5 Perfect Places to Teach in Europe

There are many great places to teach English in Europe. Across the continent, there are fantastic jobs, eager students, and vibrant places you can call home. English is taught from Iceland to Portugal, with many cities, towns, and villages where you could begin a new life as a TEFL teacher.

The 9th of May is Europe Day , celebrating peace and unity across the continent and the signing of the Schuman Declaration in 1950. What better reason to discuss some of Europe's most exciting places to teach?

These countries and cities are world-famous destinations where you can fulfil your TEFL dreams, explore countless cultural opportunities, earn a good living and experience a different culture. Here are five places in Europe that are perfect for TEFL teachers. We’ll discuss what you need to teach there, job opportunities, salaries, and some underrated destinations. Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime!

Paris

Where else to start than the most-visited city in mainland Europe and one of the most famous places anywhere in the world? Yes, we’re talking about teaching English in Paris . 

In recent decades, there has been increased excitement about learning English. While French is a widely spoken global language, the status of English, especially in business, is now widely understood across France. Nowhere is this need for English more pressing than in Paris, an international centre of art, commerce, and tourism.

English is taught in Parisian schools, but there’s also a demand for Business English and English for Academic Purposes , as young professionals require the language for work, and many students want to study overseas.

What do you need to teach English in Paris? Most jobs will require at least a 120-hour TEFL certification , as well as:

• A bachelor’s degree (in any subject)
• Previous experience
• Fluent English (non-native speakers will need IELTS , TOEFL or equivalent certification)

On average, TEFL teachers in Paris earn around €1,200 – €2,000 (£1,030 – £1,720/$1,300– $2,535) per month. Top salaries are found in Parisian international schools , which offer Montessorian, English, Canadian, and other international systems.

Underrated attraction : The Arènes de Lutèce remains underrated. It’s an incredibly well-preserved first-century Roman amphitheatre, and while it used to host theatrical performances and gladiatorial battles, it’s now popularly used by Paris’ street footballers.

Prague

The capital of the Czech Republic is quite unlike any other major European city. Prague’s historic architecture is so remarkably preserved that the city centre is a UNESCO Heritage Site . It’s a modern and well-resourced city with impressive infrastructure to support the vast numbers of annual tourists, but the nods to previous eras give Prague a distinct flavour.

Prague welcomed nearly 6 million visitors in 2024 , according to recent estimates. That’s impressive, and it also creates opportunities for TEFL teachers. The Czech Republic has a strong level of English proficiency, and there’s a significant demand to maintain and improve standards of English in the future.

What do you need to teach there? Employers want applications from teachers with:

• A TEFL certificate of 120 hours or more
• Usually, a bachelor’s degree 
• Some teaching experience

TEFL salaries in Prague are high by Central European standards. Teachers can earn around 44,170 Czech Koruna (around £1,471 / $1,896) monthly.

Underrated attraction : If you have even a vague interest in cinema, NaFILM , the National Film Museum, is an absolute must. You can make your own animations, experiment with Foley, look at different types of film, enjoy ever-changing exhibitions and engage with cinema in a new way!

Rome

Home to just over 2.75 million people, Rome is a brilliant place to live and work, with unparalleled history, art and food. There are, of course, all the major attractions: the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, the Pantheon, it goes on and on. Rome is also home to many English learners needing qualified TEFL teachers.

Remarkably, given the international business conducted in the Eternal City, the millions of visitors and the sheer number of schools and language centres, Rome has lower rates of English proficiency than other Italian cities like Turin and Milan.

To teach English in Rome, you’ll need:

• A bachelor’s degree
• 120 hours of TEFL certification
• Teaching experience (preferred)

TEFL teachers typically make about €1,500 - €2,250 per month (£1,285 - £1,927 / $1,600 - $2,400) . 

Underrated attraction : Near the Trevi Fountain lies an absolute treat for art lovers: the Galleria Sciarra . Its intricate frescoes make it a must-see for fans of the Art Nouveau movement.

Berlin

A city of enormous historical importance, modern Berlin is most famous for its music and culture. The home of many budding musicians and visual artists, Berlin has also become an excellent landing spot for many TEFL teachers. There’s significant demand for English lessons, and with so much going on in Berlin, it’s an easy move to make.

There are many great destinations for teaching English in Germany , but Berlin’s international atmosphere and strong demand for English make it stand out. With attractions like the Brandenburg Gate, Tierpark, and the Berlin Wall Memorial and countless options for sumptuous food and drink, amazing bars, nightclubs, and galleries, Berlin has loads to offer.

To work as an English teacher in Berlin, you’ll need:

• A job offer from a German school/business
• A TEFL certificate
• A degree can help, but it isn’t always necessary (try language schools!)
• Ideally, some teaching experience

In return, you can earn a salary of around €1,400 to €2,200 (£1,200-£1,885 / $1,506-$2,367) .

Underrated attraction : If you’re a TEFL teacher who daydreams about musical stardom, Mauerpark has the answer to all your all-singing, all-dancing dreams with Bearpit Karaoke on a Sunday. A big open-air venue, Mauerpark hosts all kinds of willing vocalists, with an energetic crowd guaranteed to help you through the high notes!

Barcelona

If you teach English in Spain , you’ll find that no two regions are quite alike. Arguably, nowhere encapsulates this quite like Barcelona , the capital of the Catalonia region.

One of the cultural landmarks of Europe, Barcelona has so much to explore, with gorgeous beaches, hilltop museums of Montjuïc , Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Família, and so much more. Barcelona offers art, music, sunshine, cuisine, and everything else a TEFL teacher could hope for.

Vibrant, colourful and full of passionate Catalonians, Barcelona has plenty of demand for English teaching and good proficiency levels . The state education system performs well, but international schools, universities and language centres need English instruction from qualified TEFL teachers.

You’ll need:

• TEFL certification
• Ideally, a degree (though it’s not always necessary)
• Teaching experience
  

If you’re from outside the EU, getting a visa to teach in Barcelona can be trickier. A student visa allows you to work around 20 hours per week alongside your studies. If you’re from New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Japan or Canada, you can apply for a working holiday visa, which is eligible for up to a year. Applying to work in Barcelona through Meddeas or NALCAP , can reduce stress and admin on your side, so it’s worth seeing whether you’re eligible. 

Salaries are decent, ranging from  €1,200 - €1,500 (£1,053 - £1,317 / $1,300  -  $1,623) , though they can be significantly higher for well-tenured international or private school teachers.

Underrated attraction : Opened in 2005, the CosmoCaixa Science Museum is a great place to spend a day and an ideal field trip for your TEFL students. Interactive and absolutely massive, CosmoCaixa’s exhibits include an indoor rainforest, a gigantic pendulum and a planetarium.

Europe is full of opportunities!

Europe is packed with many amazing places to live and teach, and this Europe Day, it’s important to remember just how many opportunities there are across the continent. Any of these cities would make an ideal home or launching point for a career teaching English in Europe , but there are lots more.

We could’ve featured many locations here, from emerging TEFL locations like Lithuania and Croatia to massively underrated spots like Finland and Serbia . You can be a successful TEFL teacher almost anywhere, and if you want to hop from country to country, being a digital nomad is a viable option!
Why not celebrate Europe Day by planning your next TEFL adventure across the continent?

It all starts with a TEFL certificate. Enrol in our 120-hour Premier Online TEFL course , and you’ll be ready to teach before you know it.