Erasmus Experience in Leiria, Portugal by Manuel

Why did you choose to go to Leiria, Portugal?

Because it was near the coast, I also heard a lot of good things about it from people who had been there before, the weather was great, in the winter it got as low as 10º, although it does rain everyday, and in summer it got up to 35º.

Source

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

9 months and I got €230 a month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Leiria?

It's really good. There were almost 10, 000 students in Leiria the year I went and of which 200 were Erasmus.

It's a student city and the lifestyle as well as the prices of things there are geared towards student life.

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

Yes because the majority of the professors there will always make themselves available if ever you need help. The students are polite and will look after you as much as the students.

What is the food like?

It's really good and really cheap. A meal in a restaurant for two people, having 2 dishes, salad, chips and a bottle of wine can cost as little as €15 total, and you'll be very happy with your meal.

Source

Did you find it difficult to find accommodation in Leiria?

No. There were 2 residences, one of which belonged to the university and didn't give places to Spanish people. The other one is called Casulo Das Memorias and it's quite nice, it's cheap and you can get a shared room from €100 a month, with a kitchen and a bathroom. You can get a private room from €200. Staying in a flat is a good option, it's cheap and I'd recommend you go for a residence for 3 months so you can meet people and then get a flat. Even though the residence has a better vibe, you might have a problem with having people to stay the night or coming to spend a couple of nights, a flat is much easier. A flat will cost you between around €125 and €200, for your own room, a kitchen, bathroom and a furnished living room between you an 2 or 3 flatmates max.

How much does it cost to live in Leiria?

Not including accommodation, with €150 a month you can live comfortably. I never spent more than €200 and I was actually going out quite a few times a week.

In reality, it's really cheap to live there. The drinks are cheap, for example they can cost as little as €0. 50 in the bars and €1. 50 in a fancy restaurant.

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

The language was easy, I went without knowing any Portuguese, I attended courses at the university and at the end of the year I managed to get the official Portuguese certificate from the Lisbon school for a B2 level.

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

The direct night train to Coimbra and, from there, take a 1 hour bus to Leiria.

Source

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

There are a few bars: Annubis is the best one, €0. 50 for a beer and there's a Spanish night on Wednesdays, but the best nights out there are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Then you have the clubs: Beat is really good on the weekdays but awful on Fridays and Saturdays, Suite has 3 floors and a terrace but is always full and sometimes quite stifling. There's also Glam for people between 25 to 40, it's very expensive and only let you in if you're dressed smartly.

And to eat? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Leiria?

Well, any of the bars or restaurants are good, I can't tell you any specific restaurants because they were all good... Marques de Pombal street has some good restaurants and the buffet at Paco's is great for big dinners. If you have a group of 30 or so, you can have the buffet and an open bar for beers, wine, water and soft drinks for €12.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The castle is the most beautiful place with incredible views. The whole centre of Leiria, the streets, the fonte luminosa and the football stadium, although it's only used for athletics training now, as the Leiria football club can't afford to manage it, the stadium is in very good shape regardless.

Source

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

It could quite possibly be the best year of your life, there's a lot of partying. Going to class and working to pass, in my case, as I studied Business and Marketing, was pretty straightforward. Living there is cheap, the weather is great and, if you like the beach, you have 3 beaches, one in Nazaré and lots of others where I could go swimming until the end of October. I went swimming again for the first time at the beginning of April. The beaches are 20 minutes away by car and 30 minutes on the bus from Leiria. If you like the sea, a university vibe and a good atmosphere, Leiria is the city for you.