Erasmus Experience in Bucharest, Romania by Clara

Why did you choose to go to Bucharest, Romania?

I wanted to go somewhere that was completely different to Spain, to country with another culture, religion, currency, etc. and I was really curious about Eastern Europe, since it's not very touristy, I didn't know much about it.

Source

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

My stay there lasted 9 months, but the scholarship lasted only 5. I received €1, 500 in total, €300 a month and thanks to having a B2 level of English I got €100 more a month. Then I also applied for a grant from my regional government and they gave me €1, 200 more.

What is the student lifestyle like in Bucharest?

Although it's quite a big city, students usually go out to the same few places in the city centre, so you'll find something going on almost any day of the week. They organise a lot of Erasmus parties or normal city events.

Would you recommend the city and the niversity of Bucharest to other students?

Absolutely. It's a beautiful city and there is a lot to do here, from renting a bicycle in the parks (Herastrau, Cismigiu, Tineterului), to visiting one of its many museums and going to a classical music concert at the Ateneum or the National Opera, etc. The university is very sympathetic to Erasmus students and despite the classes being in Romanian, they allowed me not to attend those and to do all of my work or exams in English.

Source

What is the food like there?

The traditional dishes, in general, are heavy and filling but very tasty. The majority of them are meat, sausage (mititei), cabbage and polenta based (the latter being a kind of grain). They also have really good desserts, like papanasi, which is a kind of filled sweet. The only bad thing is that you'll miss eating fish.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in Bucharest?

No, the university itself offered me a place in a public residence, Grozavesti. The rooms and the bathrooms are shared and you don't get a kitchen. But it's very cheap (€27 a month) and there are people on Erasmus from all different countries there so the student environment really makes it worth living there.

How much does it cost to live in Bucharest?

Not a lot, but it changes person to person. A flat can cost you around €150 a month. I spent less as I lived in a residence. You can go out to eat for €5 for a good meal and the supermarkets aren't expensive either.

Source

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

Romanian seems easy as it works like any language derived from Latin, like Spanish is. Some words are easy to understand, but the Slavic influence makes the grammar a bit complicated. I would say that it's not hard to understand the basics, but it takes a lot of time and dedication to be able to speak it properly. The university offers a free course, it's 4 hours once a week, and you have an exam at the end of every semester, so you can get your level certified.

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

By plane from Madrid with Ryanair, if you buy your ticket in advance it'll only cost around €50. For me, it ended up being more expensive because I have to take a flight or a train to Madrid beforehand.

Wizzair has some good deals, too.

Source

Where would you recommend for a night out in Bucharest?

The bars in the city centre are always pretty lively, but most of them are expensive. Oktoberfest has pints of beer for just over €1 each and glasses of wine for less than €2, it's the best place for Erasmus people to go drinking. For clubbing, Kulturhaus is the best (it was closed but it'll reopen in September). Club A or El Grande Comandante are cheap and popular with students, too. Interbelics is a bit more expensive but has good music. For Friends is a small pub in the city centre that puts on Jam Sessions, which are pretty good. The best club is a bit further out of the centre: Silver Church.

And to eat in Bucharest? What are some of your favourite places to go?

Caru cu bere is the most typical traditional Romanian restaurant, a must-see for any visit to Bucharest, it has deals for students for €5. Hanuk Manuk is of a similar style. They're both in the city centre.

Hanul cu tei isn't a traditional place but it does have good food. Journey is a place a bit further out of the city, but I really, really recommend it.

Some nice places for a snack and a drink: Fabrica, Dianei4, Geobar, La Trenulette.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The majority of the museums are pretty good and the tickets are cheap. The Village Museum is an open air museum with traditional house from the different regions of Romania. You can go into them and they're decorated on the inside.

Another interesting place to visit is the Parliament, or Casa Poporului, it's the second largest administrative building in the world, they have guided tours there that take 2 hours.

Source

Do you have any advice for future students in Bucharest?

Have a great time. Your time there will fly by, it's a city that is really worth enjoying.

Don't forget to take a good coat and boots, it can get to -20 degrees in the winter.

Take advantage of being able to travel throughout Romania (especially to the monasteries in the north and the Danube Delta). It's a country that's really worth exploring. Like the rest of the Balkans, the countries are very cheap (hostels for less than €5 a night and very affordable restaurants) and they have a lot to offer.