Erasmus Experience in Porto, Portugal by Kristina

Why did you choose to go to Porto, Portugal?

Honestly, I wanted to go as far as I can from home, and I was never a fan of capital cities. Porto reminded me on upgraded version of my hometown. I fell in love with the ocean, the air.. It was a perfect surrounding to grow as a person, and also party as a rock star/Erasmus.

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

The scholarship was for 6 months, so I spent there my winter semester. I recieved 300€ per each month which wasn't nearly enough if you want to travel and enjoy. Porto is not expensive though, it's a reasonable student city. You can find cheap food for students in student restaurants, and with ESN card of ESN Porto you can get quite good offers for partying and traveling.

What is the student lifestyle like in Porto?

I think student lifestyle in Porto can be summed up in the word Breiner. It's a big house full of Erasmus students (~30). I wasn't living but was spending a lot of my time there. They organise parties (mostly theme parties), dinner nights, and all kinds of social gathering. Few more places (such as Ribeira) and clubs are making Porto one unique experience. You can go out literally every day and to enjoy all kinds of music - from jazz nights, nights when people from audience go out and play their instrument, to electro parties, live dub and reggae parties, omg, when I remember I could cry. Probably the best city to have your Erasmus in!

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

I was attending Instituto Polytecnico do Porto, but my roomates were at Universidade do Porto and I was always jealous because they had more organized events.

What is the food like?

PERFECT! If anything I could say to make this short description count - I put on 6 kilos during my Erasmus! I just LOOVED the food. Also the junk food you can find in Pingo Doce, such as frozen pizza (try the one with tunna and onions). During classes you can eat in student restaurants around faculties. You just have to wake up earlier to buy the cheaper lunch ticket. You can choose vege, meat or fish every day. I loved it. Also you can find cheap restaurants to try traditional food. I sugggest small brazilian restaurant near Coliseu do Porto which is led by one family. For 5 € you get fracesinha, french fries, soup and a bear or a coffe :)

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Porto?

My coordinator from international office in Porto found me a roomate and a flat which we moved out of after a while and moved in with two more people in really great location. I was sharing a room with my first roomate paying only 150€ plus common expences (~50€), but the whole 4room apartment was 800 €. We divided the rooms by size and person with biggest payed more. (300€+300€+200€)

How much does it cost to live in Porto?

Let's say 600€ per month is needed for accomodation and food (+ wine for every meal, which just has to be done) if you tend to drink at private parties due to drinking in bars makes the amount a bit bigger.

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

I attended language course and still haven't recieved my certificate earned in the end of 2010. Portuguese was easier to me because I've previously studiet Latin and Italian. It's not hard to learn it when you are around people who talk it, don't be antisocial Erasmus and you will speak Portuguese fluentamente! Most of domestic people lack the ability of talking on English, that's a great reason to learn their language, especially if you meet cute tanned portuguese surfer.

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

I just traveled by plane, regreted it when coming back home with 40 kilos of luggage more than I'm allowed.

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

On Thursday and Friday first drinking in Espaco 77, then go to Armacem do Cha. If it's Wednesday definitely live dub or reggae or rock (two floors) in Contagiarte which has big garden in the back and a lot of 420 crowd. On Monday drinking at Ribeira

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

Well you can't actually miss the good food in Porto, but what I saw is that prices in the restaurants on the other side of the river offer bigger portions for less money. Guess tourists are lazy to walk! Anyway, from the other side is the prettier view because you're looking at Oporto.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

You can spend all your days walking in the gardens of Christal Palace. Inside it there is sometimes an art show or book reading, next to the library. Also great place to cultivise your mind is beach in Vila Nova de Gaia: Praia Lavadores. From cultural institutions I loved Casa de Musica, project made when Porto was European City of Culture in 2003. There can be found lots of programmes from classical to etno, once there was Goran Bregovich and the gypsi band!

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

Porto is not warm! They have no heaters in most of the flats, just electric ones. If going in winter semester prepare for London weather, not even close to Mediterranean! Visit Primark after NY, sales might kill you.

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