Ideas for school trips in Spain

Teachers and educators among you may be thinking about taking your class on school trips to Spain. It’s an opportunity for you to travel with your students and expose them to new places and cultures.

There are so many destinations that you could choose from, so narrowing down the list can be tough. Perhaps focus on ones that will add the most value for learning yet also inspire them in one way or another. Spain offers much in he way of one of those destinations, so think about taking your school/class there. Here are a couple of excursions and attractions in Spain you may want to consider taking part in or visiting.

See Antoni Gaudi structures

If you take a school trip to Spain, you shouldn’t leave without first seeing Antoni Gaudi’s work. Just in case you’ve never heard about it before, it’s a famous architectural experience located in Barcelona. Examples of his work can be seen all over, but perhaps the most famous is Park Güell. You may also want to see the Church of the Sagrada Familia, which is located in Barcelona and another of his main works.

Visit the Alhambra

To give your students some historical insight, take them to the Alhambra. This site protected Granada city’s inhabitants from being invaded by the Christians for what was hundreds of years. It has also been a film set for such productions as Game of Thrones. You are likely to be able to get around this structure in half a day, depending on how fast or slow you are. Make sure you buy your tickets in advance to avoid any disappointments.

Learn About languages

Going to Spain is an opportunity to learn about the language. Go on a tour to the many different parts of the town you head to and speak with locals. You should also know that although Spanish is the predominant language, it isn’t the only one they speak. In Barcelona, they speak Catalan, while in San Sebastian and Bilbao they speak Basque.

Try different foods

Eating is something you’re going to have to do severally while on a school trip. For those of you coming from within Spain, the chances are that your class will already know their local foods well. However, visiting other parts of the country can be useful and a chance to encourage the children to start something new. For those visiting from other countries – it’s all new! Take this opportunity to indulge in the local cuisine and try the many native dishes out there. Here are a few dishes you shouldn’t leave Spain without eating.

• Paella: If you’ve never heard of or tried paella before, now is the chance to do so. This happens to be one of the most popular and traditional rice dishes that they have, so you shouldn’t leave without trying it. Paella Recipe

• Tortilla Espanola: Another dish worth trying is the tortilla Espanola for those that like eggs. It is more or less an omelette filled with eggs, potatoes, and onions. Whether you like it or not, at least your students can say they ticked it off the list. Tortilla recipe

• Patatas Bravas: For those that enjoy potatoes, this may be a delicacy worth trying. Originating from Southern Spain, the potatoes are cubed and shallow fried accompanying a number of different sauces. Patatas Bravas recipe

Other destinations to consider

China

One of the best things about traveling to new destinations is that you get to experience other cultures. One of the most cultural and historical countries that you can visit is China. This is because it’s an eclectic destination filled with a range of educational opportunities. For instance, they’ll have the chance to learn about the Chinese culture and language. Seeing as it’s also an old and influential civilization, they can learn about over 5,000 years of rich history. Having said that, perhaps plan an educational trip to China as it’s likely one everyone would look forward to.

Iceland

Another great destination to take your students to is Iceland. This is especially true if you want to focus on geography as Iceland is filled with black beaches and breathtaking glaciers. They could also visit the Magical Blue Lagoon, which consists of natural warm water that you can swim in. In regards to what you can do in Iceland, you could go on Iceland guided tour, experience whales in their natural habitat, and see many of the waterfalls that there are.

Whether you discover the latest Spain has to offer, or venture to another destination, just be sure to choose somewhere that is culturally rich and steeped in history so you make the most of your trip… enabling the class to have fun but that also offers learning opportunities. This can be a once in a lifetime opportunity for somebody, so ensure that you choose wisely and embrace it all.

Elle Draper

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business - Gandy-Draper. Born a "Norverner", she then spent most of her life "Dann Saff" before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle's loves are Alan, the internet, their three bouncing dogs, good food, and dry white wine - although not necessarily in that order.