Erasmus Experience in Athens, Greece by Bruna

Why did you choose to go to Athens, Greece?

Basically, I wanted to do Erasmus in a place far from Portugal. Me and my friend were looking for a place that had nice weather - the islands were amazing, also! That aside, we knew it could be interesting being in a place with such a big crisis, knowing that reality is necessary.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

My scholarship is about 1000€ for 5 months,which means 200€ per month. I can pay a part of the rent with that.

What is the student lifestyle like in Athens?

Since most universities are closed, I can't really tell how it is. But Erasmus students are very friendly.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Athens to other students?

Right now, I am not so sure because the second semester may not start... How do we know how it is going to be next year? Since the situation is strange, maybe in a few years time! Besides that, I really like living here.

What is the food like?

The food is really good, I think. There's always cheap snacks, good tradicional drinks and the salads are amazing.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Athens?

No, I found it in a site that had a lot of flats available. I just felt the need to compare prices and flats and it turned out to be exactly how it was in pictures!

How much does it cost to live in Athens?

It is a dificult question because right now I'm having meals in a cafetaria, so I don't pay for food. But if you do meals at home, you can spend about 40€ per week, for two persons. The prices are, in most times, similar to Portugal.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

There aren't courses available now because the University is closed, but I could take one in the beggining of September. I don't think the languague is easy to learn because it is a whole new alphabet, but I know the basic words.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Athens from your city?

The plane, always.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Athens?

If you like pop and dance music, go to Gazi. If you are into Erasmus partys, there's always one. And if you want to experience the greek night, there's always a small and warm place to go!

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Athens?

There's always taverns that are really cosy, cheap, the food is really nice, there's always wine and greek music played in the background.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

We know that Athens is a mix of a modern and historical city so there's really a lot of ancient places (Akropolis, temples...) to visit as well as amazing beaches and of course, the islands are mandatory! The weather is really nice until October, after that I like to "get lost" in Athens and find out how people live here.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Athens in the future?

Be careful and think about it before. I was really lucky because, even though my university is closed, my course is open and I'm having classes. A lot of erasmus students had to go home before ending the Erasmus experience which is sad. You should get informed before coming... Besides that, the situation in the country isn't really the best. So if you're not a fan of manifestations, think twice. I am not trying to scare people (I really am liking it and I have no regrets!) but just trying to show the reality here. It can be truly amazing and it has been so far!