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10 Best Places for High School Student Trips to Europe in...

Did you know that Europe is divided into a whopping 50 countries? That’s perfect for anyone who wants to go on legendary high school Europe trips. Whether you’re looking to learn or get more fluent in a second or third language, seek a higher culture, or eager to understand the origins of Western civilization, signing up for student travel programs in Europe will prove the trip of your lifetime. 

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Retro camera, photos of Europe, and map of Europe

Looking for the best countries for high school student trips in Europe? We’ve done the research for you!

Channel your deepest Hogwarts’ desires by going to high school in Scotland and England or learn to dress like your chic classmates in Paris or Toulouse. Wander the cobblestoned streets of Amsterdam or hop on a train or bus to explore Western Europe Eurotrip style. Can it get any better than learning about the great thinkers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle in Greece? What about learning German, French, Italian, and Romansh in Heidi’s playground? 

The possibilities are endless, whether you choose to sign up for exploration programs that spend time in several destinations, cultural experiences like homestays, student exchanges, and language learning immersion programs. 

Whatcha waiting for? Scroll down to check out the 10 best countries for high school student trips to Europe in 2018 according to meaningful travelers.

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1. Spain

Girl overlooks Spanish cityscape

Spain is your playground if you choose to do high school trips to Europe.

As an overworked high school student, what’s there not to like about the birthplace of siestas? Sign up for high school student travel programs in Europe to nap between classes in Spain. Practica tu español while ordering tapas in Barcelona or learning flamenco in Sevilla. If you’re really thinking of raising the bar on your high school student trip to Europe, run with the bulls in Pamplona or have the best food fight of your life at La Tomatina in Buñol. 

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in Spain with ISA

See ALL high school programs in Spain

2. France

Vintage car in front of Eiffel tower

Live your sweetest dreams while going to high school in France!

Which teenager doesn’t dream of taking a selfie in front of the Eiffel tower and eating eclairs all day? Make it a reality by signing up for high school student travel programs in Europe. Learn what French kids eat for lunch or do for fun on the weekends. Hands down, one of the best things about going to high school in France is that the schedule is so darn liberating! You can leave school during lunch and only need to be there for your classes so if you start at 10 and finish at 2, you get to sleep in and leave early! Score!

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in France with Nacel International

See ALL high school programs in France

3. England

Crowded street scene in London

England is your best bet on high school foreign exchange programs to Europe!

Pull up those socks and polish those shoes! You’re off to England for high school abroad, my poppet! Pack light because you’ll be living in a school uniform over there, leaving you more time for lie-ins and less time in front of the mirror agonizing over the perfect outfit! Learn how they play sports on the other side of the pond by joining rugby, cricket, netball, or rowing teams. Study in global London, metropolitan Manchester, or collegiate Oxford and Cambridge. 

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in England with API

See ALL high school programs in England

4. Western Europe

Girl in europe

Make that Eurotrip a reality by signing up for high school Europe trips in Western Europe!

Tired of sitting standardized tests in your hometown high school? Sign up for high school foreign exchange programs to Europe—Western Europe to be precise—for a breath of fresh continental air. Learn world languages, world geography, and other practical stuff in European classrooms. Western Europe has some of the best countries for high school student trips in Europe. Choose from distinctive nations across the region, from Andorra in the south to the UK in the north. 

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in Western Europe with SPI Study Abroad

See ALL high school programs in Western Europe

5. Germany

Music festival

Make all your friends at home jelly by going to high school abroad in Germany

Do you love Haribo gummies, Volkswagens, and bratwurst? You’ll fit right in while going to high school in Germany on high school foreign exchange programs to Europe! On the other hand, are you a high school jock? Get ready for a totally different sporting experience! Unlike what may happen in your home high school, in Germany, students play for clubs outside of school. Also, if you’re into languages, you’ll love Germany because it’s compulsory for gymnasium (public high school) students to graduate knowing at least two foreign languages!

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in Germany with Travel For Teens

See ALL high school programs in Germany

6. Switzerland

Scenic view in switzerland

Check Switzerland off the list on high school student trips to Europe

Ge ready to learn, travel, and study in one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Switzerland is one of the best countries for high school students trips in Europe because it’s so safe, internationally-minded, and naturally beautiful. Study with your classmates in quaint and wealthy Zurich which sits on a beautiful lake of the same name or Geneva, HQ of banking, international finance, and international NGOs like the UN. 

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in Switzerland with CEA

See ALL high school programs in Switzerland

7. The Netherlands

Group of teenage girls pose in front of sign in European city

Make new friends in the Netherlands on high school student travel programs in Europe.

Forget what you think you know about the Netherlands. Spoiler alert: it’s not all about clogs, tulips, and windmills. In fact, the Netherlands is an excellent choice for high school foreign exchange programs to Europe. Study in the most popular Dutch city, Amsterdam, UN darling, The Hague, or trade capital, Rotterdam. Stay for a full year and live with a Dutch host family to learn Dutch 101. If you don’t have that much time, take a two or four week long cultural trip to experience the best of Dutch culture. 

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in the Netherlands with The Experiment in International Living

See ALL high school programs in the Netherlands

8. Greece

Girl at parthenon

History comes alive in Greece, one of the best countries for high school student trips in Europe

You're not alone—we dream of studying and living in the land of Zeus, Apollo, and Diana, too! You can, by signing up for a high school Europe trip to Greece! Learn why Greece is one of the world’s oldest and greatest Western civilizations. Watch history and literature come alive in Athens’ Acropolis and ancient temples. On the weekends, take a trip down to Mykonos and the rest of the Greek isles to party like a Hellenic teenager!

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in Greece with GVI

See ALL high school programs in Greece

9. Scotland

Horned ram stands in doorway of old building

Get to know the locals in Scotland during high school student trips to Europe. ;-)

The land of the Scots is so much more than kilts and bagpipes! In fact, it’s one of the best locations for high school student travel programs in Europe. If you’re a native English speaker, no worries because the official language of Scotland is not Scottish but English! Study in UNESCO city of literature, Edinburgh, where castles co-exist with cafes or if you’re more into the arts and architecture, try high school in Glasgow. 

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in Scotland with ISSFT

See ALL high school programs in Scotland

10. Sweden

Green Northern lights in night sky

Life couldn’t be sweeter than getting the chance to see the Northern Lights.

Do you love the outdoors? Are you still looking for a high school Europe trip in a country that feeds your hankering for Mother Nature? Sweden is a true nature’s paradise with awesome mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and seas. Similar to other European countries, high school students in Sweden come and go as they please because teachers and parents trust them to be personally accountable. Put on your big girl/boy boots and head to high school in Stockholm or Gothenburg. 

Recommended program: Go to high school abroad in Sweden with AFS-USA

See ALL high school programs in Sweden

A note from GoAbroad

We’d like to thank our community for not only inspiring us daily, but for also giving us enough insight to share accurate predictions for meaningful travel in 2018.

Learn more about our research methodology, recommended programs, and links here.

Read the full report here.

Browse more of this year's report on top destinations for high school abroad

Find your dream program for study abroad in high school

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Tobi Tarwater

Update: 2024-06-29