Erasmus Experience in Porto, Portugal by Francesca

Why did you choose to go to Porto, Portugal?

Because I studied portuguese in my university

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

I was there for almost 6 months (second semester) and I got €230 per month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Porto?

the university was much better than the one in my hometown in italy, I studied in the faculty of Arts (faculdade de letras), it was bigger and also more organized. the lifestyle in general is great. you have to attend at least 70% of every class, but if you are erasmus the teachers will take that into account and they will help you, also most teachers will put stuff online if you miss some classes, like the things they talked about, books, etc.. at the end of the semester they will probably allow you to take the exams in English if you don't know portuguese very well and some of them will even let you take the exam in your own language.

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

yes, definitely! I fell in love with Porto, it's a beautiful amazing city and I reccommend the university too.

What is the food like?

it's really good, the meat is usually very good and also the famous bacalhau (cod fish), which can be cooked in a lot of different ways. i like that they put white rice in the plate when you order meat (also potatoes or salad, tomatoes etc. ), kind of like they do in Asia. also you have to try the typical Porto dish: francesinha; it's really heavy but really good. they also usually have really nice bread and everything is really cheap compared to Italy.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Porto?

no, I was lucky and I found a flier in the faculdade de letras, on their wall, but you can find many of them even in reitoria, or you can call numbers that you find online (your university should provide you with a list) or email them. it shouldn't be too hard, you can visit many houses and find the one that suits you best, they're usually not very expensive. I reccomend getting a house that isn't too far away from downtown, because you can take the bus to go to university during the day, but it's more comfortable to go home when you go out at night if you live near the city center, and trust me, you will go out at night!

How much does it cost to live in Porto?

it's not expensive at all.

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

yes there are languages courses available if you don't know portuguese, the language is quite hard but not impossible, I already knew it a little cause I had already studied it, also it's quite similiar to Italian and Spanish, especially when you write it.

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

by plane.

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

during the week Piolho (and Adega), which is the place where erasmus students go, you will meet a lot of people and you will probably get invited to a party to one of the many clubs, or house party. during the weekend (friday and saturday), Galerias de Paris, which is a street full of clubs and bars. anyway your ESN staff will organize plenty of erasmus parties so that won't be a problem.

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

Romão (near cedofeita) is a good restaurant and cheap, Decomur, Centro comercial Bombarda (not a restaurant but you can get food like pizza, quiches, cakes, etc. ), Chez Lupin (@ ribeira), Capanegra (best francesinha but not as cheap as other places).

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

the cathedral Sé do Porto, the São Bento station, Livraria Lello, Clerigòs, Avenida dos Aliados, Palácio da Bolsa.

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

just be prepared to walk a lot, drink a lot, make the most your time there and most importantly have fun!