Beyond the Capital:

Why It’s Time to Rethink the Itinerary

Every study abroad advisor knows the pull of the big names. Paris, Rome, London, Barcelona — they anchor brochures for a reason, and no one is suggesting we strike them from the map. But as costs climb and crowds thicken at the usual landmarks, more program designers are asking a smart question: does the capital city always deserve the center of the itinerary?

A growing number of institutions are finding that Europe’s “second cities” — Porto instead of Lisbon, Leipzig instead of Berlin, Bologna instead of Rome, Ghent instead of Brussels, Valencia instead of Madrid — offer something the marquee destinations increasingly struggle to provide: room to actually learn.

The case is straightforward.

Affordability that stretches the budget. Housing, meals, and local transport in second cities routinely run 20–40% cheaper than in capital counterparts, which means program fees can go further or per-student costs can come down — a meaningful selling point for cost-conscious families and budget-strapped departments alike.

Authentic access, not staged encounters. In cities where tourism hasn’t reshaped daily life, students interact with locals who aren’t fatigued by foot traffic. Language immersion is deeper, homestays are easier to source, and cultural exchange feels like exchange rather than transaction.

Academic infrastructure without the noise. Cities like Lyon, Kraków, and Utrecht house serious universities, archives, and research centers — often with faculty more available for guest lectures and partnerships precisely because they’re not fielding requests from every program on the continent.

A gentler landing for first-time travelers. Smaller cities are easier to navigate, safer to explore independently, and less overwhelming for students on their first international trip — building confidence before (or instead of) a whirlwind capital add-on.

Differentiation that markets itself. At a moment when every institution’s Instagram feed features the same shot of the Eiffel Tower, an itinerary built around Coimbra or Ljubljana stands out to prospective students and parents scrolling through program comparisons.

None of this requires abandoning the capitals entirely — a well-placed weekend excursion still has its place. But as a home base for the semester or program, second cities increasingly offer the better trade: lower costs, deeper engagement, and an experience that feels discovered rather than checked off a list.

Worth a look at your next itinerary planning session.

Every summer, thousands of faculty-led programs converge on the same handful of European cities. Venice’s canals groan under cruise-ship crowds. Barcelona residents protest overtourism in the streets. Rome’s Trevi Fountain is more selfie stick than sightline. These cities are iconic for good reason — but that reason is exactly why they may no longer be the best classroom for our students.
A different kind of immersion

In Lyon, Leipzig, Porto, or Ljubljana, students aren’t competing with a million other visitors for a table, a museum ticket, or a moment of quiet reflection. They’re far more likely to strike up a real conversation with a shopkeeper, a fellow student, or a neighbor — not because locals in Paris are unfriendly, but because in a city not organized around tourism, students are guests in daily life rather than extras in a postcard. That distinction changes what “cultural immersion” actually means. It stops being a checklist of monuments and becomes a lived, if imperfect, experience of how people actually work, eat, argue about politics, and get through a Tuesday.

Better learning conditions

Overtouristed cities also come with pedagogical costs. Site visits require reservations made months in advance. Lecture halls compete with the noise of tour groups. Housing is scarce and expensive, pushing students into distant suburbs and long commutes that eat into program time. Second cities tend to offer more affordable housing closer to campus partners, more flexible access to museums and civic institutions, and local partner universities that are genuinely invested in hosting your students rather than processing them.

Budgets that go further

Overtourism drives prices up — for flights, for lodging, for the excursions that make a program memorable. A program based in Bologna or Kraków can often stretch the same budget into more excursions, better housing, or scholarships for students who couldn’t otherwise afford to go. That matters enormously for equity in study abroad access.

A more honest picture of Europe

Finally, there’s an intellectual argument. Venice, Barcelona, and Paris are extraordinary, but they are not representative of how most Europeans live. A semester in a mid-sized industrial or university city gives students a more accurate sense of contemporary European life — its housing debates, its transit systems, its regional identities — than a semester spent orbiting the world’s most photographed monuments. Students leave with a richer, less flattened understanding of the continent, and often a much stronger connection to the specific place they called home.

Rethinking, not replacing

None of this means Rome or Paris should disappear from the itinerary — a weekend excursion still has real value. But building a program’s home base around a second city, with day trips to the icons, gives students the best of both: deep, unhurried immersion where they live, and the marquee sights as a bonus rather than the whole point.

As overtourism reshapes Europe’s most famous destinations, faculty directors have an opportunity — and arguably a responsibility — to reconsider where “abroad” actually happens.

Skip the Selfie Line: Why Our Study Abroad Groups Are Choosing Second Cities

Venice is sinking under the weight of its own popularity. Barcelona residents have taken to the streets protesting overtourism. Amsterdam has launched ad campaigns actively discouraging certain visitors. Paris, London, Rome — the story is the same everywhere you look: iconic cities buckling under the sheer volume of people who want to see them.

That’s exactly why we’ve been steering our study abroad programs toward Europe’s “second cities” — and the results have been transformative for students.

The Case for Going Off the Postcard

Real cultural immersion. In Porto instead of Lisbon, Ghent instead of Amsterdam, Bologna instead of Rome, students aren’t competing with thousands of tourists for a table, a museum ticket, or a moment of genuine connection with a local. Shopkeepers have time to chat. Neighbors remember your name. The culture isn’t performing for tourists — it’s just happening, and you’re part of it.

Deeper language learning. When every barista and bus driver defaults to English because they’re used to tourists, students never get pushed to practice. Second cities force real engagement with the local language, which is exactly what language-learning goals require.

Better value, better living. Housing, food, and daily life cost less in Leipzig than Berlin, in Valencia than Barcelona. That means students can stretch their budgets further — more weekend trips, more cultural experiences, less financial stress.

Cities that still function as cities. Second cities aren’t museums frozen for visitors. They have universities, local industries, working neighborhoods, and civic life. Students see how people actually live, work, and build community — not just how a city photographs.

A lighter footprint. Overtourism strains infrastructure, drives up housing costs for residents, and erodes the very character that made a place special. Choosing a second city is a small but meaningful way for students to travel more responsibly.

Real Places, Real Growth

Students who’ve gone through our second-city programs consistently report something interesting: they came home not just with photos, but with actual friendships, favorite local spots, and a genuine sense of having lived somewhere — not just visited it.

Aligned With Global Sustainability Goals

This isn’t just a travel philosophy — it connects directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Choosing second cities supports SDG 11 (protecting cultural heritage from overtourism strain), SDG 8 (channeling tourism spending into local economies that need it most), SDG 10 (distributing tourism’s economic benefits more evenly), and SDG 12 (practicing more responsible, lower-impact travel). For programs built around global citizenship, the destination itself becomes part of the curriculum.

Ready to Go Beyond the Bucket List?

Our upcoming program cohorts have openings in Porto, Ghent, Leipzig, and Valencia. If you’re ready to trade tourist crowds for real connection, reach out to your program advisor this week to learn more and reserve your spot — space is limited, and these programs fill faster every semester.