Erasmus Experience in Bratislava, Natalia in Slovakia

Why did you choose to go to Bratislava, Slovakia?

It was my second choice as it's a city in the centre of Europe, allowing me to travel around as well as being a fairly cheap city that has everything you need to have a good year.

How long did your grant last? How much money did you get?

My grants lasted 9 months and I got €233 a month, 100 from the uni that they give to every Erasmus student, and €133 from Mec that again they give to every Erasmus. For anyone though that received a grant the year before, Mec gave them around 400-500€ more, allowing them to live a luxury life.

What's the student life like in Bratislava?

Student life is amazing. I stayed in the Mylnska Dolina residence, a students halls residence, it's like a small city within Bratislava. There is a club, 24h shop, gym (only for girls, the boy's gym is in another building), a pub, a sort of pub-tearoom that is really good, a pizzeria and snack stand that sells sandwiches, hotdogs, etc. There's also a supermarket, pharmacy, dining halls (you can eat there for €1. 50), bars, more bars, and some pub-clubs.

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

Of course! I'd recommend it to everyone, whether to live there of just to visit. I fell in love with the city and although it doesn't have much to offer in terms of culture (this is what some people say anyway), it's small but has its own charm, has great transport links that are easy to get to grips with, shopping centres, and an amazing river bank great for walks, and there are buses and trains that can take you to practically anywhere else in Europe.

What's the food like

The food is like it is in any country, good things and bad things. There's a lot of typical dishes: garlic soup, goulash (amazing), haluski (dessert). The Slovak Pub is a great place to try all these Slovakian dishes but most other restaurants will usually have them too, among other things.

The halls' food is pretty normal, breaded steak, rice, potatoes, chicken, etc.

Was it hard to find accommodation in Bratislava?

It was hard at all as my university reserves a place at the halls in Bratislava and assigned me there directly. If you don't want to stay there you can choose to look for another of a flat in the city.

What's the cost of living?

Based on my own experience, I would say about €300 a month. Given the halls cost €68 (shared room, nothing spectacular by any means), the bus pass costs €33 for 3 months, and on top of this you've got to include food and, if you like that sort of thing, nights out (a good Erasmus student spends more money going out than they do on food).

How was the language? Did you learn any at the university?

Awful. I haven't learnt any Slovak other than a few basic words and some that our Slovakian words taught us. All the lectures were in English and even though in all the bars, shops, supermarkets no one usually speaks English you eventually begin to understand a bit :)

What's the best way to get to Bratislava from your city?

I'm from Cuenca and the first time I went I flew from Alicante direct to Bratislava with Ryanair (3 hour flight) but I don't think they do is anymore. Iberia brought out an Erasmus offer so I went from Madrid to Vienna with them, return flight with 2 suitcases included for €160 and then from Vienna to Bratislava you can grab any bus from the airport that takes about an hour or maybe a bit less and costs about €10.

What places would you recommend for going out in Bratislava?

Well, it depends where you're staying, the best place if you're living in Mlyny (the halls I mentioned earlier) is the club that they have there (it's called Unique, it's pretty famous) as no one really goes out, especially in Winter as people are even lazier. There is Elam close by, and it can be decent club depending on which day you go.

Club 39, a pretty good pub with good music, isn't too bad either. A bit further away is the 'best' and most expensive club in Bratislava, The Club, and in the city centre too there is Park Inn and some other pubs: Rio, Channels, Primi, Boat (literally on a boat)...

What about places to eat in Bratislava? Could you tell us some of your favourite places?

Like I said before, Slovak Pub is really good, there's also a really nice restaurant that I just can't remember the name of. There was one above H&M that had 50% discounts one day and in the centre there are loads of pretty good restaurants, I especially love the Gatto Matto.

What's it like in terms of culture?

The city is small but very welcoming and you'll fall in love with it. It has a castle which is its most significant landmark, the Novy Most bridge, a stunning blue church, famous statues you can take loads of pictures of, the central square is very warming too, the theatre and some other smaller things. It has a shopping centre, Eurovea, perfect for those days when there's not much to do, take a walk along the river, grab an ice cream or just lay down on the grass.

There's also a bunch of lakes you can go to when the weather is nice, and in the biggest ones you can go for a swim whilst there is one where you can do some jet skiing.

Any advice for students going to Bratislava in the future?

Make sure you don't regret anything, make the most of the experiences and take advantage of everything. Travel a lot and get to know every little part of the city, and most importantly, go out a lot! For anyone coming here in the future, as long as you make the most of it, it will be an unforgettable year.