Sleep, study, eat, repeat. Sleep study, eat repeat. Ready to hit the pause button? If you’re reading this article, you can’t wait to fast forward to your gap year! But you may be wondering WHY you should take a gap year in EUROPE?
Picture your best self. Picture yourself in Europe!
There are travel, volunteer, internship, and work abroad programs in nearly every corner of the world—from New York to Mongolia to Palau. But nothing quite beats a European gap year (not to say that you won’t love Palau).
But Europe, people! What’s not to love? Here, you can meander through cities of ancient cobblestone streets, corner cafes and pubs. Wind through medieval castles and gothic-style churches before taking in that new vista of the cityscape.
Or, take things a little slower with a nature escape, like hiking along Irish rolling green hills through misty clouds or dipping your toes in the Mediterranean Sea.
You’ll have the best cheese of your life in France, and you’ll probably eat a lot of other things you can’t even pronounce, like tzatziki in Greece, wienerschnitzel in Austria, and borscht in Russia. Tell me, can you do all of that in… Palau?
We know you gappers are a bit different than the rest. You’re independent thinkers and you take your time to make wise choices.
But we’re pretty sure after reading this list, you’ll know exactly why a European gap year is beckoning you. We’ve compiled a list of nine reasons to take a gap year in Europe, but let’s face it—there are thousands! (P.S. Hey, you can always go to Palau after it!).
Why you should take a gap year in Europe
1. Travel with ease
Many providers feature programs with multiple country visits. There’s a reason why. Country hopping in Europe has been a way of life since oh let's say ancient Rome.
You can go from London to Barcelona to Paris all with one passport and you can do it cheaply on your Europe gap year. Traveling by train, planes and even walking is super efficient and easy. And since the advent of cheap and no-frills airlines, you’ll get to all the hot spots without spending very much.
Even if your selection from gap year programs in Europe doesn’t include multiple country visits, you can definitely carve out some time to do it on your own. Plus weekend travel is always a possibility. Amsterdam on a Saturday and Lisbon on a Sunday? Totally possible!
Gap year programs abroad in Europe are all about new perspectives
2. Europe is….cheap?
You heard it, a gap year in Europe can actually be cheap! Depending on your country of origin, you may be quite surprised just how cheap it is!\
Countries in Eastern Europe typically make the cut for lowest-cost travel. So while you’re on your Europe gap year doing an internship in countries like Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia or Macedonia, you won’t be breaking the bank on visits to the museums or nights out at nice restaurants with friends.
Plus these “cheap” countries are not “cheap” in experience. You can lounge by the Lake Ohrid in Macedonia and stay in a $30 room.
Or go skiing with friends in the Carpathian mountain range of Slovakia and get a one-day ski pass for as little as $17. Umm that’s like the cost of a hamburger in some North American ski resorts.
3. You can learn a language—or two
North Americans (sadly) are stereotyped for being monolingual. Many Europeans are exactly the opposite. There are 24 official languages in Europe, but more than 200 spoken in the entire continent.
You’ll meet people who are bi, tri or multi-lingual, and it’s easy to get swept into the benefits of speaking multiple languages when you’re gap year traveling around Europe. Keep your eyes peeled for programs that include language learning components, which is a nice little tick (read: huge boost) on your resume.
Spain is an obvious choice, given Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. But you may opt for Portuguese (that’s sixth by the way), or get yourself to Russia (eight now).
Mastering the language of love, French, would be a great way to spend a European gap year. And of course, you could always chill in sunny Mykonos with your pita in hand practicing hello in Greek.
4. Dozens of opportunities!
The opportunities for a gap year in Europe are as diverse as the language and landscape. Interested in volunteering, working, studying or just seeing all the cool sites? All of that exists.
Do you want to enroll in a university in Amsterdam and bicycle to class? Ever thought of becoming a ski instructor in the Alps? Or would you prefer a cultural and educational tour of Europe’s most prized cities—London, Paris, and Barcelona to name a few?
We have no doubt you'll find what you’re looking for. Plus Goabroad will help you get matched with the right program!
5. Variety of cities for your gap year experience
Just as there are limitless opportunities and providers, European cities offer such a variety. Many gappers find programs in the big urban centers of London, Paris and Rome.
The contrast of 2,000-year-old structures like the Colosseum juxtaposed with modern nightclubs and contemporary art museums are what excite people about Europe.
And there are lesser known cities like Seville Spain, famous for tapas at alfresco cafes turned into flamenco shows at night, or many marvel at the gothic architecture in Riga, Latvia.
Did you know Bruges, Belgium has canals like Venice and chocolate shops that could put Paris to shame? Don’t discount the small-fry cities with big experiences!
Why not check out horticulture—or better yet, viticulture—gap year internships in Europe?
6. Natural wonders
We know many of you aren’t made for big city life, so for those who’d rather pack their hiking shoes than their high heels, hold on tight.
There are plenty of Europe gap year programs that provide tours and cultural excursions to Europe’s most treasured au naturale retreats.
