Living in Craiova, Romania by Daria

What is it like to live in Craiova? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

It is a beautiful, vivid city, with lots to offer, from a variety of points of view. You can enjoy a great night out, go to see live bands performing in pubs, try out delicious Romanian and international foods. The guys can go bowling or to play pool, while the girls can relax at an inside pool and spa, jacuzzi, massage.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Craiova?

Students in Craiova are organized in lots of student organizations, and they plan lots of parties and events. So basically, if you befriend them, you will always be up to date with all the student parties. There are also some clubs that organize student parties, such as Trend Studio or Medieval, and they offer special prices. There is also a very nice cinema called Colours Cinema 3D which is very nice and colourful (as the name suggests), but try to avoid the others, because the seats are really uncomfortable and it's kinda cold inside. Students of Craiova also take part in cultural events, they enjoy going to the theatre, the opera house. They are very open and eager to make new friends and always have a good time.

How much does it cost to live in Craiova?

It depends on everyone's lifestyle, but somewhere around 500 Euros would suffice for a decent living.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Craiova? Is there any advice you can give?

It's actually not that hard at all. Students can look up for places on the Internet or in the local newspaper under "Inchirieri" (For rent). Online, they have a lot of real estate sites, such as Tocmai or Craiova Imobiliare.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is excellent! The city is full with restaurants that offer great food and a cozy atmosphere. My favourite dishes are more from the international cuisine, but Romanian food is also very tasteful. International students can try "sarmale" (cabbage rolls stuffed with meat) with polenta and cream, or "ciorba de burta" (tripe soup).

What places would you recommend visiting in Craiova?

I would definitely recommend visiting the Nicolae Romanescu Parc, which is the third largest natural park in the entire Europe! It's pretty amazing. Also, you can visit the Art Museum, the National Oltenia Museum or the Natural Science Museum. The center is also very nice, with lots of fountains that put up a show almost every night, especially in the summertime. The water and lights show are accompanied by the rhythms of the most famous classical music. Visitors can also go to the Botanic Garden and for the ones fond of architecture, try Saint Dumitru Cathedral or the Jean Mihail Palace (which is also the Art Museum).

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Is it good to eat out in Craiova? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

One of my favourite places to go out eating are "Akropolis" (Greek restaurant), "Big Ben" (which is also a pub), "Epoca Steak House", "Mythos" and for traditional Romanian food, I go to "Galaxy".

Is the nightlife good in Craiova? Where is good to go?

There are mostly lots of pubs to go to and have a wonderful time, but just 2-3 clubs worth going to, such as Krypton Club (house music on Fridays with different DJs invited to perform), Trend Studio Living Concept or Korona (for oldies). But you can also try Big Ben, Charger, Trend Studio, Kubik, Cafinno.

What advice would you give future students heading to Craiova?

I would say that they should enjoy every moment spent in Craiova and make the most of it! It's a city that loves to party, so they might as well do it. So go out, make lots of friends, have fun, eat local and drink global!

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