One of the perks of teaching English in Spain is all the time I have to travel. Often English teachers have 4-day work schedules, teaching between 20 to 25 hours a week, and flights are pretty cheap from Madrid. Once you are done lesson planning you can focus on extracurricular activities like traveling!  I’ve been to Italy, Ireland, England, Germany, and France, not to mention all over Spain.

There are three that top my list for easily accessible destinations from Madrid: Portugal, Morocco and Northern Spain. These are the perfect places to visit when there is a long weekend or on Christmas and Easter holidays.

Would you like to live and work in Spain? Check out our FREE guide on how to do it HERE.

Portugal

Portugal not only offers gorgeous beaches (clearly can be seen in the picture at the beginning of the post) but I’ve heard that the famous Francesinha sandwich is worth making the trip in itself. That may sound like I’m being too much of a foodie, but I don’t care. I love food.

Porto and Lisbon are the top two cities I’d recommend. They are both to die for as far as beautiful cities go and they are extremely inexpensive in both the travel and accommodation department. Wandering the streets is like wandering through a different era completely. Also, they have a vibrant nightlife which is great for meeting people when traveling.

Morocco

If I had to choose ONE place, this one would probably be it. It is so exotic and fascinating. It’s bohemian meets Moorish with bright colors and exquisite to photograph. It’s peaceful and romantic while having the hustle and bustle of city bartering at a fast-paced, loud and buzzing market.

Of course, going on a camel ride through the desert is like an Arabian dream. For me, that is something I’ve only ever read about in books or seen in Disney movies, and something not easily experienced back in the United States. The best time to visit is in April or October and although Marrakech is the most popular destination, Chefchaouen is very beautiful with its blue colored walls.

Northern Spain

Between teaching in Madrid and having studied here 4 years ago, I have seen quite a bit of southern Spain, Andalucía, as well as Valencia, Ibiza, The Canary Islands and, of course, Barcelona. But Northern Spain is easily my favorite.

Gijón and Oviedo in Asturias, as well as, San Sebastián are some of the most underrated cities in Spain in regards to visiting and capturing its beauty. You can’t go wrong when sipping Sidra (Spanish alcoholic cider) and dining delectable northern dishes and desserts. In Asturias, you have the beautiful mountain range Picos de Europa that is just a must to see.

Some people brag that they are not “beach vacationers”. I, on the other hand, cannot get enough of the beach and will go every chance I get the opportunity. Even just the sound of the ocean makes a beach getaway worth the time, travel and money. San Sebastián is a prime destination for beautiful beaches right here in Spain.

Where do you recommend going while teaching English in Spain? Leave a comment on Facebook and let us know your favorite destination.