"A Invicta", in Porto, Portugal by Bruna

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

It is amazing to live in Porto, I think anyone who lives there can agree with me.
I really don't need to reccomend it since it has been considered the best European destination in 2012!
The city has a lot of history and, at the same time, it has a growing cosmopolitan side - the best of both worlds, right?

What is the student lifestyle like in Porto?

First of all, If you study in Porto, you know that you are studying in one of the best universities in Europe.
Students from Porto know how to party, that's for sure. And how to eat cheap without going to the cafetaria!
Overall, our lifestyle is simple. A lot of us have to get a job to enter university and now a lot of students are dropping out because they can't afford the costs. You know, crisis.
Like any student knows, these will be the best days of our lifes. And we really know how to enjoy each day of being a student.
Don't worry about making friends, that's something that can easily happen.

How much does it cost to live in Porto?

I can't tell you exactly how much it costs, but you can find cheap accomodiation. There are a lot of houses available to students that come from other countries. People are usually nice and housemates from Porto will help you discover this amazing city.
Of course it is best not to eat outside a lot and once you learn how to cook portuguese dishes you won't even have the desire to eat outdoors, so...!

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Porto? Is there any advice you can give?

There are many sites where you can look for a place. This one is great!
My advice would be to make sure that the house has the conditions you are looking for and you should search for many houses before making the decision - you know, comparing prices, house conditions, location...

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is known for being delicious, so I won't argue against that.
In fact, there are many dishes like "francesinhas", "tripas" and "bacalhau" for example. They are some of the delicious foods you must try. There are a lot of cheap places where you can try them.
Don't worry, you won't be hungry afterwards. And don't forget to have some wine too!

What places would you recommend visiting in Porto?

There are so many that I won't be able to remember them all.
Of course, you should see the river and all the bridges.
Also, The Clerigos Tower, Serralves, Porto Cathedral, Santa Catarina Street, the many churchs we have, the Crystal Palace, Aliados Avenue, the Porto caves, the many art museums, the amazing beaches... and much more!

Is it good to eat out in Porto? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

It is very good. And don't worry if you are on a tight budget, some of these places are pretty cheap. I won't be able to suggest restaurants, but places where you can have a delicious lunch or a small snack.
Spots like "Casinha Boutique Café" (it is a place with delicious coffee and bakery), "Conga - Casa das Bifanas" (you can try the famous bifana), "Majestic" (a really beautiful well-known but expensive place) "Casa de Ló", "Pimenta Rosa" (you must try the chocolate cake!), "A Loja dos Pastéis de Chave", the recent "Munchie", "Rota do Chá", "Venham mais 5" (where you can try "prego", a great dish) and many more...
Really, I can't remember all of them because there are so many!

Is the nightlife good in Porto? Where is good to go?

The nightlife is great, there is always something to do. So don't worry, you will have fun.
To start, you should grab a drink in an area called "Piolho". If you like to dance, there are a lot of places where you can have great fun.
You must go to "Galerias de Paris", a really busy crowded place where you can go from one bar to the other while dancing to the beat.
"Maus Hábitos" is another great place at night, you can enjoy the view to the downtown.
Don't forget to go to "Ribeira" at night and walk by the river. Amazing!

What advice would you give future students heading to Porto?

I would advice them to get informed and be prepared for a lot of good times in a great city.
You should see this website that was made by students from Porto: www.hioporto.com/
There you can discover a lot about the city, such as restaurants, places to visit, traditions and many more.
Have fun!