Erasmus Experience in Bratislava, Slovakia by Jana

Why did you choose to go to Bratislava, Slovakia?

Bratislava is a very pretty town and has one of the best medical programs in Eastern Europe.

What is the student lifestyle like in Bratislava?

Bratislava is very nice for student due too low prices, cheap meals and many parties. You are also very close to Budapest and Vienna which is great for concerts etc. Food is very cheap compared to western countries.

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

Totally!

What is the food like?

The food is great! Especially the national dishes are very delicious and can be very tasty for a low price. In cafeteria prices are very low and you get a lot of food for it (main dish, soup, salad, bread, drink) at the University.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Bratislava?

Yes. If you are looking for a bigger flat you will need to contact an agent and they will charge you one month of rent which is the usual here. Also the part of Bratislava you are going to live in will have a great influence on your apartments price/monthly rent. Staré Mesto (Old Town, City Center) is the most expensive while outer parts are cheaper but you will have to take in costs and time for traveling to your university! If you are looking for a room in a share flat or a one room apartment, definitely check out Facebook! There are many groups which will show you free rooms and flats without a fee!

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

The language is kind of hard, especially if you originally come from an English speaking country. Western Europe has the same grammar construction while Eastern Europe has a lot of similarities to the language and will be easy to grips for Eastern Europeans. Language classes are offered at the medical faculty, I am not sure about the others. All English programs have Slovak classes for as far as I know.

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

I took the bus which goes directly to Bratislava. Trains are not going right now due to the refugee crisis and were also kind of tricky before (choose the fastest way, don't change trains too often! ). Flying to Vienna airport and then taking a tram or bus to Bratislava also works great.

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

Old Town, Clubs (bigger ones, small ones are overfilled).

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

Flagship!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

• Old Town,
• Castle,
• Presidents Palace,
• Devin (outside of Bratislava),
• Danube River.

Source

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

Be prepared to be flexible, don't listen to rumors just ask your teachers, find a shared flat (you will get around easier and you are also not lonely and on your own in a foreign country! ), don't be shy to ask for help (Slovaks are the nicest people! ) and use "Ne hovorim po Slovensky, hovoríte anglicky? " Whenever you need to communicate and want to signalise that you are a foreigner! Slovaks will try to help you even if they can't speak English! A lot of people speak German, a lot of younger Slovaks speak English!