Erasmus Experience in Gdansk, Poland by Jules

Why did you choose to go to Gdansk, Poland?

The city looked nice and this country is full of interesting things to do. Moreover, it's in the middle of Europe so you can discover other countries and cities like Vienna or Prague. It's close to the see and Sopot for the parties. Two students from my school went there last year so they told me that this city is really good for Erasmus studies.

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

The scholarship is around 4 months. I receive around 5000€ from French institutions for all the time I spend in Gdansk.

What is the student lifestyle like in Gdansk?

We have not too many classes (18 hours per week) and we are on the weekend on Thursday afternoon. We have a lot of free time to discover the city and travel. We also make a lot of parties and we do some sport. Everything is well connected with the tram and the train to go to Sopot. There is a lot of shops to make cheap shopping. The weather is not as bad as people imagine.

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

Of course, , I recommend this city for other students, they won't regret it.

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What is the food like?

The dishes are generally plentiful with a lot of meat like sausages. There is also a lot of soups. Of course, you can also find every kind of food like kebab, Italian or American food.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Gdansk?

Find accommodation is the main problem because the prices are quite expensive and it can be hard to find something good. I had to stay in a motel the first nights before finding what I wanted. You can try to live in Sopot but you will have to take the train, except if you have a car. In Gdansk, the best is to rent a room in a flat of Erasmus or even Polish students to improve your language skills.

How much does it cost to live in Gdansk?

It depends on your lifestyle and on your accommodation. Everything looks cheap but you are attempted to spend a lot. For accommodation, food, trips and parties, you can pay around 600€ per month.

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

My courses are in English in Politechnika so there is no problem to understand. You need to know a few useful words in Polish to say that you don't speak and stuffs like that. In Politechnika there are language courses.

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

I have no idea, but in my case, I take the tram, it's the best way to travel in Gdansk.

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

There are nice pubs in the old town. There are good nightclubs like Parlament, Bunkier and so on. The best parties are in Sopot, for example in the bar called Na Druga where you can find a lot of Erasmus students. There are also nice nightclubs like Czekolada, Ego, Sphinx etc..

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

There is a lot of places to eat polish food, in the main street of the old town for example. You can also eat Italian food in Sempre in the old town and also American in Billy's. If you like pancakes I recommend you to go to Manekin which is the best place for that.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

You have museums about the sea and ships. You can find a new museum about Solidarnosc. There is also a museum about Lech Walesa. You can visit the ship contruction on the docks. The old town is really beautiful with old and beautiful buildings. The Malbork castle is one of the best castles in Poland and it's close to Gdansk.