Erasmus in Nice by Maria

Source

Why did you choose to go to Nice, France?

I chose Nice because of the university actually but the city itself was pretty alluring! The Riviera lifestyle and the turquoise blue seawater were the cherry on top of the cake.

What is the student lifestyle like in Nice?

As there are a lot of students in Nice, both from outside the country and from all over France, you get to know a lot of people that are in the same situation as you. You'll have lots of free time to enjoy the city and travel between the French Riviera, while getting to know people from all over the world. Their student community is very welcoming!

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

I didn't attend the University of Nice (my uni was EDHEC) but I would definitely recommend the city! It has an awesome student environment with lots of parties and bonding events every week.

What is the food like?

Delicious! Since Nice is very near to Italy, their food is a mix of French and Italian cuisine. Crêpes, pizzas, pasta, meat and fish specialties and la nouvelle cuisine. Don't forget you're in the French Riviera!

Source

How much does it cost to live in Nice?

It's pretty expensive, compared to Portugal, (especially in the city center and near the beaches - the touristy part of the city - as expected) but it's not unbearable.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available in the University?

Not at all but there is a big variety of places where you can take a French course. I'm pretty sure every school and university offer language courses but there are language schools all over the city.

You will mainly communicate in English with other students and almost all of the classes are in English too but the majority of the locals is not very understanding when it comes to communication. Unless you're in the most touristy restaurants and shops of the city, they will expect you to speak French to them. French people are very lazy and not helpful at all when they realise that you're not French. Since they're very patriotic, they will not bother speaking in any other language.

I'm obviously generalizing a little bit and only talking about my personal experiences but in places where it is not usual for tourists to visit (markets and supermarkets, small shops, post offices, telecommunications stores, banks, etc. ), they will probably not understand you if you speak in English.

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

The easiest way to travel to Nice from Lisbon is definitely by plane. It's probably the most economical too, since there aren't many other options. The flight itself is not cheap at all and there aren't any low cost airlines operating between the two cities.

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

Vieux Nice, for sure! There aren't a lot of big clubs in Nice. In fact, I only know one. High club is in the Promenade des Anglais and it's where all the international dj's play so be sure to check it out. But my favorite place to go out was the Vieux Nice. It's the old but very hip area of the city with a lot of bars, pubs, restaurants and small clubs. It's were all the students meet up, french or foreign, every night of the week.

Source

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Nice?

I can't name one in particular. There are a lot of good restaurants in Nice and their signature gastronomy is a yummy mix of French and Italian cuisines but you can eat almost any kind of food there, since it is a very international city. There are little kebab stores on almost every corner.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There aren't many cultural sites to visit in Nice. The city is all about the beautiful views, green landscapes, cobbled beaches and Riviera lifestyle.