Erasmus Experience in Lublin, Poland. By Ana

Why did you choose to go to Lublin, Poland?

I had always wanted to do an Erasmus in a Polish city, as it is quite a cheap country which is a great factor in favour of doing an Erasmus.

Why Lublin? My university told me to choose three destinations of preference, all of which I chose from the same country as it was clear to me where I wanted to go. Between them I was finally directed to Lublin. At the beginning, I knew nothing about this city as I’d only heard of Cracovia and Warsaw, but I have to say that it was a very good choice.

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

The scholarship is the same length as that for all students that choose to go to the same country [Poland]. In my case, my stay was only for four months, and I received around 200 euros monthly. But, I should mention that for the people that stay for a whole year, the scholarship only covers seven months, and not the whole year.

What is the student lifestyle like in Lublin?

I have to say that, according to what I am experiencing now, the student lifestyle is incredible, I absolutely recommend staying in a residence if you want to meet new people and really take full advantage of the experience.

Would you recommend the city and Lublin University to other students?

The city is small; in one day you could see everything, but if you discover it more slowly it has incredible sites such as the lake, the concentration camp, thousands of restaurants and cafeterias, party zones, tranquil places to drink a beer etc. There are also quite a few towns that are definitely worth visiting close to Lublin, where there are lots of transport connections. Initially, it takes a while to get used to this city because, compared to others in Poland, it is quite ‘simple’ and it should also be noted that it is a country where it is often cold, and it gets worse when it rains, but in the end you discover different places that are unique and you end up feeling at home.

What is the food like in Poland?

In my opinion, the food is quite tasty and very, very well priced, you cannot go to Poland without trying pierogi and żurek. There are also quite a few restaurants that sell international food so there are no problems.

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Was it difficult finding accommodation in Lublin?

It wasn't difficult for me at all, as I asked for advice from a colleague that had done an Erasmus here and they recommended that I stay in one of the residences in Lublin, called Burzuj. I recommend this residence if you want to meet new people, go out quite often to party (haha), and live for quite a reasonable price.

How much does it cost to live in Lublin?

Lublin is quite a cheap city, but I have to say that this can also become a problem because everything seems so cheap that you end up buying more. You have to be careful!

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the university?

If you have a good level of English, you won’t have a problem communicating with a majority of the people, all of the classes in the university are in English. I should say that Polish is quite a complicated language, you only learn a few words but it is nearly impossible.

What is the most economical way to travel to Lublin from your city?

I am from Alicante; I took a plane to Warsaw (Modlin) and two different buses leave from the same airport towards Lublin for around 12 euros (Contbus) or there are also cheaper buses (Flixbus) that travel to Cracovia etc. but these only depart from central Warsaw. The easiest way is to take a bus from the same airport you arrived at.

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

The most well-known places are Silence, Dom Kultury, Hellium and Cubano.

From Wednesday to Saturday there is always a party.

And eating in Lublin? Where are your favourite places?

Chata swojsko strawa, Zielony Talerzky, 2 pi Er... there are also quite a few burger, beer and snacky places near Brama Krakowska (Kraków Gate)and in the main square of Lublin.

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Lublin is a city that you could visit in a day, there is a concentration camp (Majdanek) that is worth visiting, as well as:

• The Lublin Castle

• Brama Krakowska (Kraków Gate)

• The main square of Lulin, near to Brama Krakowska

• Trinitarian Tower

• Parish church ruins

• Lublin Cathedral

What advice would you give future students heading to Toledo?

If you want a tranquil city where you can go out, meet new people and have an incredible time this is the place for you.