During my four-month study abroad experience, I was fortunate enough to travel to nearly a dozen cities. Here’s a rundown of everywhere I’ve been and my experiences there.
Valencía, Spain - Feb. 6 to Feb. 8
Valencía was my first trip out of Madrid during my semester abroad. I went with my dad, who was in Spain on a biking trip.
Considering the fact it was early February, the weather was fantastic. I walked around comfortably in a sweatshirt.
Valencía has an amazing mix of history and modern culture. You can explore buildings damaged by Napoleon’s invasions — but you can also go to the beach, which spans miles, and visit the arts and sciences district, which features museums, an opera house, an aquarium and a botanical garden.
While my dad and I couldn’t try paella — what Valencía is arguably most known for — I’m sure it’s amazing. We are both vegetarians, so we didn’t really see the point in even trying.
Seville, Spain - Feb. 20 to Feb. 22
Aside from Madrid, Seville is my favorite place I’ve been in Spain. Similarly to Valencía, the weather in Seville was amazing. It was pushing 75 degrees in the middle of winter.
Seville was incredibly walkable. I was only there for a weekend, but I feel like I really saw everything. Whether it was Plaza de España or the Alcazar, the architecture was beautiful. I also felt incredibly immersed in Sevillan culture. Flamenco dancers and bands were positioned on most street corners in the main town. The people were extremely friendly and welcoming.
However, the Sevilla oranges are very sour — maybe they weren’t ripe yet. Eat with caution.
Porto, Portugal - Feb. 27 to March 1
One weekend, some friends and I decided on a whim to take a bus from Madrid to Porto. The bus dropped us off minutes from our hostel, and we were immediately met with traditional pastel homes clumped together along the river.
Porto was very walkable and very green. I could’ve easily wandered all day looking at the tiled houses and old churches. I also tried my first Pastel de Nata — and about three more throughout the weekend — when I was there. If you ever have the chance to try the egg and tart pastry, I highly recommend it.
The city also becomes quite lively at night. There were two main streets lined with different bars where people sat outside and enjoyed their nights.
Prague, Czech Republic - March 12 to March 15
Prague was the trip I most looked forward to, and it didn’t disappoint. With its classic architecture and abundance of World War II history, I really felt like I was transported back in time.
I highly recommend the city if you are interested in history, particularly that era.
The streets and parks were very clean, with minimal litter and trash, and the nightlife was very prominent. There were always people out on the streets, and the atmosphere was very lively.
Lisbon, Portugal - March 19 to March 22
I’m sure I would’ve loved Lisbon if I didn’t go on a weekend when it was pouring rain. It really is one of those places — like many others — where the weather makes or breaks your trip.
I still had a lot of fun, and we did get one sunny day where we explored Sintra.
But the weather definitely affected my ability to see the city. For two days, my friend and I tried walking around to explore, but we ended up hopping in and out of shops when the rain picked up.
The landscape in Lisbon is beautiful — and hilly, so get ready for some serious steps if you ever visit.
*Spring Break
*Venice, Italy - March 26 to March 27
I only spent about a day in Venice before heading north, but it was a lot nicer than I expected. I had heard there was a lot of pickpocketing, but I was way less nervous about it once I was there.
It was also so nice not having to cross the street and wait for cars; my friends and I could just cross bridges across the canals. I liked Venice, but I’m not sure whether I liked it enough to invest in going back.
*The Dolomites, Italy - March 27 to March 31
My friends and I planned this trip last minute, and it worked out pretty well. The Dolomites were incredible to hike through. It felt like walking through a green screen. It was a bit cold and snowy, but it made the hikes even more rewarding.
*Sicily, Italy - March 31 to April 3
I was hoping Sicily would be a relaxing few days after hiking, but it was still the island’s rainy season. The water was beautiful, but it was hard to enjoy in bad weather.
Just when I thought I’d escaped the snow, we hiked Mount Etna, a volcano where it was actively snowing. It was very cool, and I have zero regrets — but it was definitely not the spring break I envisioned.
*Berlin, Germany - April 3 to April 6
Similar to Prague, Berlin is packed with history from the World Wars and Soviet rule. I thought it was so cool walking around and learning about things as precise as a gunshot hole in a building.
I went to visit a friend studying there, and she showed me around the museums, statues and monuments. I don’t know what I had in mind when I went to Berlin, but it was definitely not what I expected architecturally.
The city was rebuilt because practically everything had been bombed in World War II. Now, everything looks very industrial and pretty sparse.
I would love to go back to Berlin and spend more time learning about its history.
Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain - April 17 to April 19
Mallorca had some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen. It was extremely cold but very pretty to look at.
Palma also had one of the most beautiful churches I’ve seen, with stained glass windows reflecting rainbow light into the building.
If I were to go back, I would definitely rent a car. The island is pretty big, and my friends and I were limited in what we could do.
During the day, the public transportation is pretty good. But if we’d wanted to move around the island for sunset or dinner, we would have needed a rental car. The beaches are less crowded farther from the main town.
Barcelona, Spain - May 6 to May 7
Barcelona was a pretty last-minute trip, but it was a quick three-hour train ride. I was very worried about being pickpocketed — even more than in Venice. But as long as I was cautious with my belongings and spatially aware, I was fine. The Sagrada Família was cool, but there were crowds of people.
I can easily say Barcelona was the most touristy place I had been to, possibly because peak travel season starts in May. Nonetheless, I was very surprised by how many tourists were there.
The Gothic Quarter was also cool — but again, very crowded. The beaches were nice, but it wasn’t quite warm enough for swimming. I was definitely happy to return to Madrid after this trip.
Summing it up
All in all, I’ve had amazing travels all over Europe. With a lot of my travels focused in Spain and Portugal, I feel like I really got to experience the culture of the region I was living in.
With any of these places, I think it’s very important to do your research beforehand to make travel easier and more efficient. This is especially important when deciding where to stay.
During my travels, I learned there is so much more out there to experience. I’m greatly looking forward to the day I return.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her travels on Instagram @shaine_in_spain.
Shaine Davison is a junior majoring in journalism and minoring in environmental science. She has previously served as the editor of the enterprise desk and reporter for university and sports desks. This semester, she will be studying abroad in Madrid, Spain.