And some programs may place you in rural villages (#homestaylife) or even nature reserves, where you can volunteer in conservation or just take in some deep breaths. You’re sure to enjoy the 300-year-old Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and the gorgeous Dalmatian Coast in Croatia.
How about a weekend in the Dolomites of Italy scaling 18 peaks jutting out of a landscape dotted by quaint villages? The black forest of Germany impresses with a network of rivers through pined woods.
If it’s island beach life you crave, there is no other iconic place to relax than Greece or Turkey. The whitewashed houses shining in the Mediterranean sun with red stoned rocks over a clear blue sea give you all the natural colors you’ll need for a fantastic Europe gap year.
7. Europe is cooler than you
You may have all the likes on social media, but you only wish you had as many followers as Europe. At least for us North Americans, Europe always seems to be a step ahead of the game.
They have a much longer history and they have far outdone us in art and architecture. Think Stonehenge in Ireland, the Acropolis in Athens or the Alhambra in Spain (the author’s personal fave).
Europe seems to be winning without even trying with an air of sophistication and grace that is unmatched. You’ll feel it literally in every step you take. Step into a cafe in Florence to have an espresso or shop till you drop along the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
There’s a polished look and an eye for design in Europe’s modernity, while still maintaining the beautiful historical structures that have stood for centuries. Oh and the counterculture scene did not come from Brooklyn. Nope that was Europe. Mohawks, skateboards, tattoos and leather jackets. This is classic cool and you see it everywhere in Europe.
Live and work in Europe… but remember to play (a lot!) too!
8. Your experiences will make you marketable!
Ok, let’s talk a little bit more about your future, which is definitely linked to why you should take a gap year in Europe. You’re carving a path to your next steps in one year, five years or even 20.
Spending a gap year volunteering or working now looks great on your resume as you enter college or your next job, and even the job after that. Invest in you.
Then tell any admissions counselor or potential employer about your experiences teaching English to children in Prague or doing a conservation project in Santorini Greece. Who wouldn't want to hire you now, you star you!
9. Learn more about the world—and, most importantly, yourself
Your Europe gap year experience will bring you more than a hefty passport full of stamps. It will propel you to a great college experience or career, not to mention have a huge impact on your personal growth and self-awareness.
When you spend time in cultures different from your own, you don’t come out the other side the same. It’s all the stuff in between that helps build your interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Have you ever tried to navigate directions in the streets of a foreign city? How about making your way through a rural countryside using all the foreign skills you got?
You will not only step outside your comfort zone, but you will live and exist in that space for several months, to a year or more. It may not always be easy, but it’s so worth it.
These experiences change you. They will clarify your goals and sense of purpose, while also giving you a confidence boost in future travels, hopefully leading to a lifetime of humble learning and exploration.
Next steps to doing a European gap year
Take only photos, leave only footprints <3
Don't pack your GoPro juuuust yet. There are a few items on your gap year to do list you should check off first.
- Decide where to go. Figuring out where to take your gap year isn’t easy. The dazzling lights of Paris? Somewhere with a beach? A powerhouse city like London? Don't let ANYTHING hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
- Language classes, wilderness exploration, volunteering? You don't only have to take classes, this is all about experiential learning, baby! Decide if you want to use this time to learn hard skills, like Spanish and backcountry camping, or to develop soft-er skills, like teamwork and communication, through something like a service project.
- Choose from the best gap year programs in Europe. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and your ease of getting credits. Some schools or providers may even provide contact info for student ambassadors or past gappers if you want the REAL dirt. Here’s our guide to choosing between gap year programs.
- Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go start your gap year to afford daily essentials and splurge on travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Do your research to have an idea of how much your gap year program will cost. Be sure to check out travel scholarships too!
- Get prepared. Don’t wait til the last minute to figure out what to pack for a gap year or how to prepare for the experience, both mentally and physically. (Here’s our cheat sheet for gap year prep if you’d like!). You’re close to ready!
You’re ready for a Europe gap year!
Push your comfort zone to new heights with the help of Europe gap year programs.
Are you super pumped about a gap year in Europe? We thought so! Oh keep in mind reader, a gap year can happen at any point in life. Most people take a gap year between high school and college, but some take time off during or after they get their degree.
You’ve never too old for a European gap year. Please, 25 is not old! Most people change careers every two years. What’s a little time in Europe marked by a huge experience?
Picture this: The music scene in Berlin, The Northern Lights in Sweden. A sauna in Finland. A tasty gelato in Italy. Europe surely awakens the senses and a gap year enhances the experience with personal growth and new skills.
If you didn’t know this already, people who take gap years get higher grades and have more successful careers than their peers. Plus, you get to see the world when most of your friends won’t even leave the dorm. AND you’ll do it while building up your resume and meeting new friends. You really can’t compare those experiences.
The nine reasons to take a gap year in Europe are really just scratching the surface of the full experience. Now it’s time to make your own story. Find your nine, nine million or just one reason to take a gap year in Europe.
Give it a try and discover another reason that is special to you, and only you.
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