Studying Medicine in Freiburg, Germany

What did you think of Freiburg as a place to live? Would you recommend it? What's it like?

Freiburg is a fantastic city with a really high quality of life. It's found in the middle of the Black Forest, which makes going from the city to the wilderness very easy and quick. Its proximity to the French and Swiss borders opens up interesting possibilities. It's also known as the "sunniest city in Germany", which is well justified, especially in summer. The city is well connected by bus and tram. However, the most common mode of transport is the bicycle. It's almost impossible to find a public building without spaces to safely keep your bike out the front. All the main streets have bike-lanes available, lots of traffic lights even have lights corresponding to cyclists.

Visiting the city at sunset. Photo taken from the Schlossberg

What's the student atmosphere like in Freiburg?

Being an average sized city and being home to one of Germany's most prestigious universities, aside from various "Hochschulen", the city has a very evident student atmosphere. The population is younger than the average of other German cities and the streets are filled with young people. A lot of local businesses are frequently frequented by students.

How much does it cost to live in Freiburg?

Depending on whether you live in student halls, individual house or shared house, prices fluctuate between 200 and 500 euros. The student hall StuSie is often requested by Erasmus students. This hall is next to the Seepark, the park next to the lake. Many students take on a part-time job, a little something that will earn them 400 euros a month max that they can do alongside their studies. There's a lot on offer so it's relatively easy to find one of these jobs.

Did you struggle to find accommodation in Freiburg? Can you give some advice?

It was quite hard to find accommodation in Freiburg. It's a student city with a big demand for estate agents. I would advise you to start searching as soon as possible and not to wait until the start of term. (September, October), which is when a lot of new students starting university will also be looking for accommmodation.

What's the country's food like? What are you favourite dishes?

German food doesn't have anything on Spanish food. Living here makes me miss eating foods like fresh fish, which they hardly eat in this country. Pork seems to be the favourite. However, the food in Southern Germany has some delicious foods which are worth trying. For example, "Spetzle" and bakery goods such as "Brezel". A strange fact is that I've never tried better salads than the ones they serve in German restaurants. Maybe the Spanish could learn something from their dressings.

What places would you recommend to visit in Freiburg?

The cathedral is the first place that comes to mind. I would also recommend the Schlossberg and everything within the old part of the city. But most of all, I recommend the surrounding areas. The Black Forest, Titisee Lake, the Feldberg. My favourite is the village of Hinterzarten in Winter. It's a beautiful place when it's covered in snow and offers great slopes to sled down. All these places can be easily accessed by commuter train or by bus. Furthermore, just an hour or more away, there are places that I would also highly recommend. For example, the German city of Konstanz or the French city of Strasbourg (about two hours, and about an hour's journey with FlixBus from Freiburg, respectively).

The small and picturesque city of Hinterzarten in winter. It is easily accessible from Freiburg: 30 minutes by commuter train from the main station.

Walk along the river Dreisam in the heart of the city. The seasons are seen vividly even from within the city. Autumn offers a beautiful, wide range of brown, yellowish and reddish colors.

Lake Titisee, about 40 munitos by train from the main station in Freiburg.

And eating out in Freiburg? Can you give us your favorite places?

Omas Küche, the Brennessel and Vapiano.

What places do you recommend when it comes to going out in Freiburg?

The truth is that the nightlife in Freiburg is considerably different from that in the big Spanish cities. There are many nightclubs and discos in basements and people aren't so particular over when they leave. The place with the biggest price tag and the best music (and the most expensive) is the "Kagan", on one of the upper floors of one of the tallest buildings in the city. However, any other disco can provide good entertainment if you go with the right company.

Any advice you want to give to future students in Freiburg?

Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the city, sign up for excursions and activities. Don't miss the best time of the year in the city - summer - and get a bike.