Erasmus Experience in Murcia, Spain by Melba

What's it like to live in Murcia? Do you recommend it? What's the city like?

I am from Murcia and I have lived there for all my life. This is because the climate is perfect: there is sunshine almost every day of the year and the winters are not very cold. In summer the temperature is very high but there are beaches nearby. In general, life in Murcia is very nice.

Alfonso X street

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There are beaches close to Murcia

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What's student life like in Murcia?

Great. There are a lot of students in the city centre - La Merced campus - (this is where the humanities faculty is based) as well as in Espinardo (a small village close to Murcia, where the rest of the faculties are situated). In addition to this, loads of students live in the city centre and for Erasmus students there are associations through which you can partake in activities, trips etc.

La Merced campus

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The Espinardo campus

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Espinardo campus is situated 10 minutes from the city centre

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What is the cost of living like in Murcia?

All students live in flats shared between 3, 4 or 5 people. The price, generally speaking, is more or less 220 euros per month (which includes bills for water, gas etc). Food prices are not very high. When it comes to public transport, the price for a tram ticket is 1. 45 euros. If you study in a faculty other than the humanities one, you have to take the tram in order to get to Espinardo, where the rest of the faculties are located.

Students who study on the Espinardo campus have to take the tram to get there

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Is it difficult to find accommodation in Murcia? Do you have any advice?

I don't really have much to say about this because I live with my parents. But I have heard people discussing it and I believe that for Erasmus students the associations ESN Murcia and Erasmus Life help Erasmus students find accommodation.

ESN Murcia can help you find accommodation

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What's the city's food like? What are your favourite meals?

As in the country as a whole, the food is very good. The traditional dish here is tapas, which are little dishes such as 'Russian salad' (ensaladilla rusa), 'Murcian salad', 'hot dogs', 'montaditos', etc. there are also a lot of good quality vegetables available because there's farmland surrounding Murcia.

'Russian Salad'

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What places would you recommend seeing in Murcia?

In general, the historic city centre is very pretty: the cathedral, Plaza Santo Domingo, Romea Theatre, Plaza de la Glorieta, Gran Via street for clothes shopping, the narrow streets of Platería, Trapería and Jabonerías.

The Cathedral

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Gran Vía

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

There are loads of little bistros in the city centre close to the humanities faculties, such as 'Maraña', 'Iberos', 'Las Tablas', 'Lizarrán' and much more.

Also there is a really good restaurant for Paella, called 'Los Arroces 9 Pisos' which you can find behind Gran Vía.

Dishes in 'Los Arroces de los 9 Pisos'

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What places would you recommend for a night out in Murcia?

There are also loads of small bars in the city centre where you can have a beer with friends, such as 'Iberos', 'Republika', 'Revolver', 'Refugio', 'Fosters' and then there are places where you can dance, such as 'Luminata', 'Boutique', 'Parabarap' or an Erasmus student's favourite place: 'Badulake'.

Badulake

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What advice do you have for Erasmus students coming to Murcia?

Enjoy yourself, it will be easy.

Enjoy yourself!

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