Erasmus Experience in Lisbon, Portugal by Nataša

Why did you choose to go to Lisbon, Portugal?

I choose it because my department at my faculty has a contract with FLUL and I always thought about Portugal as a beautiful country, with nice people... and I wasn't wrong at all! I like the weather, infrastructure and the fact that ocean is right in front of me... for me Lisbon is a perfect place not only to do my Erasmus exchange here, it is a perfect place to live!

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

I got a scholarship for 5 months, for each month 300 euros from EU, and extra 150 from our government in Slovenia. I got 80% of it in the moment when I signed the contract, other 20% I will get when I come hope and give all necessary documents. It helps of course with everyday costs, but it doesn't cover everything since rents are quite high and if you want really to enjoy your staying here is good to have some extra savings.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

In my faculty here there is no difference between regular and Erasmus students, which means that classes are mostly obligatory to attend. So I have classes every day, but I am happy that they're mostly in afternoon, since all the parties here starts really late (people come from Bairro Alto to disco at 2 am - and this is the soonest! ) and Portuguese people can party really hard, until the morning!

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

I recommend it because university is very nice, I like classes, teachers and my classmates, even if classes are all in Portuguese language, which can be a bit of a problem. Everybody is really nice and prepare to help you with everything. Lisbon for me is a perfect city, it is bright, nice, not too big, but big enough, with a lot of things to do...

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What is the food like?

I love Portuguese food. If you are a vegetarian it could be quite hard for you, since Portuguese people eat a lot of meet and fishes! Before I came here I wasn't a really big fan of sea food, but here this kind of food has a completely different taste and I like it a lot! Bacalhau in every way is my new obsession!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Lisbon?

No, I found it on one of Erasmus websites: Erasmusu.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

My rent is 200 euros, but I live in a double room. For everyday expenses I would say around 400 - 500 euros per month.

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

I thought that it will be easier since I know some Spanish, but it is quite hard, especially pronunciation. But with some practice and speaking with Portuguese people and trying you can learn. At FLUL we have also a very nice language course for Erasmus students, it is very good and we paid only 50 euros per semester.

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

Since I am from Slovenia, plane tickets from my city are too expensive, so we're usually travelling from near airports in other countries. I am always travelling from Venice to Lisbon. To get here and to go back I fly with TAP, which is really good because you can take a lot of baggage with you and if you reserve plane ticket early enough it is not even more expensive than low cost travel companies (like EasyJet).

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

First Bairro Alto and then my two favorite clubs are Lust and Main.

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

They are some, of course, but I am really bad with names, so... I will leave you to discover on your own.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

• Belem
• Castelo de Sao Jorge
• All the Miradouro
• All the beaches nearby Lisbon
• Alfama
• Mouraria
• Some museums
• Some galleries
• Oceanarium
• Parks (Estrela, Jardim Botânico)

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

Just enjoy this beautiful city and kind people, go with the flow and see and experience as much as possible... it is great, trust me!