My Erasmus Experience in Ostrava, Czech Republic

Why did you choose to go to Ostrava, Czech Republic?

Its geographical location is great, it has three main airports and other smaller ones nearby, which means you can do lots of travelling.

It's also known for its party scene!

How long did your scholarship last? How much were you paid?

From September to June. In terms of money, it all depends on what autonomous community you come from. The southern communities tend to get given a larger grant!

What's the student life like in Ostrava?

Great! The University of Ostrava offers quite a flexible Erasmus programme. You only have some classes shared with Czech students (the others are only with Erasmus students), and they're quite easy-going. The university life we have in Spain doesn't really exist here, though. The structure of the days is very different.

There are always people in the bars if you want to go out for a drink, except for on Sundays - then it's dead!

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

Of course! Coming to Ostrava was the best decision I've ever made!

What's the food like in Ostrava?

There's everything, though it all depends on how picky you are, doesn't it? :) Most Erasmus students live in student halls and cook for themselves there... so, you'll end up eating whatever you fancy, which isn't a bad thing at all.

The prices are all cheap, and if you decide to go out to a restaurant in the city centre, you can get good food for good prices!

How did you find your accommodation?

The University of Ostrava assigned us accommodation according to what subject we were studying.

What are the accommodation prices like? How expensive is Ostrava in general?

My hall of residence (Vitkovice), of middle quality, cost 80 to 90 euros a month in rent.

Eating in the university cafeteria cost 1 or 2 euros (so 30 to 40 Czech korona) for lunch or dinner.

Beer costs around 1 to 1. 50 euros per litre (so 25 to 30 Czech korona).

I think I've mentioned all the most important things there... haha.

How are you finding the language? Have you signed up to a language class at the university?

The university offers summer language courses in Czech, but I don't think my grant quite stretched to cover that... I myself didn't go to any classes. There are Czech language courses on offer during the academic year though. Although they're not that useful as the language really is very difficult, they do help you with basic Czech survival skills.

What's the cheapest way of getting to Ostrava from your home city?

From Cordoba, there are two ways of getting there: one is flying from Málaga to Bratislava with Ryanair, which is cheap but doesn't offer you much in terms of hand luggage allowance, let alone two suitcases. You can then catch the train to Ostrava from Bratislava, which stops (I think) at Brno too (you can ask about this at the ticket offices).

The other option is to fly from Madrid to Katowice with Wizzair with a 32kg baggage allowance. Katowice is also closer to Ostrava.

What are the best places for partying in Ostrava?

The main party area is Stodolni Street. Every bar has got something good to offer... try them all!

What about eating out in Ostrava? What are your favourite places?

Generally, everywhere is nice. There's a pizzeria near the main square which I liked, and a restaurant called U Rady.

What does Ostrava have to offer in terms of culture?

On the city's official website, there's a list of the most interesting places to visit in Ostrava. I won't write all the name down here as it's impossible to remember them all.;)

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Ostrava?

Enjoy every day of your Erasmus exchange! It's a fantastic experience to meet people with different cultures and religions, from different countries and of different ages to you. Not everyone is lucky enough to have this experience.