My Erasmus Experience in Eger, Hungary!!

My dear Eger,

One year has already passed and the truth is that the "post Erasmus depression" doesn't have an end. We live our lives there so intensely, so the city becomes ours too, the little moments that become our best memories, and every day you're dreaming and then waking up thinking about what you experienced during your Erasmus. I was not expecting to fall in love with a city like Eger at all but the truth is that it is a unique city, as a friend of mine is always saying "we fall in love for its charm".

In this post I will talk about my Erasmus Experience in Eger, the reasons why you should choose this city for your Erasmus and also give you some useful tips!

Why Eger?

• The city will, for sure, surprise you;
• It's a small city and completely stress free city;
• It's the perfect place if you want to travel a lot and have the chance to get to know different countries;
• It's a place full of history and really interesting monuments;
• For those of you who like nature, I would strongly recommend it. Near to Eger there are a lot of National Parks that you really need to visit, they are incredible;
• Best place for you to make friends for life;
• It's a really cheap place, not just Eger, but the whole country as well.

It's Perfect for anyone that wants to have a different experience, an experience where you will remember the moments with your friends, the trips and discovering incredible places.

How to get to Eger?

It's depends on which country are you coming from. I personally came by plane from Lisbon to Budapest. Then, from there, you have two choices for getting to Eger; by bus or by train. Since the airport in Budapest doesn't have a subway stop you will need to go to the city by bus (most economical option).

(Tip:) Try to choose a flight that doesn't arrive into Budapest really late during the night. Unfortunately we didn't take that into consideration, so we arrived too late at Budapest Bus Station, and found that it was closed, so we had to sleep in a kebab shop - yes this is really true.

By Bus:

As you leave the Budapest Airport, you will see the bus stop. One single ticket will cost you 350 forints (no more than 1 euro), but I would advise you to buy 2 tickets, because you will need another one for the subway. The bus that you have to catch is number 200E, in the direction of Kőbánya–Kispest. Once here you have to go to the subway (that is the blue line) and then you have to stop at Deak Ferenc Tér, so you can change to the red subway line towards the station called Puskás Ferenc Stadion, (this is the bus station for the east of Hungary). There is a bus every 30 minutes, and the trip last about 2 hours. Also, the ticket will cost you 2920 HUF (about 10 euros), but later on you can ask Eger's University for a student card that will provide you with student discounts, and the cost of this trip will be half of the price.

By Train:

The process is really similar, but I will tell you all the steps again so you can chose how you want travel.

As you leave Budapest Airport you will see the bus stop. One single ticket will cost you 350 forints (no more than 1 euro), but I would advise you to buy 2 tickets because you will need another one for the subway. The bus that you have to catch is the number 200E, in direction to Kőbánya–Kispest. Once here you have to go to the subway (that is the blue line) and then you have to stop at Deak Ferenc Tér, so you can change to the red subway line to the station called Keleti Pályaudvar. The train ticket to Eger will cost you 3000 HUF (exactly 10 euros. There is a train every two hours to Eger.

If you want more information about how to get to Eger, click this link: https://uni-eszterhazy.hu/public/uploads/survival-guide_586f5f296cad1.pdf

Where to stay?

Eger's University has a student dorm that is close to one of the campuses (there is more than one campus in the city). I strongly recommend that you stay in the dorm because I did, and it's the place where almost all the Erasmus students stay. Besides being the cheapest option, the dorm has really good facilities and it's the best option if you want really want to live the Eger's Erasmus Experience! It will cost you 26. 000 HUF per month (83 euros), which is really cheap. But if there is no space or you just don't want to stay in a shared room (yes, all the rooms are shared) you can always stay in an apartment, I don't think it will be that expensive.

For more information click this link for ESN Eszterházy: http://eszterhazy.esn.hu/?q=leanyka-dormitory

How much does it cost to live in Eger?

Hungary is a really cheap country, and if you're coming from a country with a higher cost of living, you will think that Hungary is the perfect place for you. Compared to Portugal, the cost of living is really similar, but travel is much cheaper by far, so you will love it!

