Erasmus Experience in Lisbon, Portugal by Θάνος

Why did you choose to go to Lisbon, Portugal?

Because it's culturally closer to Greek standards, i heard it's beautiful and it didn't require prior knowledge of the native language.

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

The scholarship is 5 months long(From February the 1st until June 31th) and i received 1850 euros while I'm here and another 450 back once it had been confirmed that i passed 2/5 lessons.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

Really active,with a lot of parties and events waiting around the corner. Lots of opportunities for meeting new people and broadening your horizons.

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

Of course. It's a literal advertisement of the party lifestyle you imagined for Erasmus.

What is the food like?

Typical Mediterranean cuisine. Really tasty bacalhau and fish in general,meat as well, but fish is recommended. The local desert Pastel de Nata is something out of a dream,make sure to try it.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Lisbon?

Yes, a moderate fee at Uniplaces site.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

Medium cost,the only real expensive thing is the rent price. Alcohol and food are cheap.

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

I personally didn't find the Portuguese easy to learn but it maybe be because of my own nationality. Iscte-Iul had a language course available for 100 euros.

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

Airplane.

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

Rooftop bars like Park and Topo, Clubs like Lust in Rio and Urban and for a hippier night Bairro Alto and Erasmus Corner.

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

Navegadoors,Huang He restaurant and for breakfast Padaria Portuguesa.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Alfama,the war museum and naval museum in Lisbon and outside it, Sintra and Coimbra.

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

Pack an umbrella and prepare for hangovers fellas.