Erasmus Experience in Lisbon, Portugal by Pawel

Why did you choose to go to Lisbon, Portugal?

I was looking for a place with lots of sun, beaches and good university with english lectures. Lisbon has everything. I was studying in Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST) and I recommend it university if you want to learn something interesting.

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

I stayed for 1 year and received 320 €.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

In my university there was a lot of studying, but the level of education was very good and lectures were really interesting. Of course after studying, lot of Erasmus parties, some of them were even organised on the university campus.

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

If You like sun, beach, beautifull landscapes and drinking on the viewpoint or just outside in the street - then yes!

What is the food like?

Like everywhere else, you can cook at home whatever you want or eat fast food like kebab and local stuff. The most popular food is fish. Also I recommend fruits- they are really good quality.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Lisbon?

Not at all.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

500 € per month is enough for everything, including drinkig, traveling etc. Of course this applies if you find cheap flat (average rent is between 200 and 300 €) and don't spend a lot of money eating out.

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

There are intensive monthly courses in most of the universities, good for learn the basics. Grammar is easy; the problem could be to unterstand the language when they speak.

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

By plane with cheap airlines such as Ryanair and Easy Jet.

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

Go to one of the beautiful view points of the city and drink local wine, it's very good. You can also go to the party area of Lisbon, Bairro Alto, and meet people.

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

Chapito. It has a nice view of Lisbon and sometimes there play Fado for free.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Check www.erasmuslisboa.com for some ideas.

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

Buy sunglasses.

If you want to surf, there are good and affordable schools for Erasmus.

When it comes to travelling, renting a car is a good option; if you are four people, it is cheaper and much better than other transports, but it is cheaper to book it several days before trip. I used http://www.arguscarhire.com/ to find the best offer.