Erasmus experience in Bratislava, Blanch's Slovakia

Why did you choose Bratislava?

So I could get to know the rest of Europe for a cheap price, since Bratislava has good connections to the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary...

How long does the scholarship last? How much money did you receive as help?

My scholarship lasted 9 months and I received 350€ a month. (I am from Malaga).

How is the student atmosphere in Bratislava?

Very good, but I didn't really hang around too many Erasmus students, I preferred to meet Slovakian people and get to know their areas. I would seriously recommend that

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

The city itself is nothing out of this world, the main advantage, like I said before, it the opportunity to travel to other countries for not a lot of money. My University was a bit shabby, but they made it very easy for you to pass!

What's the food like in Bratislava?

The quality of food in the supermarkets is quite poor compared to the quality of food in Spain, they don't have a lot to make. In the bars, you can find really good and cheap food, so a lot of the time you end up going to a bar and just ordering the menu of the day in any restaurant or bar. It costs about 3 or 4€ which is cheaper than eating at home/in halls.

Did you have any trouble finding accommodation in Bratislava?

No. I chose to live in a shared flat, I arrived in Bratislava without any accommodation and that same week I moved into my flat.

How much does it cost to live in Bratislava?

Around 400-500€ a month if you want to be able to travel, go out and eat without having to walk around all day keeping an eye on how much you're spending.

How was the language? Did you do any language course at the University?

Comenius University offers a Slovakian course at the beginning of your stay. It's good but Slovakian is such a complicated language that you really struggle to learn anything...

What is the cheapest way to get to Bratislava from your city?

"Ryanair" has direct return flights, except for some months of the year where they don't operate any flights (probably during winter because of the weather).

What places would you recommend to go to for a night out?

Without a doubt, the best place for me was Subclub. It's an underground club which is literally underground because it's an old World War II bunker built into the rock underneath Bratislava castle. The music in the club is drum and bass, dubstep, trance and techno. Atelier Babylon is another place which you can go to see concerts and festivals. I saw Congo Natty there, as well as General Levy, Nanci&Phoebe, reggae festivals and dubstep/drum and bass festivals.

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And eating in Bratislava? Can you recommend any of your favourite places?

Slovak Pub, another place which is at the end of Obchodna Ulica which offers 50% off every Sunday and bars in the city centre.

And how was the sightseeing?

There's not a lot... but you can't go to Bratislava without seeing Bratislava Castle, the monument to the fallen Russian soldiers, the Presidential Palace... and to those who like nature, without a doubt, you have to go to the Tatra Mountains in winter to ski and in spring to go hiking. It's a great laugh!

Do you have any advice for any other future students going to Bratislava?

Just enjoy yourself as much as you can! Because you're going to end up returning to your country of origin and miss Bratislava so much! And don't let the cold put you off, even when it doesn't stop snowing. Some things look better covered in snow!