Granada...home sweet home..

Why did you decide to go to Granada, in Spain?

I always wanted to visit Spain, especially Granada, because it's a city for young people. Here the all city seems to be made for the students, everything goes around the university.

Source

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

My Erasmus scholarship lasts six months. I receive about 300 euro per month (adding up together different grants) which are not enough even for a cheap city like Granada, but anyway they help. The problem is that you often have to choose whether to have party or visit some new places or museums, and this is very hard because when you are here you wish you could do everything! My suggestion is try to find a balance, and to make your calculations at the beginning of every month!

How is the student lifestyle in Granada?

Amazing! To be honest when I left I didn't except such an organisation! Teachers are very well prepared and available to help the students, and it's clear that they really enjoy their job! Furthermore there's a relationship between students and teachers that I've never seen before: there's a lot of respect, without many formalities; without a desk to divide them, they speak frankly and both sides want to learn from each other! In Italy this is absolutely missing!

Regarding bureaucracy (the big enemy of all students! ) it's quite human.. there's room for improvement, but at least if you have a problem there's always someone ready to help without making you feel an ignorant!

Advice: have parties, go to clubs, travel, but sometimes do go to lesson, even just one subject, because often they're really worth it!

Would you recommend the city and the university of Granada to other students?

Absolutely! I met a lot of people and listened to their experiences all over the world and I haven't met someone yet that wouldn't pick Granada as the ideal city for Erasmus! What so special about Granada? Granada is not like London, Paris or Berlin, it's not chaotic like a big city, it's not insolent, there aren't any skyscrapers or super modern bars, neither giant museums; Granada struck you for his humanity, Granada is a city for who wants to live within the city, not be swallowed by it; it's always a pleasure to walk around its streets, because you keep passing from narrow to large streets, to squares full of orange trees and people not in a hurry, that prefer to enjoy rather then run. What surprised me more though, it's the amount of young people, I couldn't imagine there was a place like that, every night bars are full and prices are so cheap you can afford to eat out very often (viva las tapas! ), everything is student-oriented, which makes this place unique (you feel like the city is a university itself! ). That's why who comes here for Erasmus after only one month feels like Granada is his own city and not a place where he's been hosted; for example I feel like I've always lived here!

If you want your experience to be unforgettable, with the right balance of pleasure and duties, you can't not choose Granada, the city of the student.

How is the food?

The food is excellent and I'm an Italian who loves good food! There are choices for all tastes: always fresh fish prepared in thousand ways, hams perfect for snacks or appetizers, seasonal vegetables prepared in ways never seen before. The difference here is that you don't need to go to expensive restaurants to have a nice fish dish or else, here you can find excellent quality restaurants with affordable prices, otherwise with two euro you can buy a tapas (which are not just snacks but real dishes that comes with your drinks) and you've already had your lunch!

How did you find your accomodation?

I found it on internet, I was lucky that my flatmates kept the room for me before I came, usually you have to go personally to see the apartment. Never pay deposit or other things online!

Another solution, which can be a bit stressful, is to stay in an hostel for the first few days and a have a walk around Granada to check the apartment advertised, which are everywhere (seriously there are tons of them).

Source

How much is the rent? And the living cost in general

Usually it's between 200 and 250.. it depends a lot from the area and the type of house. I spend 230 per month all included (always ask the full cost because they usually divide the rent from the bills) which is good for the place, but I know people with better houses and lower rents.

How is the language? Have you attended any course at the university

I've never done a Spanish course in my country, but being Italian I could understand pretty much everything. Shortly after I arrived I signed up for a Spanish course organised at the university (modern languages centre) for only 120 euro, which was very useful.

What is the cheapest way to go to Granada from your city?

By plane, with low cost airline like Vueling and Ryanair.

Where do you suggest to spend a night in Granada?

What is great about Granada is that there are so many places that every night you can have fun and discover new pubs and bars.

Surely for tapas it's mandatory to go Barrio in Plaza de Toros where the best tapas are made. If you want a more quite place where to drink while listening to music, there are places like Bohemia (jazz club), and to continue the night and dance until daylight there are discos for everybody (Granada 10, Vogue.. )

And to eat in Granada? Can you tell us about your favourite places?

There are lots of places, unfortunately the best are also the tiniest. But the fun is to discover them by yourself, try and try!

And cultural sites to visit?

Of course Alhambra where you can come back many times and never get bored of it, the palace of Carlo V always offer interesting exhibitions, the cathedral, the modern park of science.

Any advice to give to future students in Granada?

I will give the same advice an ex-Erasmus student gave to me before leaving: never say no!

Take advantage of everything that you will be offered, unexpected trips, programm changes, always turn out to be unforgettable adventures and experiences!