Erasmus Experience in Madrid, Spain by Toni

Why did you choose to go to Madrid, Spain?

Well, I like the Spanish weather. Having in mind that I am coming from Denmark, that was a good chance to run away from at least one bloody winter and enjoy a more pleasant weather. Of course that's not the only reason. I also wanted to learn more about the Spanish culture, the way of living, traditions, local cuisine - and Madrid is a great place for that!

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

My Erasmus Exchange period is 6 months so I received money for this particular period of time. The Erasmus grant that I received was an amount of around 7. 200 DKK or near 970 Euros.

What is the student lifestyle like in Madrid?

Madrid is a city which provides a lot of places to go out and have fun with friends. We are actually quite many Erasmus students so in the beginning it's more like hanging out with different people every night until you get closer to a certain group of people. But all in all it's a great way to create many acquaintances and have a great time with other fellow students from around the world.

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

Yes, definitely.

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What is the food like?

Well, all in all Spanish people are not the healthiest ones. BUT, I must say that they definitely know how to make some really good and also quite cheap dishes. Not to forget the so famous tapas!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Madrid?

I was quite lucky actually. At some point I was desperate that I will not have a place to live because the date when I was supposed to arrive in Madrid was coming and I was still struggling with the place. But then I saw that one Spanish guy has posted an accommodation offer in one of the Facebook groups so I asked him if the room was still available. Unfortunately it was not, but he gave me his neighbor's email and told me that I can ask him because he might still have some rooms available. So this was it - that's how I found my accommodation. Aren't Spaniards awesome?!

How much does it cost to live in Madrid?

When it comes to accommodation, It depends where you live. If it is in the city centre, then I think the prices for accommodation are around 400-600 Euros. In Getafe or maybe Leganes is far cheaper. You could easily find a room for about 250-280 Euros. When it comes to food - in general, the food in Spain is quite cheap. About all other expenses I think it depends mainly on the kind of person you are and how much you usually spend on a monthly basis.

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

Spanish is considered one of the worlds' easiest languages, so I guess with some efforts - it's possible to learn a lot even for 6 months. And yes, the University provides language courses, they are not for free though. I think the whole course was around 250 Euros.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Madrid from your city?

Having the public transport card. You basically pay around 39 Euros a month and you can travel unlimited time within the zone you paid for.

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

Ah, there are a lot of places. I don't know I'd say maybe Dubliners, "El Tigre", later on some club/disco like for example "Kapital", "Independence club", etc.

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

"El Tigre", the first one that comes into my mind. Of course there are many others. We eat in different place almost every time.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Madrid in the future?

Enjoy your stay as much as you can!