Experience in Oviedo, Spain by Alba

What is it like to live in Oviedo? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Oviedo is a very pleasant city to live in, you get all the benefits of a big city but in a small package, the only thing missing is the sea, but it takes barely half an hour to get to Gijón on the coast and you can enjoy this great city, too.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Oviedo?

Oviedo is a city that has a lot of students. During the months of study, you'll always see young people on the terraces or walking around. It has a lot of study centres and several libraries. Therefore, if you're thinking of coming in the summer, you'll definitely be disappointed as there are so many fewer people there than normal. In summer, the atmosphere moves to Gijón, where a lot of people go to enjoy the sea.

How much does it cost to live in Oviedo?

You can find a room for around €200 relatively easily in Oviedo, maybe for even less, it depends on what neighbourhood you're looking in and what facilities you want. The price of living in Oviedo isn't very expensive and it's much cheaper than other cities in Spain, at any rate. Leisure activities are affordable. The only problem in Asturias is the cost of transport there, it's not particularly cheap, the prices are comparable with those in big cities, like Madrid, but without the same level of service, of course.

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Was it difficult to find accommodation in Oviedo? Do you have any advice?

Oviedo is a city with a lot of students, so there are a lot of flats, as well as a lot of rooms for rent, so it's not difficult to find something on websites like idealista.com, easypiso, piso compartido, or even on the noticeboards at the universities or schools.

What is the food like there? What are some of your favourite dishes?

The food in Spain is very good, but it's especially good in the North. They have a lot of dishes to be eaten with a spoon, like fabada (a bean and pork stew) and stew, which really help with the colder times of the year. In places on the coast, you can enjoy top quality fresh fish and seafood. Confectionery is another great part of the gastronomy in Asturias, as they have a lot of delicious desserts.

Where do you recommend to visit in Oviedo?

Without a doubt, the obligatory visits are the climb up Monte Naranco to see the statue of Jesus, the Cathedral, the old area of Fontan with its cider bars and promenades.

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And to eat in Oviedo? What are some of your favourite places to go?

Pretty much any of the "chigres" or cider bars will serve you a good portion of something at an affordable price. To drink some cider or some of the wines, there's the Calle Gascona and la Ruta de los Vinos respectively, although you'll find somewhere you can enjoy an Estrella Asturiana in any corner of the city.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Oviedo?

The nights out are definitely concentrated in the old town in Oviedo, mainly the Calle Mon and in its vicinity. You'll be able to find a bar to suit any taste or style. For Erasmus students in particular, there's a bar, the B12, that puts on theme parties and is open pretty much any day of the year.

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

Despite having some rain to make the weather a bit more complex to navigate, which you get used to, Oviedo is a city full of life and every thing you need to live a very comfortable life. It's pretty student orientated so it's difficult to feel out of place. It's a city I really recommend for living and studying in, it has a friendly, close-knit population, which makes the day to day much more manageable.

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