Experience in Murcia, Spain by Raquel

What is it like to live in Murcia? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

In Murcia you will find the truly perfect place to learn Spanish in a different way. Located in the South- East of Spain and just 45 minutes from Alicante El Altet, and Murcia – San Javier- airports. The average temperature during the year is 19º and we have more than 3000 hours of sun per year. The beach is just 45 minutes from city centre. We enjoy the Mediterranean Sea as well as the Mar Menor (the biggest salty lagoon in Europe). As Murcia is surrounded by mountains, it offers a wide range of outdoor activities.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Murcia?

Students living in shared apartments and enjoy the advantages of a small town with all amenities.

They can walk everywhere, have a beer or enjoy eating on the terraces throughout the year. Murcia is a university city and the students presence can be felt throughout the year.

How much does it cost to live in Murcia?

In general the cost of living in Murcia is very cheap, if you share a flat the rent is usually around €150-200 per month. If you prefer living alone, you will spend around €500 a month. Additionally, your weekly food shop is a lot less expensive compared to other parts of Spain, however the price of water here is slightly more expensive, as it rains so little in this region. If you want to go out to eat, you can easily spend less than €10, with a bottle of beer only costing €1 and for a few tapas around €2. 50. Moreover, a meal with starters, mains and dessert at a restaurant would cost you around € 7. 50. If you would prefer to eat traditional Spanish in the comfort of your home, you can order a take away dish for less than €5.

Now there are fashionable bars as Alther Tardeo Ego where the party starts around 16h from Thursday until Sunday. There is a wide range of sports activities and gymss that are very affordable, you can find many of them at MurciaDeportes as well as other activities such as sailing, kite surfing, diving and private schools throughout the year.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Murcia? Is there any advice you can give?

From July to September it is very easy to find accommodation. There is a great deal of choice and you do not need to hire a real estate agency. There is a wide range of Facebook pages showing daily deals, both in Spanish and English.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The typical food here in Murcia is Mediterranean. In Murcia we eat at home stews and salad between 14pm and 15: 30pm. We normally eat something in the afternoon, some fruit or we have a coffee and in evening for dinner we have meat, fish or eggs with fresh vegetables. Typical dishes: Migas, a typical Murcian dish when it rains here. Stews, rice and beans, chickpeas, paella, caldero, caldo con Pelotas, zarangollo... Typical desserts are paparajotes, buñuelos and ´tarta de la abuela´ which is a chocolate cake with biscuits.

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What places would you recommend visiting in Murcia?

La cathedral, Plaza de Santo Domingo, El Casino de Murcia, El Santuario de la Fuensanta, Museo de la Ciencia, Museo del agua, Museo Arqueológico, Jardín de la Seda, Mercadillo de la Avenida de la Fama (todos los jueves), El puerto de Cartegena y el teatro romano, Cabo de palos.

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Is it good to eat out in Murcia? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

For students: Madre de Dios, La Mary, El parlamento Andaluz y el Luky. For students with their parents: el pulpito, Mesón la Torre, Mi Barra, La barra del Rincón de Pepe y la Tarantella.

Is the nightlife good in Murcia? Where is good to go?

In the Pérez Casas area: Enboga, Baraltea. In las tascas area: La Muralla, La chica de ayer y Corleone. In the late afternoon and evening: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is always a good crowd of people and a great atmosphere.

What advice would you give future students heading to Murcia?

Firstly, I would say that if you have a very basic level of Spanish, you should start intensive Spanish classes, in this way you will not only be able to understand and speak but also communicate independently with a wide range of people in your day to day life, better understanding the language and therefore the personalities of the people around you. The students that live here never want to go home, it is a small city that has everything you need. It is easy to get around the city and you will start to know the city very quickly -you will feel right at home here in Murcia- with its fantastic standard of living, its great climate throughout the year and of course with the help of its friendly locals.