My Experience in Murcia, Spain - by Anny

What's it like living in Murcia? Would you recommend it?

Hey guys. I came from the Dominican Republic to do a Masters in Murcia. My experience here has been a really good one. Murcia has loads to offer, and is a city full of history and with monuments everywhere. It's very different to Granada, Madrid and other big Spanish cities, but it has its own charms!

Murcia is a quiet city, and the people here lead a relaxed lifestyle. There's no stress like there seems to be in the big cities. It's a safe place, full of culture and pleasant people.

The climate is variable: it's very hot in the summertime (almost 40 degrees! ) and super cold in the winter in my opinion (coming from the Caribbean where we have no winter! ) - it can get down to -2 degrees at times (normal for people from other countries, but absolute torture for me. It doesn't rain much here (so don't bring your umbrella).

What's the student life like in Murcia?

It's great, easy to make friends. The students are all very intelligent and sociable. I found loads of new friends straight away in my class. I studied at the ENAE Business School, which is part of the University of Murcia and on the Espinardo campus.

How expensive is living in Murcia?

Murcia isn't an expensive city. I was receiving a scholarship which covered my accommodation costs, but food and transport is cheap there. Supermarkets range from Mercadone, Alcampo and Lidl to Eroski. I mostly shop at Mercadona and Alcampo.

The public transport is, as I said before, cheap: a bus ticket costs 1. 05 euro, the tram the same, unless you are leaving the city, in which case it is 1. 40 euro. You can buy a Murcia Bono for 5 euros however which is valid for the bus and the tram. On the tram, you can pay 15 euros for 32 journeys or 20 euros for unlimited journeys to be used within a month.

You can also use bikes to get around: these are available to hire for free at the universities. All you need is your student card to access them.

Did you find it hard to find accommodation in Murcia? Do you have any advice for flat-hunting?

I lived in a student hall of residence on campus Espinardo, and didn't pay any rent as my scholarship covered it for me.

What's Spanish food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food's really varied there. They eat a lot of meat, especially pig meat, and meat pasties are very Murcian and can be found everywhere. A typical Murcian breakfast is chocolate churros.

I would personally recommend going to Casa Perela, on Plaza las Flores, and to Taberna de Toni.

What places would you recommend visiting in Murcia?

The first place you should visit is Plaza Santo Domingo, in Murcia city centre. It has bars, shops, the casinon, banks, good beers, tapas, restaurants, and beautiful architecture such as the impressive Murcia Cathedral (in my opinion one of the most beautiful I've ever seen). The cathedral also has a museum inside of it. There's always a lovely atmosphere on Plaza Santo Domingo, and it's common to find lots of tourists and Murcian locals there. Everyone goes there to relax.

The Tontódromo, an emblematic place in Murcia, is also located in the city centre, and is a street full of bars which joins onto Plaza Santo Domingo. It's ideal for walking down and getting to know the city.

The Roman Museum, behind Plaza Santo Domingo, has always got good exhibitions on show.

Plaza Fuensanta - on Murcia's Gran Vía, you'll find the famous El Corte Inglés as well as shops such as Zara, Stradivarius and Massimo Dutti, among others. You'll also find the famous Murcia sign cut out of hedges. You'll find everything here! Above all, there are big name shops, such as Mango, H&M, Guess, Zara, etc. There's also the Plaza las Flores, a great place to sit and relax with friends.

Murcia has loads of leisure facilities, such as Thader and the Nueva Condomina, Zig Zag, and El Tiro. These are on the outskirts of the city, but they're really easy to reach on the tram.

I'd recommend taking a trip to Monte Agudo, where you can see the Christ statue on the mountain. You can see the whole city from up there, and in front of the Christ figure stands the ruins of a castle. Below the mountain, according to my Murcian friends, you'll find a tunnel built by the Moors, Murcia having been built by them.

Murcia pier is also worth a visit - you can get there from Gran Vía or Plaza Santo Domingo.

Don't miss the markets on Thursdays on Juan Carlos I and La Fama. You'll find everything from vegetables to clothes there, home utensils, shoes, etc. - and everything cheap. La Fama is the most popular. It's quite a safe and chilled-out market - you can browse in peace, with music playing (especially gypsy music).

Terra Natura is a brilliant zoo and waterpark in Murcia.

The La Merced campus is great to explore, as it has beautiful architecture.

What are the best places for eating out in Murcia?

You can eat great food everywhere in Murcia! I recommend Taberna de Toni, Casa Perela (they do great roast meat there), any bar on Plaza las Flores, anywhere on Plaza Santo Domingo, Ginos, Muerde la Pasta, Tommy Mels (in the Nueva Condomina).

What are the best places for partying in Murcia?

The Murcians are experts on partying! They love going out - I recommend El Corleone, El Kennedy, La Posada, Bora Boa, El Perro Azul, Luminata Bar, Parabab, and the clubs in the Centro Commercial Atalayas (the most latina in the city). Definitely go to the Ronería, which is fantastic.