Known for its diverse tapas and welcoming cafés lining every street, Sevilla is an authentic Spanish gastronomical wonderland. The city’s beautiful architecture and unique neighborhoods have captured the hearts and imaginations of visitors for centuries, and modern-day Sevilla has much to offer university students spending a semester exploring the many joys of the city.

But, between writing papers, meeting with intercambio language exchange partners, exploring rustic neighborhoods, and going for late-night tapas crawls with friends, finding time to exercise and take care of one’s physical and mental health can be a challenge. However, anxiety over how much your health will suffer from a semester of eating and exercising differently doesn’t have to plague your study abroad.

I’ve compiled a list of my top tips for prospective study abroad students (no matter where you choose to study) on how to stay healthy and active during a semester abroad. As a competitive Track and Field athlete at my home university, I’ve been able to stay active and healthy while studying abroad in Spain, so read on for my top five tips!

          1. Find a Consistent Time to Exercise

This one cannot be overstated! I am a creature of habit, so if I don’t do something consistently, it doesn’t stick. For me, working out during the mornings in Spain works best, as it leaves my afternoons open to get a café con leche with friends — or explore one of the ubiquitous museums in Sevilla without rushing to squeeze a workout in before dinner.

Additionally, working out in the mornings provides a post-workout endorphin boost that lasts until the evening. I most enjoy running as a form of exercise, and there are many scenic routes threading the historic center of Sevilla and lining the Río Guadalquiver. About half of the students live across the river from the school, so I often run on my route to school along the river, and then peel off to weave through the other-worldly Plaza de España (episode II of Star Wars was filmed in the plaza!). Running in Sevilla is a perfect way to familiarize yourself with the city and explore the numerous parks and hidden patio gardens in la judería.

If running isn’t your jam, Sevilla offers many other options for exercise. Many of my classmates have gym memberships near their señora’s casas, which tend to be priced at around 30 euros per month. Many gyms offer swimming pools, pickleball teams, and classes for pilates, body pump, zumba, yoga, and much more!

Setting a consistent time to workout can be beneficial for more than just your physical health. I’ve found that running consistently in the mornings provides an emotional outlet, and is a great way to add structure to the joyful chaos of studying abroad. 

          2. Join a Local Sports Team

Joining a sports team in Sevilla could be one of the best things you decide to do during your time abroad. Sevilla is a young and active city, so you’ll find the riverwalk bustling with runners just after sunup and during the siesta hour. In addition, the Río Guadalquiver is constantly teeming with rowing teams and kayakers out to break a sweat while enjoying the Spanish sun.

The city offers many run clubs that can be found on the Strava app or Instagram, as well as many pickleball, beach volleyball, and rugby and fútbol teams students can join for a season. For the adventurous, there are even rowing teams (with both English and Spanish speakers) that students can participate in.

Joining a local sports team is a wonderful way to connect with locals who share your love for sports and is also a phenomenal way to build a routine including exercise into your schedule.

          3. Just Keep Walking!

I wasn’t prepared for the tremendous amount of walking I would be doing each day, but I’ve come to cherish the time I spend meandering through the cobblestone streets of Sevilla. I live about a 35-minute walk from the school, and I often return to the center after eating lunch at home with my señora, so I spend at least two hours on foot every day. Take into account excursions and weekend trips, and it’s no surprise that my step count has never been so high.

Walking also allows students to stay active at no added cost while abroad. Traditional forms of exercise don’t have to be part of students’ daily routine in order to stay healthy, there will be plenty of opportunities to explore cities on foot to get a daily dose of movement!

Bringing comfortable walking shoes to Spain is a must. I’ve put more mileage on my white new balance sneakers since moving abroad than I have in the past 3 years I’ve owned them. The vast amounts of time walking is conducive to having long conversations with friends, or for calling family from back home, so I would encourage students not to be daunted by the long days spent on foot!

          4. Listen to Your Body 

Be intuitive with your nutrition and exercise! If your body is giving you signs that you need to rest more, don’t be afraid to take extra time to rest and recover. Sevilla is an energetic city with seemingly endless opportunities to take advantage of while you’re here, but keep in mind that you will most enjoy your time spent abroad if you are both mentally and physically healthy.

Host señoras are more than happy to accommodate dietary needs, and even food preferences. My señora has offered to cook me a recipe from home if I’m craving comfort food and is very flexible about meals that she cooks for me. Studying abroad is a wonderful time to experience a new culture and push beyond your comfort zone, but you don’t have to become a completely different person while studying abroad. While your routine and diet may look different while studying abroad, you can still move and fuel intuitively.

In addition, taking time to maintain constructive habits from home, such as quiet time spent reading in the mornings or before bed and journaling are essential to creating a space where you can feel at home in Spain. Mental health is just as important as physical health (if not more), so the key is finding a comfortable balance between exploration of new and commitment to established practices.

          5. Be Flexible! 

A willingness to try new things during your time abroad is paramount to getting the most out of your study abroad experience! One of the most helpful pieces of advice I’ve been given is the following quote: “And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy, and your eyes sparkling.”

A semester abroad is a time to try strange foods, have sensational experiences, and meet extraordinary people that you wouldn’t be able to at home, and so having an attitude of adaptability is one of the most valuable things you can bring with you into any program abroad.

It’s almost certain that your exercise habits, diet, and daily routines will look very different while studying abroad, but I would encourage students to embrace the joyful chaos of living abroad. Chances are, your old routines will still be waiting for you when you return home after four short months, so embrace the opportunity to live life at a different pace in Spain.

¡Vale la peña experimentar la vida de España!

~Abby Lawson, Spring 2025