Erasmus Experience in Nicosia, Cyprus by Sergio

Why did you choose to go to Nicosia, Cyprus?

I chose to go to Nicosia because it was a new destination offered by my University, and Cyprus stood out to me more than the other countries on the list such as France, Germany or Italy.

The University of Nicosia

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How long were you there for? How much was your grant?

I was there for 9 months, and recieved a total of €7200 (€800 a month), of which half went towards my rent and bills.

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

The city itself is no big deal, but Cyprus is great for Erasmus.

Nicosia old town

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In Nicosia you will find that roads don't have pavements, there are olive groves in the middle of the city and millions of cats everywhere, also don't even bother trying to use the zebra crossings there... nevertheless, all of this did make for a unique experience.

Cats in Nicosia

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Whats the country's food like?

The food in Cyprus is quite good: they have this traditional cheese which can be barbecued as it doesn't melt, and that's what I miss the most (it's called Halloumi).

Plus you can eat grilled foods, and plentiful salads.

You can also find Souvlaki, Gyros, and other meats and fruits that come with traditional sauces, as well as Halloumi, almost anywhere.

The fruit and vegetables in Cyprus are really good, and almost always a tomato tastes like a real tomato, although there they do use cucumbers in every dish.

Lastly, you can't miss out on trying a café frappé and Cyprian coffee, but you'll find them on each and every one of the island's bars.

A café in Nicosia

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Did you have much trouble finding accommodation in Nicosia?

A lot.

I found myself having to sleep on a sofa for a month, thanks to some people I know there who let me stay whilst I looked for accommodation.

No matter how much I called around, I was only able to find one flat shared with student, meanwhile there were others which were with families from other countries...including one in which my bed would have consisted of 3 stacked mattresses.

My advice: if you study at UCY, stay in a University flat. It only costs €250 with all bills included (except internet), and the majority of the flats are new and really good.

If you study, as I do, in EUC... the rooms cost €300 a month minimum plus water, light and internet (bills are really expensive, as Cyprus has to import electricity from other countries). Therefore, you will find yourself with a flat without water and light, and much less internet, and you'll have to go to the companies yourself to set up your account for each one...

What's the cost of living like in Nicosia?

Cost of living in Nicosia is expensive, or at least it was 3 years ago.

The accommodation is quite expensive, as are bills, there are barely any urban bus services, and they stop running very early, therefore from time to time you'll have to take taxis, and they're not cheap (at night, the taxi meter starts at €4. 32). Also, the supermarket is a lot more expensive than in Spain: a litre of the cheapest milk will cost you €1 - €1. 20, 4 yoghurt generally cost €2, dream on if you want to buy tuna, you get the idea... but you'll live.

Some things which are cheaper there than in Spain are: McDonalds, gas, and definitely mobile phone contracts, they almost just give you calls and messages for free.

Nicosia

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What's the language like? Did your University offer a language course?

My University didn't offer me any sort of course, and I intended to learn on my own.

In the end I only learnt how to read and write a bit of Greek and the basics in order to be able to buy things and so on, but everybody speaks English there.

What's the cheapest way to get to Nicosia from your city?

You can fly to Paphos airport with a budget airline, and it won't cost you much.

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

On Wednesdays, Ithaki is the place you need to be.

There are a lot of Erasmus students there, which always had a really good atmosphere and for an entry price of €15 you can take advantage of an open bar for 3 hours.

On the other days, you can go to Nuovo, which is a big club (there the entry price is €15 which includes an open bar), Casa de Cuba, where you'll find latino music and organised Erasmus parties on Thursdays, you can sing a bit of Karaoke at Shamrock (in the Strovolos neighbourhood), Zoo if you're after a more Cyprian type of atmosphere (if they let you in) or any of the other places you'll see around (Club Teez, Toy... ).

Club Teez

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What about eating out in Nicosia? Can you tell us your favourite places?

Nicosia has a lot of fast food restaurants, including places where they can deliver food to your house such as Burger King and McDonalds, but there are also lots of traditional Cyprian 'taverns', where you can eat their typical food, or ask for a 'meze', which is a combination of tapas so you can try a little bit of everything.

A mezze in Nicosia

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It's not especially cheap, but it's worth the price, as the food is very good.

One of my favourite places was a bar found on the end of Ledras street (the main street), only a few metres from the Turkish border, on the left side of the road.

Also, Alpha Pizza did really good chicken wings, something there's not a lot of there, plus gyros with or without halloumi can be found everywhere in the city.

What cultural sites are there to see?

There's not a lot in Nicosia itself, but the island has great scenery which you should see, plus the old monuments in Paphos or Limassol, lost towns in the Troodos mountains, and incredible beaches in Ayia Napa or Protaras.

Paphos Castle

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Ayia Napa beach

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Nicosia?

Enjoy yourself and use the opportunity to learn about different cultures and get to know people from other countries, try all the Cyprian foods and plan trips with your friends around the island.

Public buses are cheap, and although there aren't many, you can get from Nicosia to Paphos for €2. 50, even though it's a bit further out (students get a 50% reduction on public transport prices).

The town of Paphos

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