My Erasmus Experience in Bucarest, Romania

Why did you choose to go to Bucarest, Romania?

It was a new Erasmus destination offered by my university, and since this made it something new and unexplored, it caught my attention.

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

My exchange lasted for five months, and I received more or less 280 euros per month. You know how it is: you're given 80% of your grant at the beginning of your exchange, and 20% at the end, so you have some money left over afterwards whatever happens.

What's the student life like in Bucarest?

It's pretty brilliant, and people are always up for anything.

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

Of course! The city is gorgeous, with huge avenues, large squares and enormous lakes, where you can ice skate in the wintertime and hire a little boat on in the summertime. It's a cold place to be in the wintertime, and a hot place in the summer; it's very green, and there's a period in the springtime where sudden showers come and go, but this means that all the trees regain their green leaves quicker after the winter, and the flowers come out. It's beautiful.

What's the food like in Bucarest?

It's fantastic. The food served everywhere is great, and there are all different kinds of food like there are in Spain. A typical Romanian dish is sarmale and mamaliga (cornflour), served with smantana (a cream/sauce a bit like cream, yoghurt and cheese, but which isn't any of them! Haha). It's generally very cheap to eat out compared with Spain. You can buy Shaormas, which are like kebabs but with chips inside (amazing), for 4 Lei (so 1 euro).

How did you find your accommodation?

Through the university. I sent an accommodation request and I was placed in a residence on the campus, Grozavesti. It was near the metro, next to a Carrefour, and next to a 24 hour shop which sold Shaormas for 4 Lei - brilliant! My accommodation was no 5 star hotel, but you have to get used to it, though there were better residences.

What are the accommodation prices like? How expensive is life in Bucarest in general?

Quite cheap, in my case. At the beginning, I paid 60-70 euros a month, but in the last few months they reduced it and we paid 50 euros a month (200 Lei). Flats cost more or less the same as they do in Spain, sometimes 125 euros, sometimes 150 euros per month. The shops you'll recognise such as Zara, Bershka and H&M are a bit more expensive than they are in Spain. There are cheaper places to shop though where you can buy items from 12 Lei, such as on Queen Elisabeth Avenue (near Cismigiu Park on University Square).

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

The language is quite similar to Castilian Spanish, and really similar to Catalan, since it's also a Romance language. It's not that hard to learn, especially the basics.

I attended a language course at the university in Romanian during the five months I spent there, and they awarded me credits which will count towards my degree in Spain.

Hello - Buna

Goodbye - Pa pa o La revedere (más formal)

Thank you - Multumesc

Take care/Kisses - pupici (se pronuncia 'pupich')

How are you? - ¿Ce face?

What's the cheapest way of getting to Bucarest from your home city?

By plane, with Blueair or Wizzar. I always used Blueair. (www.blueairweb.com)

What are the best places for partying in Bucarest?

Lipscani is the best place for going out... there are lots of good places near there. Expirat (where they host most of the Erasmus parties), Kulturhaus, the Comandante and Club A are all good.

What about eating out in Bucarest? What are your favourite places?

Caru'cu Bere (the poshest and most expensive place I like), where the menu costs 26 Lei (so 5 or 6 euros) or 40 Lei (10 euros). Gara Lipscani (cheap, quick food) and La Mama (typical traditional food)...

What does Bucarest have to offer in terms of culture?

Loads. There are plenty of theatres, and going to the opera is very cheap in Bucarest. The museums are great too - in Herastrau Park there's the city museum, which also explains the history of the surrounding rural area.

There's a Arc du Triomphe like the one in Paris (Bucarest was once known as the Little Paris due to its long avenues and layout).

You can find quite a few art galleries around the city. There's also the Romanian Parliament, the largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Bucarest?

The metro is the best option for getting around the city.

Use all-terrain boots in the wintertime (for example, Decathlon ones. They need to be comfortable) for the puddles and the snow. They should be waterproof and keep your feet warm, and you can buy them here with fur on the inside.

From May onwards, the weather will start to improve, so bring clothes for all kinds of weather.

You'll need to bring a good coat for when you're out and about, and some light jumpers too, since when you're inside you can get too warm in big jumpers. So, in summary: bring a good coat (waterproof too, if possible), light jumpers and some light and short sleeved sweaters with you, depending on how sensitive you are to the cold.