My Erasmus Experience in Krakow, Poland - by Marina

Why did you choose to go to Krakow, Poland?

I wanted my Erasmus experience to be a bit different. Other students studying English think that the only place for learning and practising English is England, and they're wrong. It's also a very cheap country. I chose Krakow especially as I didn't want to go to a huge city or a little town, so I chose the old capital instead.

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

Your scholarship generally lasts the amount of time you are there for. I chose to go for one semester (a mistake as the time flies by so quickly) and I received about 350 euros per month, which easily covered all my costs.

What's the student life like in Krakow?

It's fantastic. There are loads of students, and loads of activities to join in with.

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

Definitely, 100%. I fell in love with the city. The university were quite serious, since language studies in the rest of Europe demand higher level than they do in Spain. My university was the Jagellonian and I didn't choose my subjects very well and found the exams hard... but in the end I only failed one of them, and it definitely didn't turn out as bad as I'd expected. Anyway, the main thing is that I always had time to enjoy my Erasmus exchange!

What's the food like in Krakow?

The food is quite greasy (Pierogis, Zapikankas) but it's very good. The Polish really love Italian food though, so you'll find there are lots of Italian restaurants in the city.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Krakow?

There are loads of accommodation offers, so no, I didn't find it very hard. You should decide beforehand whether you want to live in the city centre for about 250 to 300 euros a month in rent, or live on the outskirts like I did, sharing a room and living right next to the university. I paid 140 euros a month to share a room and it was a good deal. I was really lucky as my roommate was lovely. I lived 25 minutes away from the city centre by tram and I never had any transport problems, as the trams ran every 10 minutes day and night.

How expensive is everyday life in Krakow?

As I said before, my Erasmus grant was 350 euros a month and this covered all my expenses. Of course I spent a bit more on buying clothes and stuff like that, but in terms of paying for food and accommodation, this amount was fine (and you also have enough left over to go for some piwos with friends).

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language course at the university?

Most of the young people there can speak perfect English, and there are also some who can speak Spanish. The older people however usually only speak Polish, and some of them Russian or German, too. I didn't go to any Polish courses and I don't feel like I missed out on much, as using non-verbal language worked in the majority of cases. I have friends who did a course in Polish and managed to carry on doing it at university when they returned to Spain, and were glad that they did it. Studying something extra can never be a bad thing!

What's the cheapest way of getting to Krakow from your home city?

The cheapest way is to get a train from Cádiz to Madrid and then fly from Madrid to Krakow. When I flew home, I flew directly to Málaga for a slightly higher price.

What are the best places for partying in Krakow?

There are lots of places, and where you go depends on the kind of music you fancy that night. I love the classics and went to Carpe Diem (I or II) a lot, and to Społem. There's also a place lots of Spaniards go to called 'Baccarat' and another called 'Afera'. If you like alternative music, try Kazimierz, where there are lots of good pubs.

What about eating out in Krakow? What are your favourite places?

Since I was a student, I usually ate at home or went to McDonalds or for a kebab, but when I had visitors they took me to Pod Wawalem (very touristy but very good), to Nowa Prowincja and to Gruzinskie Chaczapuri (a Georgian restaurant).

What does Krakow have to offer in terms of culture?

10 out of 10, it's a small city but one with lots of history.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Krakow?

Don't think that Poland is always a cold and frosty country: the summertime surprised me, as did how warm it already was by the middle of May... and it's very warm! I think you should try and take clothes for all kinds of weather, but most of all clothes for hot weather.

Oh! My last piece of advice is to enjoy every day of your Erasmus exchange as if it were the last one! :)