Erasmus Experience in Naples, Italy

Why did you choose to go to Naples, Italy?

To be honest, the only reason I choose Naples was because it was the only one that had more than two places left and I wanted to go on Erasmus with another person. But I am so glad I went.

How long did the scholarship last? How much money did you receive to help you with living costs?

I had a grant of 9 months and I didn't extend it. The help from my university was very minimal, the money I received each month wasn't even enough to pay for my rent.

What is the student lifestyle like in Naples?

The city has a really good atmosphere. In the Old Town, you'll find people outside in the squares every single day. The area where the pubs are is a bit further out, but you can always get a taxi for the way home. The clubs (some next to the beach) are further away but there are usually buses. If you don't get the bus back you'll have no choice but to walk, and it takes about 4 hours (well, I imagine you can also go back by taxi).

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

The city, yes, of course. The university... To be honest, the university isn't very well organised. But hey, I have not had any problems honestly, at the end of the day I finished the year okay.

What is the food like?

Well if Italy is the country of pasta and pizza, Naples is one of it's best representatives in terms of pizza. Once you've tried a pizza from here, the rest will taste like crap. Also they are really really cheap.

On the other hand, food shopping is quite expensive. The prices of things are really expensive, therefore it's better to eat out.

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How did you find accommodation?

I had been told not to look for anything until I got there. When we arrived, we were going up and down the streets, taking down ads on the walls for about 3 or 4 days. There are lots of ads so you get to know the streets. The hard thing is to choose well, although in the end you'll always have some surprises with landlords.

What is the price of accommodation? And the prices in general?

Well, there's a bit of everything. In terms of accommodation there's a big range of prices. I payed 300 euros for a room with an en-suite next to my flat, in a flat with heating (which is a rarity). What I most often herd was between 200-250 euros.

In terms of general prices... It is an expensive city (except for the pizzas and ice creams) but definitely cheaper than anywhere in the North.

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

The language is one of the things I miss the most about Italy. Before going, I did a 10 day intensive course with my university. I arrived there with the basics of Italian so I more or less understood the language (although not Neapolitan).

After, my host university offered another 60 hour long course. They do a test to see what your level of Italian is and then put you in a course suited to your level. With the basic skills I had learnt, I entered a level where I learnt how to conjugate verbs.

Then everything else is just getting used to it and learning vocabulary.

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

I took a plane from Santiago to Naples, with a stop in Barcelona. The problem was with a cheap flight, the stop-over lasted all night.

Using different companies worked out cheaper, however RyanAir is really awkward about hand luggage so I only used them once.

A lot of people go to Rome and then take a train to Naples (which is really nearby) for about 12 euros. I personally didn't think it was worth the money you save when you have to lug your suitcase around two cities.

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

I don't know much about partying in Naples. The most common thing here is to go to the squares and visit bars (not to dance).

Every square is good for drinks, but the most popular ones are Piazza Orientale (for students and Erasmus people), Piazza San Domenico (for late afternoon and early evening) and Piazza Bellini (which is a plaza which also has loads of outside seating and a gay vibe).

Is it good to eat out in Naples? Can you recommend some good restaurants?

Without a doubt, my favourite place is Pizzeria Vezi They have really good pizzas and less queues than in Sorbillo (one of the most famous pizzerias here), and it also has a terrace seating area for when it's good weather.

There is another place where you can eat two dishes for 5 euros which is called Mangia e bevi.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The city in itself is a cultural site.

You can't miss out on a visit to Pompei, Mount Vesuvius, Salerno, Amalfi Coast, the islands (Capri, Procida, Ischia)... There's lots of places to be honest...

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

Enjoy all of the city and its surroundings before it is too late, there is never enough time.