My Erasmus experience in Lisbon

Why did I choose Lisbon, Portugal?

Lisbon wasn't amongst my first choices, more like it was my last. I included it as an option because I had never been to this city and I thought it would be interesting to get to know our neighbouring country. In addition to this, my friend recommended it to me as an Erasmus destination as she was there the year before and she loved it.

How was the weather in Lisbon?

I arrived on 1st February and for the first two months it rained practically every day, but from April onwards the weather is very good. The beach trips can start in May when it's a lot warmer.

How does the public transport operate? Is it expensive?

I think it's expensive, when compared to that of Spanish cities. I recommend getting a Viva Viagem card as soon as you arrive. It costs €36 a month and with it you can take the metro, bus, tram and train up to Belem as much as you need. I purchased it at the Cais de Sodré station. Don't forget to bring passport-size photos as they will ask you for one for the card. Also if you pay an extra €12 and tick the box that says "urgent", it will arrive the following day.

Was it easy to find accommodation?

Finding accommodation is easy, but it's tricky if you're looking for something at a decent price, there being so many students in the area. A shared bedroom near the city centre can cost between €400 and €450, but if you start searching ahead of time you can find something that is cheaper. As I arrived in February, finding a flat was more difficult.

I chose to live in a flat shared with other Erasmus students and I paid €290 a month, although some of my friends were living in halls and paying €500. Halls in Lisbon are much cheaper than those in Spain.

Is the language difficult?

At first it is, although it's quite similar to Spanish the accent is stronger. It's very easy to make yourself understood as the Portuguese know Spanish quite well and they speak it, but you can also use English to communicate as their level is good too.

How much grant money did you receive?

I received monthly payments of €250 for 5 months. During my Erasmus stay I only received 3 of the monthly payments, when I went back home I got the rest of the money. I'd suggest saving some money beforehand as they don't deposit the money upon arrival, some months will pass.

How's student life in Lisbon?

It's very good, there are many Erasmus students, every year more arrive and you can find something to do any given day of the week, it's impossible to get bored. There are also two Erasmus organisations "Erasmus Life Lisboa" and "ESN", they both plan activities all the time. You should get membership cards for both groups as there will be trips and activities planned throughout the year and having both of these options will make it all a lot cheaper than if you were to organise and pay for these trips yourself.

Would you recommend the city to other students? What are some places of interest?

Definitely, yes, the city is very beautiful, the atmosphere is great and you will never get bored. You can't go to Lisbon and not visit the main squares and streets such as Praça do comercio, Marques de Pombal, Rua Augusta, Rossio, Restauradores, Cais do Sodre, Belem…. St George's castle and the Alfama neighbourhood are also must-visit places.

Lisbon also has various lookout points for beautiful scenic views of the entire city. My personal favourites are Miradouro Sã o Pedro de Alcantara.

For those warmer days the beaches are very close to the centre, you can catch a train going in the direction of Cais do Sodré that ends up in Cascais to see the different beaches. Carcavelos is beautiful, a great option if you like surfing, besides that the Cascais beach is also good. There you have a great variety of restaurants and shops where you can easily spend the day.

Last but not least, Sintra is an interesting place, it's half an hour from the centre of Lisbon and easy to get to by train. The town is a world heritage site and it has various palaces. My favourite was the Palacio da Pena. Also it's worthwhile to visit the Castelo dos Mouros.

What do you think of Portuguese food? Any restaurants you would recommend?

The food was very good, quite similar to Spanish cuisine but it had its specialities. If you go to Lisbon you can't leave before trying the bacalhau à brás (salted codfish), it's delicious. Also porco al alentejana and farinheiras. I went to many restaurants during my stay but I would highlight Chapito, it's not the cheapest but worth going for a meal at least once. Taberna do alentejo near Rossio is the perfect place to try typical food at a very decent price.

Although it's not Portuguese food, for those who like sushi there's a restaurant in Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcantara where you get takeaway sushi for only €3. 90.

Finally, Pasteis de Belem and Pao de deus are also delicious!

Is Lisbon an expensive city?

No, food is cheaper than in Spain and so are the restaurants. You can get a meal for €6-€7 (this includes main course, dessert and drink).

The cheapest supermarkerts are Pingo Doce, Lidl and Minipreço.

Do you recommend your university to other students?

My university was ESHTE, it was in the town of Estoril.

Yes I would recommend it, they were always very attentive, before my arrival and once I was there. The teachers put you very at ease with the language. I could take all my exams in Spanish.

Recommendations for a night out?

There are many clubs. Urban Beach is my favourite, but there are also others like Place, Lust in Rio, Main, Music Box etc. For those who don't like clubbing, in the upper neighbourhood there are streets filled with bars. The only inconvenience is that they close at 3am. Another party street is Pink Street. It has various bars and pubs that usually close at 4am.

The Erasmus organisations (ELL and ESN) have agreements with various clubs and Erasmus students can get free entry from Monday to Friday if you go between 1:30am and 2am.

Any advice for future students?

If you're considering doing your Erasmus in Lisbon, you don't have to think twice. There's a buzzing student atmosphere and as it's not very expensive to live there you can do many things, such as go out to eat, go clubbing, visit nearby cities etc. You won't have any regrets.