Check this link in order to see the cost of living in Eger or in Hungary: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Eger-Hungary

What to visit in Eger?

Eger is a city full of history, and is one of the most important places to visit in Hungary. Here are some of my favourite places and also the most important ones for you to visit.

• Dobo Square;
• Eger's Castle;

(Cruz, R. 2016)

• Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Apostle, Eger;
• Minaret Torok Kori;
• Thermal Baths;
• Astronomical Museum & Camera Obscura (it's inside of the University, the main campus);
• Wine Valley (best place for you to go out and drink wine with your friends).

What to visit near Eger?

There are a lot of different things around Eger that you need to visit, especially for nature lovers.

• Climb a Hill and watch the sunset (there are a lot of hills around Eger);
• Visit the Szilvásvárad Park, it will be worth it;
• Szomolya;
• Hollókő (located in the Palóc Village, it's a World Heritage site, classified by UNESCO);
• Egerszalók.

I guarantee you that you will love all of these places!

Besides Eger, which cities can I visit in Hungary?

A lot of people just know Hungary because of Budapest and they always think that there is nothing else worth visiting. Of course, I agree that you really need to visit the wonderful capital because I fell in love with that place. Budapest City is a city that is really worth a visit, all the places, not just the more touristy ones. But for those you really want to learn more about the culture and want to know the real Hungary have to visit:

• Balaton Lake (this is one of the places that you really can't miss);
• The city of Pécs;
• Szeged;
• Debrecen (the second largest city in Hungary);
• Hortobágy National Park;
• Győr city.

These are just some of the examples of places that you need to visit. During your stay in Hungary try to travel as much as you can, because Hungary is a really special country, full of unknown places, and honestly it is a positive thing because you don't have to deal with large amount of tourists.

Which foods do I need to try?

To be honest, I din't like that much of Hungary's gastronomy but on other hand, there are a lot of things that I really love, and I miss these things so so much now.

Every time that I think about Hungary's food, the first that pops my head is Kürtőskalács, which in my opinion, is just the best thing ever, and you have different flavours to try. This sweet is really cheap (about 1 euro) in Eger, and in my opinion, you can find the best ones here. Besides that you also have to try Gulyás, that is the most known Hungarian dish; Paprikás Csirke (which means chicken with paprika); Pogacsa, you have to try all the different flavours that they have; and the last one is to try all types of the desserts (the cakes). Hungarians have a really good kanck for making cakes, and with an enormous variety (go to the Marján Cukrászda Coffee in Eger, so you can understand what I mean).

Advice:

If you're looking for a different and unique Erasmus experience, I would advise that you go to Eger, without a doubt.

I am never a person to like small cities but Eger really surprised me. Starting from the dorm's atmosphere, something that words can not explain, to how easy it is to travel inside the country, and, in particular, to other capitals. I remember that I paid only 20 euros (return ticket) to visit different European capitals. It is really worth it if you want to visit different countries. And the best thing is when you come back from your trips, you will find everyone waiting for you.

If you're going to Hungary, do so with an open mind. Don't judge them, they simply lead a different kind of lifestyle and do things in a different way than people in other European countries. And believe me when an Hungarian likes you, you have a friend for life.

A lot of Hungarian people don't know how to speak English but they will always try to say some words if you need their help. Most of the younger people there know English but sometimes they can be a little shy if they have to speak English. Respect their culture and they will also respect you.

The University has free courses for Hungarian, so sign up to enrol in these classes and try to learn some Hungarian words.

It doesn't matter how many times you go to Eger because I guarantee you that the country will surprise you, with all the amazing colour-changing stations. During the Autumn the trees start to become yellow and red and then the colours will start to change gradually.

Have fun, go to the ESN activities, they are a really good organisation and are always organising different activities. You will never get bored, there is always something to do.

Enjoy yourself as much as you can, because this will be the best time of your life!

Magyarország, az én hazám!

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