Erasmus experience in Budapest, Hungary by Rakel

Why did you choose to go to Budapest, Hungary?

Because of the money. The scholarship is not enough to survive so it is one of the best quality-price places.

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

5 months, 300€ per month. And by the way, no expectations to get that money during the Erasmus period.

What is the student lifestyle like in Budapest?

Rich. There are lots of options for students and discounts for museums, public transports, tours and events in general. It seems the city cares about its students.

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

100%

What do you think about the food in Budapest?

Supermarkets are quite cheap but the prices in some restaurants are cheap as well and you can eat good food. Sometimes it is not worth to cook at home.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Budapest?

Yes. I had problems at the beginning with the owner of one flat that tried to defraud us. We didn't get any help from the police, the embassy or either the immigration office. It was a shame.

How much does it cost to live in Budapest?

If you are lucky, you can find accommodation for 200€ and live a basic lifestyle with 300€ per month without many whims.

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

Hungarian is really difficult to learn. You can use English for almost everything.

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

Figuring out impossible combinations of plains or trains, checking constantly the prices, companies, etc.

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

It depends on your likes for going out. There are places for everybody but I recommend to go to any ruin pub, they are really famous.

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

Frici Papa, Trófea Grill, the paprika, the mákos guba, Oktogon Bistro, Trattoria Venezia...

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Free walking tours. There are in English and Spanish and the guides are really good. It is quite worthwhile.

Is there any other advice that you could give to future students who are going to Budapest?

If you have doubts, stop hesitating and come.

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