Bilbao (pop. 354,000) is located in northern Spain, within País Vasco. This capital of the Biscay Province provides you with an opportunity for an amazing adventure abroad. Smart, cosmopolitan, and just minutes from the coast, Bilbao is an ideal place to study. As a cultural epicenter, you will delve not only into Spanish culture, but Basque and French cultures as well. Bilbao is a contemporary city with access to mother nature in all directions. Its combination of cosmopolitan and outdoor activities is a great recipe for an exceptional experience abroad. Regardless of your interests, you will have a multitude of activities in which to partake: exploring art/history museums, hiking, sightseeing, surfing, biking, shopping, or socializing with locals.

TOP 10 REASONS TO STUDY ABROAD IN BILBAO

1. Live in a capital city – Bilbao is the capital of the Biscay Province

2. Take advantage of world class surfing at Sopelana and Barinache beaches as well as at Mundaka beach where the Billabong Pro Championships were recently held

3. Find out why Bilbao has been transformed into a modern European center of business and culture

4. Call the largest city in the Basque Country home – Bilbao proper has a population of 354,000 and the greater Bilbao area has a population of nearly 1 million

5. Experience all that mother nature has to offer in Bilbao by participating in numerous mountain and sea sports

6. Visit the world renown Guggenheim Museum – one of the most important pieces of modern architecture in the world

7. Attend one of Spain's most prestigious private universities – the University of Deusto

8. Stroll around the Casco Viejo (Old Town) and enjoy tapas in the afternoon or sample the local flare during a night out on the town

9. Experience two cultures at once – Spanish and Basque

10. See why the Santiago Cathedral, once an important stop along the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela (Camino de Santiago), is of historical and architectural interest

More about Bilbao