Experience in Lisbon, Portugal by Eliana

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

It is a city very romantic and beautiful, thanks to its architecture and places such as viewpoints, for example the S. Jorge Castle, the Baixa (area of the city more close to the Tejo river, with a lot of shops and monuments, it is always full of tourists!).

From an outsider point of view, Lisbon is really interesting because of its own and particular style and its culture traditions, that create activities which captivate always the foreigners.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

It is very good. I think that you wont have problems making friends or getting with someone, Portuguese are nice people, especially the youngest.

The university life it is very active, depending a little on your university and course. But, generally, the universities offer a large range of activities, parties, for you to meet others and have fun.

You will also know a very particular university of the Portuguese tradition, that is the "Praxe", praxis. It is a costume that older students, dressing with the academic costume, welcome the freshere, playing games with them.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

It costs a little, but of course that depends on you life levels. I think that the accommodation and transportation costs will be the higher prices that you will have to face.

I advice you to get a multi modal transportation pass, which lasts 31 days, then you renew it, and you have access to trains, bus, and metro transportation during a month.

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

I guess it isn't very hard to find a room or house to rent, because as it is a city full of university students, it is very common to see advertisements of this kind in the streets, at the bus stations and at your own future university.

• You should try first to ask help to your tutor at your receiving university.
• Try to compare the prices, and talk to other students who are searching for accommodation, so they can help you find a nice place, with a cool price.

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

The Portuguese food is appetizing and sometimes a little bit heavy. We don't have a strange gastronomy and Portugal is full of dishes that you should try while staying here! Even if they are more typical of other Portuguese cities, you would probably be able to taste it in some restaurants in Lisbon.

In Lisbon, you should go to the "Pastelaria de Belém" (Belém Pastry), where you can try some of my favorite candies, while drinking a hot coffee. This feel particularly good in a cold afternoon. They are called "cream puffs", and you eat it with some cinnamon or powdered sugar on the top!

The typical "Francesinha" ("little frenchy"), it is a dish from Porto city, but you can find it as well in Lisbon. It is made with bread, wet-cured ham, a fresh sausage like, steak or roast meat and covered with melted cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce served with french fries. It is a Portuguese fast-food!

They are many other dishes that I could talk about, but if you type this names on google, you can have some clearer ideas, of what I was talking about :)

What places would you recommend visiting in Lisbon?

The little Houses of Fado, situated at the Lisbon heart, (they consist on little restaurants, where you can dinner with a Portuguese dish, while listening to a particular Portuguese kind of music, the Fado), the monuments, like the S. Jorge Castle, the multiples viewpoints and many other monuments in another places, very easily accessed from the center of the city, like for instance:

• Sintra (full of tales and interesting old stories, surrounded by many palaces, churches, and gardens),it is a very romantic village.
• Belém, where you can visit some museums (as the Planetarium, or the carriages museum..), the Belém Tower.

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

Yes, you can definitely eat out in Lisbon.

• Portugalia restaurants are very good serving Portuguese dishes, at good and medium prices, and usually they have promotional menus, which are also very well provided.
• "Hamburgueria do Bairro" it is a little restaurant that serves hamburgers, not like MacDonald or something, it is a cosy place where you can try delicious burgers, served at the table.

If you search for these two restaurants in google, you can see a little bit more about their concept.

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

The nightlife in Lisbon is good, because as it is a student's city, it is a young atmosphere.

However, personally, I consider that our nightlife is better during the beginning of summer and summer, because it is when there are traditional parties, the Popular Saints.

During all the year you can go to "Bairro Alto" and "Santos", where pubs and disco places can cheer your night.