Erasmus Experience in Krakow, Poland by Julia

Why did you choose to go to Krakow, Poland?

I chose Krakow because it was undiscovered territory for me. I had already visited many parts of western Europe and I really wanted something that I knew less about. After seeing that Krakow was one of the exchange options for my university, I started talking with friends and family about going there, and I always got a very good response. The people I knew that had already visited the city told me it was beautiful and that they had a lot of fun there, so that settled the decision for me. And now I am really happy I chose it, because it's great.

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

I will be studying here for 4 months, only the summer semester. For that I receive the same amount as I do in Sweden, 900 euros (per month). In addition to that I get the Erasmus grant which is 100 euros.

What is the student lifestyle like in Krakow?

The first thing I noticed when I arrived was that it is so incredibly easy to meet students and get new friends here. I attended the orientation week for Jagiellonian University with activities every day, and since almost everyone that arrives are in the same position everyone is eager to meet new people.

The student lifestyle in the city is pretty much about drinking coffee in the sun during the day and meeting up for a beer in one of the bars or parties in the evening. And sometimes we of course also study.

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

I would absolutely recommend going to Krakow for exchange studies. I have only been here for two months so far but I really love it. The atmosphere is nice, the people are friendly and the burgers are excellent. The only thing I thought was a bit difficult was the registration in the university, that is when you choose your courses. But it seemed like all the Erasmus students had the same problem so we could help each other out.

What is the food like?

I am a vegetarian so I thought it would be difficult to find good food for me here (I thought Polish people only ate sausages! ), but it has actually not been a problem at all. I would say that almost all the restaurants have a vegetarian option and it usually tastes very good. Krakow seems to be a big fan of burgers (there are burger joints everywhere) so if you also like it, this is a good city to choose.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Krakow?

I got my accommodation online a few months before I came here. It is common among Erasmus students to rent from an agency that will help you a bit when you first arrive, so that's what I did. I paid a fee for it and it is a bit more expensive when you use an agency then if you go here directly and find a place by yourself, but for me it was the easiest choice.

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How much does it cost to live in Krakow?

I pay 300 euros for my room in a shared apartment, which is kind of normal for the Erasmus students but a bit expensive if you compare what other things (food, beer etc) cost in the city. Besides from that I pay maybe 200 euros for food and sightseeing. I know some students bought a tram ticket for the whole semester which is 40 euros with a student ID, but I prefer to walk because it's a small city.

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

The Polish language is very hard for me as a Swedish. The words are difficult to pronounce so a language course would probably be helpful. The most common phrases (thank you, hello, good bye, etc. ) you can learn in the supermarket or from the other Erasmus students but to speak in a more fluent way would be impossible for me. I think there are language courses available in the university, but you might have to pay to be able to attend them.

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

The easiest and the most economical way to travel to Krakow from Stockholm where I'm from is by plane. There are a few airlines that offer cheap flights and it only takes about 1 hour to go so it is very easy.

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

It really depends on what you like, the city has a lot of different places to offer. I live close to Kazimierz (which is the old jewish district) and I really prefer to go out there instead of the more fancy places in the old town. In Kazimierz you can find a crazy amount of different bars and I think anyone can find what they want here. You can go and play board games, bowling, pool (even though I suck at it! ) or just drink beer or go dancing. The best place to go and dance in Kazimierz is in Alchemia which is a very old bar with a dance floor in the cellar. Besides from Kazimierz the Erasmus organization in Krakow (ESN) organize a lot of parties with different themes, usually located in the old town. It happens almost every week so that is always an option if you like to meet people from the university.

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

My favorite restaurant in Krakow is a place called Skate burger in Kazimierz. It has a variety of different burgers and the prices are quite cheap. You can have a burger and a beer for maybe 30 zloty which is approximately 7 euros. Besides from this I also recommend a place called Warsztat, which is a chain of three restaurants all located in Kazimierz. Two of them are Italian restaurants and the thirds one is Polish. It is good, cheap food with huge portions - so if you don't finish (which I never do) you can just take it away and eat it the next day. Or you can give it to your flatmates that never seem to get full.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

It's a city with a lot of history so wherever you go you can find a story about what happened there in the past. I would recommend going on one of the free tours (for Old town or Kazimierz) to learn a little bit. Besides the free tours you can visit the modern contemporary arts museum and the Schindler's factory, they are both located on the other side of the river right next to each other. You can also visit the Wawel castle, the hill with good view or one of the churches or synagogues. Outside the city you can see the salt mine or of course Auschwitz. It might be challenging to learn about the history of the World War II but I think it is necessary to get a better understanding of the country.

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Is there any other advice that you could give to future students who are going to Krakow?

Just go there and have fun! It is a wonderful experience.