Erasmus Experience in Heidelberg, Germany by Dimitris

Why did you choose to go to Heidelberg, Germany?

Before I went to Heidelberg, I was already looking forward to going there because it's a city full of picturesque scenes, really old and with a great history, not to mention its university repute and generally the education level. Generally, I love Germany but although I had a lot of towns to choose from in Germany, Heidelberg proved to be the most attractive one!

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

The duration of my scholarship was about 6 months and the money I received from my University was 500 per month (this amount differs from country to country according to what I've learnt from my fellow Erasmus students). Despite the fact that this money is not enough to cover all of your living costs, you can be sure that at least it will cover the monthly rent of your house/room.

What is the student lifestyle like in Heidelberg?

The student lifestyle in HD: you wake up, you go to class (if any), you go for lunch with your friends, you go for a stroll or coffee downtown, you go home to rest and prepare yourself for the night. That's a typical day in Heidelberg as a student!

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

I hope this question is just rhetorical (for sure! ).

What is the food like?

There are million of choices for food in Heidelberg. You can choose from a great variety of typical German foods such as sausages, knodel, bratwurst, etc., or even from the big amount of the fast food choices like McDonald's, Yormas, Burger King.

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Personally speaking, you should try all the small Chinese-Korean-Thai food stores all along the Hauptstraße (main street) walking with a Noodle Box full of flavours.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Heidelberg?

On my occasion I decided to stay in my SRH University's dormitories paying a rent of 400 Euros. Of course, you can choose other rooms which are cheaper than mine but I have to say that I was fully satisfied. Anyway, from what I've heard renting a room in the city may cost a lot of money but this depends on what your're searching for. There are a lot of real-estate offers on the Internet but you have to be fast and patient.

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How much does it cost to live in Heidelberg?

Difficult question... Again, it depends on what life you choose to live. If you want to lead an expensive life buying things and spending lots of money in clubs, the only certain thing is that you'll be out of your monthly budget even from the first week (HD can be really expensive unless you start searching for alternatives, for example, food or bars/clubs).

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

To be honest, German is a really difficult language due to its complex grammar and millions of combinations you can make with words to derive new words. But if you've decided to learn it, you'll gain a lot of things. From what I know there are a lot of courses at every University, so you don't have to worry. But generally, don't be afraid about communication. Every German knows really good English.

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

Try to find flights with Ryanair to Frankfurt Hahn Airport and then you can take the bus to HD for 15-20 euros. Remember: Ryanair saves wallets.

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

Everywhere, but my best hotspots are "Nachtschicht" (the best night club in HD which is near the Railway Station) and for a beer the best choice is the Irish Pub in the Hauptstraße. At "Halle_02" parties are also good especially for Erasmus students, so keep yourselves updated from their Facebook pages.

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

Hmmm... As I said, million of choices for food but if we speak about restaurants, I would definitely recommend you the "Coyote" (opposite to Starbucks in the main street of HD - Hauptstraße), awesome hamburgers, steaks and pasta mixed with a great Western-style touch! Give it a try at least one time during your stay in HD.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The whole city is a cultural monument. In every single street you'll find a historical related thing. The most important ones are the castle, the bridge, the museum of the University or even the University itself and the University Library. You shouldn't miss going up to the Königstuhl with the cableway or even walk from the other side of the river across the Philosophenweg.

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

Generally Heidelberg is a dream place for every student (Erasmus or not), because of its huge variety of choices. Tasty food and crazy parties are there for everyone and the people are there to join you! Try to make every day in HD special. Discover it and you'll not regret it. Who knows, maybe you'll want to stay there forever (as me). The only disadvantage I could mention is the weather which is not the best because it usually rains, although HD is known for the best climate in Germany and this is quite insignificant in front of milliards of advantages. I know that I'll be in HD again. The lyrics from the regional song says it anyway : "Ich hab' mein Herz in Heidelberg verloren", and it's the most right thing I've ever heard from a song. Go for it!