Erasmus Experience in Barcelona, Spain by Sabina

Why did you choose to go to Barcelona, Spain?

I choose Barcelona as it is known to be a wonderful city from various points of view: architecture, culture, free time, climate.... and also because of the language, as I am a Spanish speaker too.

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

My scholarship is for one semester and it covers partially the living expenses.

What is the student lifestyle like in Barcelona?

Student life here is nice. You have some free time to visit the city and to have fun, but in the same time the university is pretty engaging and I have to do a lot of homework and projects.

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

For sure! It's a place where you must come! Related to University of Barcelona, I don't have classes there, but La Salle, the university I am attending, it's a wonderful place to study.

What is the food like?

The food is good, but I still miss my country's type of food. I am cooking for myself a lot, in order not to spend too much on food, and I have some difficulties in finding the things I need, but maybe I am not looking in the right places.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Barcelona?

Yes and no. I found it through a friend of mine and I am living in an apartment with elder Spanish people. So I don't know about the students shared flats. I am pleased with the place I live in and the people that are around me.

How much does it cost to live in Barcelona?

It depends. I don't spend a lot of money on food (as I am cooking for myself and I am not eating all the time in restaurants), but I still go out (once a week or once on 2 weeks) and I buy sweets (what can I say? I am a chocolate addict), and I think that I spend around 500-600 euros monthly on all this (all costs with accommodation, transportation, food and partying included).

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

I knew a little of Spanish before getting here (enough for conversations and writing), so I didn't struggle too much on this. There are courses you can follow if you want to learn it.

My hardest struggle is with Catalan, as it is very different from Spanish and almost everybody here is speaking in Catalan.

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

By plane - cheep enough, fast and easy.

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

I haven't been out a lot, but from I could experience, Opium and Pacha are pretty ok places.

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

Unfortunately not. My colleagues took me to some restaurants, but I am not good in remembering the names.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

A lot. Everywhere you go you can see something beautiful, something with a great history. If I have to name some wonderful places, I would go with Parc Guell, Ciutadella, Montjiuc, La Rambla, Sagrada Familia, Hospital de San Pau, Vila Olimpica and others...

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

Enjoy! You will love the city!