Erasmus Experience in Madrid, Spain by Mimi

Why did you choose to go to Madrid, Spain?

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I took Spanish all through high school and was considering minoring in it in college. For a while, I knew I wanted to go to Spain to study and my college has a really good program with a university in Madrid for my major, so it all just fell into place.

What is the student lifestyle like in Madrid?

For me, it's a healthy mix of schoolwork, exploring Madrid and travelling elsewhere. If you can manage your time correctly, you will be able to have a lot of fun while taking your classes.

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

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Madrid is an incredible city. I love it and would definitely recommend studying here. I would live here in the future without a doubt.

What is the food like?

Amazing. As is the coffee.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Madrid?

No, I used Air B&B.

How much does it cost to live in Madrid?

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Much less than any other country I have been to thus far. You can find cheap housing if you take the time to look. Food and alcohol are very cheap in comparison to the US or any other EU country I have been to. Public transportation is also very cheap - you can get a transportation card for only 20 euros/month for unlimited swipes on all public transportation. I am actually saving money by being here.

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

Yes and yes. But I also took Spanish in high school and college. However, the people who live here are very nice and lots of them speak a decent amount of English. If you try your best to communicate with people, you will be able to. It's all about the amount of effort you put in.

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

Sol is always a good place to start. There are always promoters walking around, looking for people to bring into their clubs. I like to go to bars first and then move to clubs later in the night. Gabana is always a very fun time - especially on Wednesdays because you can get in for free. If you're looking for places to go, follow City Life Madrid or Be Madrid on Facebook or Instagram - they are always promoting international parties.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Madrid?

There's good food pretty much everywhere. Tierra is incredible for burritos, Wok to Walk is really great take-out, El Tigre is a good tapas spot. Just go into random places and order whatever is famous there. You can't really go wrong with the food here.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

El Retiro, the Royal Palace, Malasana, Plaza de Espana, Madrid Rio, El Rastro - just wander around, there's cool stuff everywhere you look.