Travel Experience in Gijón, Spain by Jonathan

Why did you choose to go to Gijón, Spain?

I have family and many friends in Xixón. It is honestly one of my favorite places in the world.

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

I did not receive any Erasmus scholarships.

What is the student lifestyle like in Gijón?

Student life and pretty much any life is great in Xixón.

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

I actually was not a student at the University but I would definitely recommend the Spanish and Asturian language departments. The professors are great!

What is the food like?

If you have ever had southern United States food, it reminds me a lot of that home cooked country type food but much tastier. Coming back to the States was one of the safest things I have ever done.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Gijón?

I lived with family while I was there, but I know that rent is not very expensive for a decent accommodation. (400 $ - 500 $ approx)

How much does it cost to live in Gijón?

Much cheaper that the US and much of Europe. I think I stayed around maybe 100 per week, with eating out and traveling a lot.

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

If you speak Spanish, you will be fine. People there speak mostly Spanish with Asturian language influence. There are language schools on basically every street corner and at the university. The Asturian language classes are great at the university.

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

From Chattanooga, TN the cheapest way is primarily air travel just because of the continent difference. But once you are in Spain, sometimes it is cheaper to take a bus or train to Xixón.

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

Cuesta del Cholo near the pier is a great place to hang out and have a drink or two. There are also quite a few bars are discotheques throughout the city. It is pretty cheap to bar hop through the town with tons of bars located close to each other.

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

Gloria is a bit pricey, but I would definitely recommend the food! Other than that you have to check out the pulperia that is located at the Futbol stadium. The service and food is fast to the table and extremely tasty. Lastly, you have to check out a sidería, mostly the food is similar restaurant to restaurant but you can always ask a local for their favorites.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The Isabel la Católica Park is huge and a really nice place to visit and take photos. The cultural sites are sprinkled throughout the city. Check out the Old town. Much of the nightlife, cultural, and entertainment things are located in and around Old town.

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

Don't be afraid to get out and meet local people. Everyone I met was extremely nice and helpful if ever I was lost. Everything in Xixón is close to each other so it's not necessary to have a car for staying in the city and if you need to travel to another city, just take the bus or train.