Erasmus Experience in Pamplona, Spain by Vicky

Source

Why did you choose to go to Pamplona, Spain?

Spain for me, is the best country for Erasmus in many aspects. Pamplona has a lot of advantages as it is located in the north which means closer to other beautiful countries (France, Andorra, Portugal etc. ). Also, in Pamplona there is a very good university-the private one. It is a medium size city but still very beautiful as it has a lot of parks, bars, squares and beautiful places.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

My scholarship was for one semester (4 months in the private university). I received around 400 Euros per month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Pamplona?

The student lifestyle in Pamplona depends on the person. The majority of students goes to the university, a lot of excursions (either to another countries or around Navarra where there are very beautiful places to visit), parties (especially from Wednesday to Saturday) etc.

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

Absolutely! If I had the opportunity to go again Erasmus somewhere, this place would be Pamplona for sure!

What is the food like?

There is a traditional food called tapa/pincho which is very good. Also every Thursday there is an event in the old city called Juevintxos where you can find tapas and beer for 2 Euros. It is very tasty. Also they have paella which is also very good and it is mainly rice with kinds of fish.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Pamplona?

It was the only thing that I was not 100% happy about it. For me it was not very easy.

How much does it cost to live in Pamplona?

Per month included the rent (which is about 200-300 Euros) costs around 550-650!

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

Relevant to Spanish, there were courses in my university and it is easier if you want to speak it well as people in Pamplona don't speak English very well.

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

From Athens the most economical way is to fly to Barcelona and from there take a bus (25 Euros / 5, 30 hours) to Pamplona. There is an airport in Pamplona but it is expensive to fly there.

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

It depends on the style of the person. There are a lot of bars with mainstream, pop music (Ozone, Bayben, Valentinos in which there is a party for international students every Wednesday). If you are looking for something more alternative there are a lot of bars on the parallel of Estafeta with rock, electronic music and a small bar-club called Singulare which is very good!

Source

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

iI didn't eat in restaurants! There are a lot of fast food, and places to eat pinchos.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There is a museum about the city, 3 beautiful parks (the one has a very good castle), a big square in the center called plaza de castillo, sightseeings relevant to bull fights, etc.

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

My special advice is to go to Urederra.. There is a beautiful natural park for hiking with waterfalls! Enjoy Pamplona!