Experience in Lisbon, Portugal by Adina

What is it like to live in Lisbon? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Lisbon is a romantic capital with beautiful houses in cozy streets and lots of small beautiful places with awesome and affordable food and desserts. The weather is awsome and the people spend a lot of time outside. Only in winter it can be quite cold and humid inside the houses as there is usually no central heating nor proper isolation.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

I think, Lisbon is a great city for students as there are a lot of places to go to party or for contemporary art and the prices for a coffee or lunch are low.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

Well, the side costs are low, but the rents are quite high. If you live in a room in a shared flat (300€), use the public transportation (30€),a mobile phone and wifi (40€), you need around 370€ per month plus alimentation and fun.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Lisbon? Is there any advice you can give?

Yes, it is difficult to find a nice and affordable flat, but less difficult to find a room. I would suggest to go to facebook groups for expats or rooms in Lisbon to find something without having toi speak Portuguese.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The Portuguese food is simple and tasty. I like grilled Dourada or swordfish a lot, but also the stews are well flavoured. Also the petiscos (portuguese tapas) like goats and sheep cheese with ham and salami, olives, grilled shrimps, and so on are awesome!

What places would you recommend visiting in Lisbon?

I like the north very much, we used to go hiking in summer in the Peneda-Geres national park. Besides Lisbon and Porto also Aveiro is a beautiful city with canals like in Venice. I also like Serra d´Arrabida very much with it´s beautiful small beaches or the coast line starting from Sesimbra with the big waves and huge beautiful beaches.

Is it good to eat out in Lisbon? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Yes, Lisbon has a lot of wonderful taskas, small restaurant-bars with authentic food for good prices. My favourite taska is Taska do Txika in Santos, Lisbon. Fransiska cookes awsome! I recommend to go there for dinner and take some petiscos like salada do polvo and camarão!

Is the nightlife good in Lisbon? Where is good to go?

There are a lot of cozy bars with life music in Bairro Alto, that are worth visiting!!!

What advice would you give future students heading to Lisbon?

Please try to manage everything with the university beforehand as it is common to not get responses etc, so please bug the people if you do not get responses and inform yourself well about what you need to get your Erasmus year accepted in your home country.
Regarding rooms you should check the heating available, if you stay during winter time!