Erasmus Experience in Lisbon, Portugal by Francesca

Why did you choose to go to Lisbon, Portugal?

I've always wanted to live in a capital.

I didn't know much about Lisbon and I choosed it randomly because it was warm and It was a capital.

Never taken a better decision :)

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

5 months

430 euro /month

What is the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

The student life is very well organized.
In Lisbon there's not only one association for Exchanges but 3. The main 2 are ESN Lisbon and Erasmus Life Lisboa
A lot of events, trips, nights, parties and a lot of foreign students. That's crazy. Better than expected

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

Of course.
100%.
(Don't expect portuguese classes to be so easy as you do)

What is the food like?

Even though I'm italia I must admit... I loved portuguese food.
So tasty, a lot of varieties of cakes, fish, it's really cheap.
The main supermarkets have everything inside.
Great.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Lisbon?

Actually no.
I foud it through the university which suggested me an Agency.
If you move before, like months before, it's not gonna be a problem.
One tip: don't go there last minute without having looking for it on the internet, at least you don't want to be homeless for a long time.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

I spent not more than 600-700 per month I think

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

I wanted to learn portuguese but my courses were in english and my uni didn't offer a free course so, because it was too expensive I decided to give up and I didn't learn it. I improved my english since everybody speak english there.

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

Low cost flights

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

Cheap restaurants are everywhere. Just avoid the touristic ones.
Go to the bar Versailles for breakfast!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There are plenty of cultural sites.
Belem, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos (Unesco world heritage), Saint Jorge Castle (AMAZING), Sintra castles and so on ....

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

Enjoy, live it

and it's going to be the best period in your life!!!