Experience in Kaunas, Lithuania by Ieva

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What is the student lifestyle like in Kaunas?

There are many universities and colleges in Kaunas, so the spirit of student lifestyle is always in the air. Kaunas has the biggest number of students in Lithuania even compare to the capital city. Almost every university has student halls so it is a really good way to meet new people and enjoy flat parties. There are some good places like Republic pub whre you can hang out with friends while enjoying a glass of wine or beer from different countries or watch your favourite team match.

How much does it cost to live in Kaunas?

Comparing with European prices, to live in Kaunas is quite cheap. If you live in a student hall, a rent for a month with bills included should not exceed 70 euros. A monthly bus/trolleybus ticket for a student costs around 5 euros so it really cheap and you can travel with a public transport almost to an every corner of the city. A glass of wine or beer in a pub costs around 2 euros while in a supermarket you can buy a bottle of Lithuanian beer for as little as 1 euro or even less.

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Is it difficult to find accommodation in Kaunas? Is there any advice you can give?

The easiest way is to try to look for a place in universities' halls as they almost for sure have some extra places only for Erasmus students. Also, you can try to find a room by yourself. Try to look on local websites or if you know the language, buy a local newspaper and look for ads.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

If you are from a South part of Europe, Lithuanian food will seem to you quite hard to digest as it is heavier than you are used to. Potatoes are really popular in Lithuanian cuisine and there are many delicious dishes made from them. My favourites are and you definitely should try Kugelis (a. k. a. bulviu plokstainis) or Cepelinai (Zeppelins). These dishes are traditional dishes in our cuisine. If you have a sweet tooth, try Sakotis (it is more a German dessert but still it tastes so good that you really have to have a bite).

kugelis

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What places would you recommend visiting in Kaunas?

Kaunas has a really nice and antique Oldtown. There are many churches and even a castle which was built in the XIV century. You also have to take a walk in the main street - Laisves Aleja. You can enjoy 1, 6 km walk while not bothering with pedestrians' trafficlights as pedestrians have the priority against cars. You can have a cup of coffee or do some shopping on the same street and enjoy a fresh spring air.

What advice would you give future students heading to Kaunas?

Sometimes local people can look a liitle bit serious or angry but it is just a first impression. Do not be afraid to ask directions to find a place you are looking for, they will try to help you even if they are not proficient in English. Be sure that you know some Lithuanian phrases like labas (hi), ačiū (thank you) or atsiprašau (sorry, excuse me) to show locals that you are interested in their cullture and language. Also, you can know some facts about basketball, especially about Kaunas basketball team "Žalgiris" as it is the second religion in Lithuania, many locals are crazy about it and it definitely will help you have an interesting chat. So be positive and enjoy your time in Kaunas. Sėkmės! (Good luck! )

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