7 Best Places for Students to Travel in Europe

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Three things make a person happy: love, exciting work, and the opportunity to travel. If we combine all these components, we will get people who are genuinely enjoying their lives.

We’ve ranked the best places for students to travel in Europe on vacation. All seven European cities on this list are distinguished by the sun and the little money you need to have fun.

1. Madrid

Puerta del Sol in the evening

One of the best destinations for your vacation is Madrid, especially if you appreciate architecture. However, Madrid is not only full of historical monuments but also places to party: clubs, bars, cafes, and discos. From the tourist area of ​​Lavapies to the fashionable Salamanca district, young people can try entertainment for every taste here.

“In Madrid, I recommend the Bar Cock, whose decor refers to private English clubs and has not changed since its opening in 1921.” noticed Elijah Schmaltz, the travel writer at PapersOwl. There are many unusual things in the bar, and they could probably tell many juicy stories.

Many celebrities and politicians, movie stars, and writers patronize El Cock, such as Antonio Resines and the Coen brothers. If you’re looking for a drink, Dry Martini, Mojito, Caipirinha, and Manhattan deserve special attention on its menu.

2. Lisbon

Woman waiting for a tram in Lisbon

Two things are constantly present in the Portuguese capital: the sun and music, the main components of youth recreation. The attractiveness of Lisbon is affordable entertainment. There are a lot of festivals and presentations in shopping centers with the participation of Portuguese and foreign performers.

Lisbon is dominated by nightlife during the summer. Discos and nightclubs, cafes, and tasting rooms beckon with offers to have fun in an exciting company. There is the possibility of inexpensive accommodation in a network of hostels and campsites.

If you enjoy outdoor activities, you won’t get bored. It’s easy to find places to go surfing, windsurfing, kiting, diving, snorkeling, sailing and motor boat trips, parachuting, and paragliding.

ALSO READ:
A Local's Guide to Lisbon

3. Paris

Eiffel tower and Paris skyline with people in the foreground. 

France’s capital city attracts youth with museums, music, and historic buildings. It is the ideal variant for spring break, but if you wish for a more boisterous place with a French flair, you should head to Ho Chi Minh City in Asia.

The cheapest way to visit Paris is to stay in hostels. Fortunately, the city has many of them.

One of the benefits of traveling as a student is the opportunity to see the culture of another country. For those who love to watch performances, we recommend theaters. You can purchase a student subscription to theaters in Paris, and it’s valid for a full year. If you don’t plan to stay that long, there’s another cool way to save money.

Suppose you want to go to a specific performance. Go to the box office 2 hours before it starts, because the remaining tickets usually go on sale half an hour in advance. Thus, you can get to the Comédie Francaise for 5-6 euros and the Opera for €8, making it very affordable for your budget. And at this low price, you can get tickets to the best places!

ALSO READ:
10 Crazy and Unusual Things to Do in Paris

4. Barcelona

Barcelona pier and water illuminated at nighttime. Good spot for student travel

The capital of Spain’s Catalonia region is one of the most dynamic cities in the EU and one of the most popular places for students to visit in Europe.

Two of the most attractive districts in Barcelona are:

Sants

The Sants quarter is full of shops, of which there are about 500. Also, there are many bars and restaurants, several clubs and discos. The advantage of the quarter is that it is the central station of Barcelona, ​​where all high-speed trains (AVE) arrive. There are also several bus lines and several metro stations in the quarter. Sants is close to the central universities in Barcelona.

Vila Olimpica

In the past, Vila Olimpica was an industrial and fishing area. Then Barcelona authorities completely transformed this area for the Olympic Games. Today it is a fashionable and lively quarter of Barcelona.

At the end of Marina Street, two important buildings are called “twin towers.” We are talking about the Arts Hotel and Mafra Tower. Also, in the Vila Olympique, there is a famous sculpture of a giant fish made of bronze Peix d’Or.

This is a self-sufficient quarter where you will see many supermarkets, beauty salons, libraries, shopping centers, etc. In addition, the quarter has access to the beach, where the most famous clubs are located. Vila Olimpica is home to Pompeu Fabra University and the excellent university library.

ALSO READ:
One Day in Barcelona: An Easy Itinerary

5. Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik as seen from Mt Srd. Cheap student travel destination.

Another great place Located in the south of the historical region of Dalmatia, Dubrovnik attracts tourists of various categories, including youth.

Since 1979, the natural beauty of Dubrovnik and its national park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Be sure to take a look at the town from Mount Srđ. There is a unique observation deck – from which you can see all these orange roofs framed by sea blue.

Dubrovnik has many bars and discos, so those who like to have fun will easily choose something interesting. Around the old town, several bars are open until late at night or until the morning. And Dubrovnik has beaches, so you can get a tan as well!

If you are vacationing in Dubrovnik in August, don’t forget – every year in the Old Town there is a festival with performances and concerts. Talented people from various countries come here with their performances. Also, as a big plus for students and people with low budgets, Dubrovnik is one of the cheapest places in the EU.

ALSO READ:
One Day in Dubrovnik: How Much Can You Really See?

6. Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca is another ideal place for a low-cost but fantastic experience. The resort is known for entertainment, constant sun, white sand, crystal clear water, and nightlife. Here, stunning landscapes rapidly replace each other. This fantastic combination of sheer coasts of the island, rocky bays, and golden sand of many kilometers of beaches have turned Mallorca into one of the most popular resorts in the Mediterranean.

Aerial view of Palma de Mallorca waterfront, beach and city.

Palma de Mallorca’s capital is an ancient town founded by the Romans, later conquered by the Arabs, and then by the Catalans. Pollensa Bay is a bohemian resort where artists and artists come for inspiration…so it’s a good destination if you’re the creative sort.

If you like to party when you travel, there is Magaluf, a famous Spanish resort in Mallorca. As a rule, British and Scandinavian youth come here, flocking to Magaluf to hang out and have non-stop parties.

Palma de Mallorca offers a wide variety of water sports along with countless bars, cafes, and restaurants to enjoy.

7. Porto

Porto bridge and skylilne, one of the best places for students to travel for vacation

If you’re a fan of wine or port, you’re in luck. Located in the north of Portugal, Porto has plenty of port houses to enjoy on its waterfront, and it’s in the Douro Valley, one of the best wine regions of Portugal. But that’s not all the country’s second-largest city has going for it. There are plenty of other reasons to visit Porto as well.

For one thing, Porto has a vibrant nightlife. Every night, many cafes are transformed into bars, nightclubs open, DJ concerts are thundering. Various establishments are scattered throughout Porto, from the historic center to the ocean.

Porto’s nightlife is the perfect symbiosis of the cultural mood of the town and the modern dynamics of nightlife – bright, extravagant, stylish, and fun.

ALSO READ:
10 Reasons to Visit Porto, Portugal

Ready for a vacation in Europe?

There’s no point inlooking for “better” times to travel. That time is now! The best time to discover the world is while you’re a student! After all, you are young, thirsty for new experiences, ready for crazy ideas…and yet, you do not need super comfortable conditions.

Traveling is not as expensive as it may seem. So grab your backpack, buy a low-cost ticket, look for cheap accommodation, and go!

ALSO READ:
6 Cheap Alternative Vacation Ideas

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Written by Linda

Linda is multilingual and has been to over 50 countries. Her insatiable love of travel, cuisine, and foreign languages inspired her to create As We Saw It, where she documents her trips, shares practical itineraries, and offers insider tips. She’s passionate about helping fellow travelers save time, money, and hassle, and loves to discover new places to explore.

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