Experience in Lisbon, Portugal by Catarina

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

Living in Lisbon is like living in a different planet. You have so many cultures united in one but without ever losing the Portuguese culture. I would definitely recommend Lisbon to incoming students or just to plain tourists. You will never feel out of place or that you don't belong.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

Lisbon is a city mostly based on tourism and university students. As a student I can say that we have the liberty to go out and have fun, whether it is going to the movies, going out at night or just visiting the city.

Our museums offer a 50% discount for students. We have 3 main areas with bars (Santos, Cais do Sodré and Bairro Alto). Cafés are great for studying or just spending the afternoon.

Only problem is the cost of living. As most students here don't work and study, they might have a harder time paying for everything, but don't worry, there are always discounts (at most things) for students.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

It's a little higher than other cities in Portugal. Houses are the most expensive thing. Transportation is not cheap, but we now have a single card for all of Lisbon, which came to offer a big reduction in price.

Regarding to restaurants, I would recommend going for fast-food chains instead as most restaurants are pretty expensive (although you will find Chinese and Japanese buffet restaurants that aren't that bad).

One advice would be to search online for a comparison with your home country so you can have an idea of how much you might spend per month in Lisbon.

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

It isn't hard to find accommodation, it might be harder to find cheap accommodation.

Prices of rooms and houses are rising but if you share a house, it won't be that bad, as you will share expenses and rent.

Take a look online for the type of accommodation you want and compare prices, living in the nearby suburbs is a lot cheaper and you won't be that far from the city centre.

DON'T trust everyone, ask the landlord to visit the room/apartment before renting it, some ads might not be what they portray (as it happens everywhere else).

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

Food is great! We have a variety of dishes with meat or fish (don't worry, we have vegetarian options as well).

I have a few dishes I love. Definitely try Cozido à Portuguesa (Boiled meats with vegetables and smoked sausages/chorizo), Bacalhau à Brás (fried codfish with fried potatoes and mixed with scrambled eggs), Grilled Sardines (or any other fish really), Caldo Verde (a typical soup in Portugal), Pastéis de Bacalhau (codfish cakes mixed with potatoes and fried afterwards).

You can find Francesinhas (sandwich made with bread, had, portuguese sausages, roast meat, covered with melted cheese and a special sauce) in Lisbon, I would recommend going on a field-trip to Porto just to try it.

As for those with a sweet tooth, Arroz Doce (our typical rice pudding) and Pastel de Belém (an egg tart with pastry) are a must. Catch the train to Belém and visit the Pastéis de Belém café to try the best ones.

What places would you recommend visiting in Lisbon?

If you love museums, we have a variety of them, from archaeology, ancient art, contemporary art, tiles, clothes....

You have to go up to the Arco da Rua Augusta, you'll get an amazing view of Lisbon and the River Tagus.

We have several lookout points in Lisbon, they are as beautiful in sight as they are in environment.

Visit the several terrace bars in Lisbon (you'll find a ton in Lisbon).

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

Eating out in Lisbon can come out pretty expensive but you can always find a few cheaper places around.

If you like Chinese/Japanese food, there are two great ones in Avenida de Berna (between Campo Pequeno and Praça de Espanha).

For typical portuguese food, try one of the several Tascas in Lisbon. My favourite one is Das Flores (in Chiado, downtown Lisbon, near the River)

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

Nightlife is amazing. Santos, Cais do Sodré and Bairro Alto are packing with bars. Shots are 1€ in most places and beer is around 1.50€.

Students spend their evenings going out so you'll find people from all universities in Lisbon at the same place, dancing and drinking (especially on Thursdays, they are students sacred days)

In most bars you pay to enter but in discos like Urban Beach, Lust in Rio and Barrio Latino you'll pay an entry fee, between 10 to 12€ (they might offer a drink when you pay), but girls don't pay until 1:00am in most discos.

We do have a gay/lesbian disco, Trumps in Príncipe Real, but don't be fooled, anyone can go and enjoy their night.

Parties are thrown every week, from Brazilian Funk Parties, to Trap or thematic. If you search online you'll find the events.

What advice would you give future students heading to Lisbon?

Be patient when looking for a house.

Don't come and expect to spent almost no money at all, be careful where you go eat or where you out, prices are online and you should always check them first.

Expect to hear German, French, Spanish, Russian and Italian everywhere, we are packed with tourist all year round.

Public transports are not the best, we have a lot of buses, a subway grid, 4 main train lines and a few trams, but time is relative here, they are almost always late because traffic is awful.

Visit as much as you can, a lot of famous places are free or have discounts for students, don't lose the opportunity to know Lisbon to it's core.

Enjoy your time here and have fun, Lisbon is a beautiful city that embraces the old and new, and they coexist. I promise, if you come to Lisbon, you won't regret it.