Erasmus Experience in Lisbon, Portugal by Noémie

Why did you choose to go to Lisbon, Portugal?

I choose Lisbon for the geographical localisation: good weather, close to France and Spain, Mediterranean culture. I also came to learn Portuguese for the opportunity to travel to Brazil.

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

My Erasmus exchange programme lasts 10 months from September till June. I receive 140€/ month as European support.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

The student lifestyle is very rich and complete. There are many beautiful sites to discover in town and entertainments (cinemas in original version, museums, night life... ). There are also many nice cities to see all over Portugal very easily reachable either by train or with a rented car.

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

Yes, sure! It is a very lively and attractive city and University.

(There would still be a lot of work to do, don't think this year is going to be holidays).

What is the food like?

It is very various. Portuguese food offers seafood, fishes, many meats and very good and simple dishes. You can find everything you like actually! As most metropoles now, you can find food from all over the world also!

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Lisbon?

It is not easy to find an accommodation in Lisbon. There is no proper agency dealing with room renting and web sites are not easy to use (OLX, BQUARTO... ). The handier websites such as Erasmus Palace and Uniplaces are source of many disappointments, there are actually false advertising.

The different apartments offered by Erasmus Palace are to avoid. There are dirty and of poor quality (old buildings) and in the huge shared flats with 10 or 12 people leave together, which become difficult to handle after a while. It is not worth the price even if seems not too high...

Then the problem with uniplace.com is that it is not possible to make any visit, which can be very dangerous.

It’s definitely worth the effort to visit the apartment before making any reservation.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

My life in Lisbon costs me 400€ of rent every month and around 200€ of overall dispense for food and everyday life.

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

As a French native and a Spanish speaker, Portuguese language was really easy to grip for me. I also took Portuguese class at school to strengthen my skills though. It allowed me to make myself more comfortable for everyday life, in the shops or in the restaurant for instance.

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

I travel around the city for free most of the time as I am really close to city centre. Though I have to say the best transport is the tramway as it is going to main parts of town and very fast and nice.

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

My favourite clubs are the Lust in city centre and the Urban Beach in Santos neighbourhood. But I would say that the place is never as important as the people you are accompanied with!

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

Enjoy Portuguese fish dishes in any of the restaurant of the Bairro Alto. There is also one nice Chinese all you can eat buffet for only 8€ in Saldanha metro station.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

I love the Cultural Centre of Belém!

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

I would just emphasise on the accommodation research as a major issue. Take that matter seriously, it is really hard to find a real good place. Be ready to either decrease your expectations or increase your budget! Learning a bit of the language before coming is also a great bonus. It can help you out in many situations and make you more comfortable in the first uncertain weeks!

Lisbon really worth the travel though. Plenty of things to do (surfing is one of those) and really beautiful. I would add that Portuguese people are really nice and helpful people.