Andrés' Erasmus Experience in Budapest, Hungary

Why did you choose to go to Budapest, Hungary?

I wanted to do my Erasmus exchange in a European capital, one that wouldn't be too expensive, and Budapest fit the bill perfectly. The city is incredible, it has thousands of things for you to see and do - it will never stop surprising you.

How long does your grant last for? How much money do you receive as financial support?

My grant lasted for 7 months and I received a total of 1400€, which worked out at 200€ per month. But, the amount that you receive varies year-to-year and depends on which region you reside in. The best thing to do, and arguably the most convenient, would be to look at all the different grant options before going on your exchange, not just the 'official' Erasmus grant.

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What is student life like in Budapest?

It's incredible, it surprised me: there are people from all over the world. Both in the university and in the bars/clubs frequented by Erasmus students, you can meet pretty much any kind of student - it makes for a very diverse atmosphere.

Would you recommend the city and the university you attend in Budapest to other students?

Without a doubt. In fact, Budapest was my second choice, but I don't regret having chosen it at all! The city is very big, with loads of monuments and places to visit, but it has a different kind of charm than that of other European cities. Drinking a beer on the banks of the Danube watching the illuminated Chain Bridge, and with the castle behind in Buda, is definitely an indescribable experience amongst the many others that this city has on offer.

Also, the city is quite cheap in comparison to Spain (if you know how to get around the city), especially with regards to nightlife and eating out/drinking at a bar.

What is the food like in Hungary?

I really wanted to eat more fish, but the bulk of typical Hungarian cuisine is based around meat, particularly in dishes like stews (in a variety of sauces), almost always served with vegetables and potatoes. I recommend Goulash and any other typical meat-based dishes because this is probably the most 'different' thing (to what you are accustomed to) that you could have here.

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Was it difficult for you to find accommodation in Budapest?

Not really. There are hardly any student residences, so all of the Erasmus students live in rented flats. I personally recommend living in a shared flat with foreign students, so that you have a more international atmosphere and you end up meeting more foreigners.

I personally found both my flat and my flatmates through an Erasmus Facebook group that we had for people going to Budapest on exchange this year - I recommend searching through this.

How much does it cost to live in Budapest?

According to what the friends that I spoke with said, rent for a flat costs between 250€-300€ a month, with bills being an added 30€-40€. You could find cheaper accommodation, but it would be in some other, less central areas of the city, which I personally would not recommend.

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What is the language like? Did you go to any language classes at the university?

Frankly speaking, it's impossible. My university offered courses so that you could learn basic Hungarian, but it's a very difficult language to learn. I learnt basic expressions like 'hello', 'goodbye', 'please', 'thank you', etc. I got by with English the rest of the time.

What is the cheapest way of getting to Budapest from your city?

Taking a direct flight from Alicante to Budapest with the low-cost Hungarian airline, WizzAir. When buying tickets in advance, you can pay as little as 20€-30€ (if it's peak season, however, expect to pay double).

Which places would you recommend for nightlife in Budapest?

I could write a never-ending list because Budapest is a city where nightlife is alive and kicking every single day of the week, but I will try to summarise the most typical/popular places to go:

• Mondays: Morrison's
• Tuesdays: Rest (or go for beers at any ruin bar in the city)
• Wednesdays: Instants/Kraft
• Thursdays: Otker
• Fridays: Any of the aforementioned places - the atmosphere will be great regardless of which one you choose
• Saturdays: Same as Fridays
• Sundays: Rest/hangover recovery, ready to start all over again on Monday

Obviously, there are a thousand and one other places that you could go to, like Hellobaby, Fogash, etc., if you want to go to a nightclub. But, in terms of just going for a couple of chilled drinks, I recommend Szimpla Kert (it's the most famous and always has a good atmosphere - it's an obligatory visit), and then I recommend any other ruin bar (there are a handful of them across the city). Going to try the drinks at these kind of bars/pubs is one of the best nightlife experiences that you could have in Budapest.

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And eating out in Budapest? Can you name your favourite places?

Friccipapa (I think that's its name) has cheap, typical Hungarian food. I would usually just go from place to place trying different things that I had never eaten before, as, like I mentioned earlier, it is not expensive to eat out here in Budapest - for 3€-4€, you can eat a decent meal. Therefore, I recommend focusing your attention on the prices (as there are lots of places which have prices designed to exploit foreigners) and try one place after another.

And cultural hotspots?

• Chain Bridge
• Parliament
• Fisherman's Bastion (there is an incredible view of Parliament from here)
• Ciutadella (the highest point in the city, which also has some amazing views)
• Heroes' Square
• The thermal baths (they are a must-visit... they also throw parties there on Saturdays)
• St Stephen's Basilica
• Great Market Hall (also known as Central Market Hall)

These are just some highlights of an endless list of places to see and visit in Budapest: it's a huge city with thousands of places to visit and get to know.

Any advice that you want to give to future students in Budapest?

Don't doubt your decision to go to Budapest - Hungary's capital will surprise you. It's a big city that has a great atmosphere, with lots of places to party and lots of places to visit. Compared to other cities in Spain, Budapest is cheap, which allows for so many opportunities to travel: for example, you can get a return bus ticket for Vienna for just 18€. Essentially, the thing to remember is that you can visit loads of places that surround Hungary for very little money at all.

Without a doubt, going to Budapest for my Erasmus exchange has been one of the best experiences of my life.

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