Erasmus Experience in Porto, Portugal by Ondrej

Why did you choose to go to Porto, Portugal?

It was the best option between the possibilities I had.

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

Scholarship depends for how long are you subscribed as a student on a host university. In my case I spend in Porto nearly 6 (six) months (Feb-Jul) as a student. The money I received only in one term were around 2000 euros.

What is the student lifestyle like in Porto?

Lifestyle of a sudent in Porto is very rich for entertainment, culture, sport activities (surfing,..), meeting new people and of course parties.

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

On the basis of the experience(s) I had as a student I would definitely recommend the city and University of Porto as well!

What is the food like?

The regional cuisine is the best. Especially Francesinha (a type of sandwich typical for north Portugal with delicatesse sauce..) and Bacalhau (a dish with salt cod, potatoes and eggs..)

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Porto?

Thanks to erasmusu portal and other related websites I found accomodation after I got to Porto immediately. I found a single room close to Lapa church (almost in the downtown just 10 minutes walk to Trindade station or 15 minutes to Reitoria)

How much does it cost to live in Porto?

My budget was in a range between 500 to 600 euros per month.

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

There are several language courses of Portuguese in different levels. I personaly took a semestral course for beginners at faculdade de letras. Its easy to pick up few words or understand the context partly after while.. but its harder to speak even at the end especially if you have not been speaking the language never before.

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

The easiest way is to fly from Prague or Vienna (in case you travel from Czech).

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

The meeting point is area around Reitoria (Piolho or cafe Douro, Adega bar), Ribeira,..

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

There are several good restaurants near the Ribeira and around Casa da Musica.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Wine cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia, Ribeira, Casa da Musiaca, historiacal part of the city,.

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

There might be cold days during the winter time and some accomodation do not have any heating. Its better to take a sleeping bag,..