever grateful for. My trip included excursions, which were amazing. My favorite excursion was my trip to Morocco. The Sahara Desert and cities of Fez and Meknes created so many memories for me that I will cherish forever. There are so many amazing aspects that ISA and studying abroad has to offer, and I would HIGHLY recommend you check them out!

Words don't do it justice. Life-changing. Truly. I feel like I am an entirely different person from who I was before studying abroad. It was perfect down to every last detail. To be honest I didn't even do any extensive research on Granada or the program prior to going, I just was sure that I wanted to study abroad somewhere. In fact, not a single other person from my university was going to Granada, so I knew zero people going into the program. Naturally, I tend to go quiet in social situations, so I knew this new environment could be a challenge. Instead of falling into my old ways, I made a daily effort to push myself to meet new people and be more gregarious. This was the root of my growth, and it was massively facilitated by the staff of ISA Granada. Not only were my hosts passionate and welcoming, but the ISA staff organized dozens of events to help involve us students. The three coordinators, Angel, Marisa, and Lorena, made it abundantly clear to us that not only were they there for our every need, but they really cared about us individually. They were curious to hear how we were enjoying our experience and keen to suggest ideas for us based on our interests. My school held a pre-study abroad conference in the winter before I left, and when one of the coordinators asked me where I was going and who I was studying abroad through, the response was incredible. I told her ISA Granada, and her face lit up with excitement for me. She was elated to tell me how amazing ISA was and how much I had to look forward to. She did not exaggerate in the slightest. I hope that this review can serve to others as she did to me, encouraging you to study abroad with ISA, and be excited to do so. You will be so happy you did.

This provides various opportunities culturally, academically, and socially. Therefore, one aspect I was able to integrate myself in the community was through service-learning at a local emergency department in Vithas La Salud hospital in Granada, Spain. This allowed me to immerse myself in learning new medical ethics and implement practices that are appropriate to cultural diversity and acceptable to community needs. These opportunities have assisted me to develop compassion and leadership attributes, meanwhile, integrating cultural perspectives and language influences in my journey aboard (not to mention GREAT on a resume).