Arcadia Spain

Are you ready for an exciting summer in Granada?  If you are joining us for our summer programs, hopefully you will be excited to read about all of the co-curricular activities we are planning for you for this summer!

All these events are carefully planned to help you get the most out of your time in Spain, ensuring a diverse set of options for everyone to enjoy and getting immersed in the local culture.  Do you like the beach?  Cooking, hiking, historical tours, flamenco, art?  We have it all! Keep reading for a sneak peak of what’s coming up!

All the activities offered below are included in your program fee, with no extra cost.

Please register in Portal to confirm your participation; you will be asked to confirm your registration once in Spain.

CITY TOUR AND WELCOME meal

As soon as you arrive in Granada, we want you to meet the rest of the group and discover the well-known Tapas gastronomy. We will do a brief tour of the city center before having a Spanish-style meal. We will also treat you to dessert in the best-known ice-cream place in town afterwards!

PANORAMIC TOUR AND PICNIC WITH A VIEW

We will take a local bus to the highest point of the city (San Miguel Alto), have a picnic lunch or snacks while enjoying the stunning views, and then walk back (downhill) to the city through the Sacromonte neighborhood and the old town.

Accessibility: This event involves a one-hour walking through hills, gobble stones, and stairs.

ALBAICIN (OLD TOWN)

You will enjoy a tour in the Albaicín: a famous World Heritage site. This quarter is a unique area of wonderful views, magical alleys, and stunning villas with private gardens (carmen). Visit some iconic hidden places in Granada (landmarks, gardens, palaces, and stunning viewpoints). Start unlocking this multi-layered historical city and be part of it. 

Accessibility: This event involves walking for over an hour (including slopes, gobble stones, and stairs).

DISCOVER GRANADA

During the on-site orientation, we will have a Scavenger Hunt through the city. This is a fun way to discover Granada and its key locations. The first group to find all the places, answer the questions, and arrive at the meeting point will win a prize.

Accessibility: This event involves walking for over an hour.

TEA ROOMS & CHOCOLATE CON CHURROS

Once you begin your regular classes (mostly in the morning), you will keep discovering the local gastronomy and tapas. We will taste the delicious chocolate con churros at one of Granada´s most famous cafés, and experience the traditional, Arab-style tea rooms in the lower Albaicín.

GUIDED VISIT: ALHAMBRA & generalife

On the first week of the program you will enjoy a guided tour of Granada´s most famous monument: the Alhambra castle, a stunning 13^th century palace and fortress, a World Heritage Site.

Accessibility: This event involves walking for 3-4 hours.

LANGUAGE EXCHANGE

Join this activity at a local pub to learn Spanish, meet local students, and have some tapas while immersing in the local culture. (Speaking Spanish is not a requirement since the aim of this event is to help you learn the language and meet other people).

Cooking class

Traditions and past cultures have had a big impact on Spanish and Andalusian food and the way Spanish people meet and share their time with others. Discover the Spanish gastronomy and local traditions and meals first-hand: with the help of a reputable local chef, you will get to cook traditional Spanish dishes, and then taste them. (Allergies and dietary needs are accommodated).

TAPAS

Let's discover Granada’s best-known secret: each time you order a drink, you get some free food! We will show you some of the best tapas areas around town, and challenge you to find your own favorite tapas places. (Allergies and dietary needs are accommodated).

Flamenco SHOW

We will attend a traditional flamenco show and experience the intensity and emotion of different flamenco styles (such as flamenco tango, bulería, guajira, or alegría) in a unique atmosphere. This performance will include dancing, singing, and clapping. (*Includes loud noises and music).

Weekend trip to tARIFA (JuNE)

Are you ready for adventures? During this weekend trip, we will discover one of the most iconic places in Spain: the tip of Tarifa, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet. A paradise for surf lovers, its gorgeous beaches, natural parks, old town, and cool atmosphere in general make it a very popular destination all year long.

Weekend Trip to Costa del Sol: Nerja, and MÁLAGA (JULY)

In July we will spend a weekend traveling through the coast of Málaga and discovering its different sites: the capital city of Málaga (Pablo Picasso´s birthplace), and the old fishing town of Nerja, with 9 miles of clear-water, sandy beaches. We will enjoy some time sunbathing and practicing water sports, and then taste the famous fish paella at Playa Burriana. (Allergies and dietary needs are accommodated)

TASTING LOCAL PRODUCTS

Try some local products and learn the importance of olive oil, cereals, and grapes in the Spanish culture. Prepare your senses for an amazing and delicious experience! (Allergies and dietary needs are accommodated whenever possible).

HIKING TRIPS

We will do a hiking trip in the region through a unique landscape: the spectacular local countryside, and the views of some traditional towns in Granada, around the Sierra Nevada National Park. After the hike, we will treat you to a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.

* This is a moderate-high hike – it involves walking for a few hours in a mountain area.

FAREWELL DINNER

A great experience like this one needs a proper ending. On your last week in Granada, we will all have dinner together to remember the best memories and experiences of the summer. (Allergies and dietary needs are accommodated)

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Budget allowing, we may offer you some other options, such as local tours, museums, or monuments, flamenco lessons, movies in Spanish, a bike tour, etc. If possible, we will also treat you to the Hammam (Arab-style Baths), where you will enjoy a relaxing bath + massage, immersing your mind and your senses in this old tradition. 

Important

Events are only open to Arcadia program participants. Please note that dates and times, are subject to change. Local staff will notify any changes. Stay tuned!

Please register in Portal to confirm your attendance; you will be asked to confirm your registration once in Spain.

Please remember that all activities are subject to change.  Keep checking your email, Portal, and the Arcadia Granada local calendar for updates.