My Erasmus Experience in Munich: the perfect destination!

Why did you choose to go to Munich, Germany?

I'm in Munich totally by chance, since my first choice had been Berlin. Since that didn't work out, I chose Munich because I really wanted to go to a German city, and I loved it from the moment I arrived!

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

The scholarships can last for five or ten months. I got paid very little money, 200 euros per month.

What's the student life like in Munich?

The student atmosphere is fantastic! Munich's a city full of students, so you can party every day if you want to. There are also loads of Spanish students!

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

Definitely!

What's the food like in Munich?

Quite good. You can find almost all the things we have in Spain in the supermarkets, and in the city there are lots of different restaurants: Bavarian, Italian, Mexican, Indian, etc.

How did you find your accommodation?

Huh, this is the most complicated part... I spent my whole summer looking for a place to live on the internet, I sent loads of emails to student and private residences, but had no luck. Since I was desperate, I decided to just go to Munich to look for accommodation in person, and the truth is this did work better for me, though I was still quite lucky. Lots of my friends also doing Erasmus spent at least a month after arriving in Munich looking for accommodation, but they found some in the end, so nothing's impossible!

What are accommodation prices like? How expensive is life in Munich in general?

Something you should know before you come here: Munich is a very expensive city. Accommodation costs between 300 to 400 euros per month, so if you're thinking of coming, it's best to save some money beforehand, since your grant won't even cover the cost of your food shopping. The prices there in general tend to be expensive, so you've got to learn where everything is sold cheapest.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

In all honesty, I came to Germany only having studied German for a year and a half. If you can speak good English and know basic German, you shouldn't have any problems. Young people here speak English perfectly.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Munich from your home city?

I always flew, usually with Ryanair. That was the cheapest way I could find.

What are the best places for partying in Munich?

There are loads of places for partying: Neuraum, 089/Pacha, Nachtgalerie, Atomic Café (indie music), the area around the Ostbahnhof (there are lots of pubs and clubs here), etc. The Erasmus organisation in Munich (MESA) organises student parties pretty often, and there's always a party going on in one of the residences.

What about eating out in Munich? What are your favourite places?

My absolute favourites are Vapiano and Sausalitos! The former is an Italian restaurant, super tasty and cheap, too. The latter is slightly more expensive, but good for going to with friends for dinner and cocktails. All the Mexican food places are great too.

What does Munich have to offer in terms of culture?

The city centre is wonderful, and the parks too. Marienplatz, Karlsplatz, Odeonsplatz, the English Garden... Munich is a mix between a large and a small city. The town hall building on Marienplatz is very impressive and has Gothic architecture. The biggest park in Munich, the English Garden, is also beautiful. Enormous, kilometre-wide and never-ending... full of trees, little paths, rivers and even lakes. Oh yeah - the main university building is impressive, too.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Munich?

If you come to Munich for your Erasmus exchange, you certainly won't regret it, I'll tell you that now! It's hard to find accommodation at first, but once you have it and get to know the people and the city, it's the best place on Earth! :D