Experience in Lisbon, Portugal, by Javier

Why did you choose to go to Lisbon, Portugal?

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Because the language is quite easy, the weather, and the prices are lower here when comparing them to other countries.

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

5 months with the council of Andalucía, and the Erasmus grant is €638 per month.

What's the student lifestyle like in Lisbon?

Very good, there are a lot of students, many of them with Erasmus and there aren't many Spanish people.

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

Yes, I think it's one of the best places to go on your Erasmus year, and the majority of universities are great.

What's the food like in Lisbon?

It's very good, the "bifanas" (a hot pork sandwich) and the "francesinhas" (another type of hot sandwich filled with different kinds of meat and sauces, originally from Porto) are the best.

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Was it hard to find your accommodation in Lisbon?

Finding a flat in the area where all the students live is fairly easy and it usually ends up being a very good place to live.

How much does it cost to live in Lisbon?

It depends on what kind of lifestyle you lead, but with €200-250 (without including the flat), you can go out every night, eat out some nights of the week and surf for a few weekends too.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Did you go to any available language classes at the University?

The language is very easy, and everyone understands Spanish here. Yes, I did a four month course, and with being Spanish they put us directly into the A2 class although we didn't know anything, and it was very, very easy.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Lisbon from your home town?

The cheapest way would be to go to Malaga or Seville and get a bus or Blablacar from there, or even your parents could take you there as it's not too far away.

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

The Erasmus parties that two Erasmus associations (ESN and ELL) organise and "Erasmus Corner" in "Bairro Alto"; the Portuguese party zones (Santos) are also good.

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

I like the bifanas the most (the best place you can find them is in the neighbourhood Saldanha, in the cafe "Cafe com Nata") and the Chinese restaurants that you can find in apartments in the Martin Moniz area.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Sintra, Belen, Cristo Rey (Almada), Baixa-Chiado, the commercial centre, Alfama, Marques de Pombal, Sao Jorge Castle, and whichever of the many viewpoints there are in Lisbon.

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