Erasmus Experience in Faro, Portugal by Mia

Why did you choose to go to Faro, Portugal?

Mainly because I've never been to Portugal, thus wanted to meet a new culture. Apart from that, the weather is nice, you have the sea, the food is great and the standard of living is not very high, so it's quite cheap to live here as a student.

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

No scholarship - I earned my money.

What is the student lifestyle like in Faro?

Partying, eating, exploring the cities around, sleeping, a little bit of studying.

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

The city yes, and if lucky with choosing courses - the university as well!

What is the food like?

A lot of cheap fish, what makes this city like a heaven to me. Try bacalhau, try pastel de nata and never count calories!

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Faro?

No, I got a place in the university residence.

How much does it cost to live in Faro?

As mentioned before, unlike the other cities I was living in - it's really cheap to live here as a student. The food more-less affordable, plus since it's very warm during all four seasons, you don't get to pay for gas as much as you are maybe used to paying in your country. If you're into sports, you can find really cheap (20+/-€ per month) arrangements.

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

All of the classes are pretty much in Portuguese, but materials are very often provided in English as well.

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

I took the flight Zagreb-Lisbon, then Lisbon-Faro. But since TAP company doesn't fly from neither Zagreb nor Croatia in general, you might wanna check the Vueling or Ryanair flights from Trieste, Bologna or Venice.

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

My favourite place so far was "Fabrica", which is sort of a warehouse! During the day, it's like a second-hand shop, where you can buy some cool vintage stuff, while during the Monday nights it turns into a gathering spot for Erasmus students. The owner is a really cool and stylish guy, who happens to be a great host, along with his mum, plus the music is quite retro (70s, 80s, 90s). Other than that, live music in "Pipers bar" is quite nice experience, while "Patrimonio" and "Call" in clubs are offering pretty much only house and disco music. Also, if you're into Latin dances (e. g. salsa, kizomba), you might wanna come to Patrimonio earlier on Friday, around 11. 30 pm., before the official party, because there are a lot of guys practising such dances and you can feel free to join them.

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

I've only been to sushi place called "Osaka", but planning to expand that. The dishes are nice - a variety of choice, plus for 12 € you can eat as much as you want. (I recommend you not to, your stomach won't like that for sure).

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Pretty much all the towns around Faro. The train tickets are up to 5 euro one way, depending on how far you're planning to go. Check Lagos and the other towns on the west coast, as well as some on the east side (near Spanish border).

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Faro in the future?

Just explore Portugal and its wonderful nature. Enjoy the food, sun and the beaches. Try surfing even if you're antitalent, and be as consistent as you can with the faculty obligations (if you have any conscious, of course).

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