Erasmus Experience in Prague, Czech Republic by Franky

Why did you choose to go to Prague, Czech Republic?

I didn't, I was assigned by my consortium in Prague.

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

The scholarship itself was for two years, but I was in Prague only for one year (for my second year). The scholarship was about 1000 EUR/month

What is the student lifestyle like in Prague?

I didn't interact with a lot of other students since I lived in my own rented studio apartment, but I guess it should be the same with any other places. You have time to study, time to travel, etc.

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

Yes, I would. The city is a very nice place to live. The scenery and the buildings are great entertainment. You can just walk around the city and feel refreshed.

What is the food like?

The food is nice, a lot of meats and beers. But, I ate mostly Chinese food in Prague since they are cheaper and more to my taste. There are a lot of them in the city.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Prague?

No, I visited a website in Czech with many listing of available apartments, I forgot the website's name (sorry). I looked for a listing in which I could rent the apartment from the owner himself, so no agent required.

How much does it cost to live in Prague?

Well, it really depends on your lifestyle. I lived cheaply (with my wife) for around 20000 CZK/month (800 EUR).

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

The language is the most difficult, too many inflections. But, I guess it will be easier for people with similar language characteristics. University provides language courses for Czech if you are interested.

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

Definitely, by an airplane. I came from a very far country.

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

There are a lot of nice restaurants in Prague where you can have your romantic dinner. I don't do night out, I mostly spent my time inside the apartment.

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

U Provaznice near Wenceslas Square is a good one. Vytopna has train model that deliver your drink to your table. Loving Hut is also nice for a vegetarian food.

There is a special menu for lunch in most of the restaurants, you can check it here (http://www.lunchtime.cz/).

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Basically, buildings and more buildings. You can walk from Prague Castle to the Wenceslas Square and see a lot of great buildings.

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

Enjoy the city, explore it as it is not that big. But, don't forget to travel to the other cities as well in Czech Republic. I would recommend Cesky Krumlov in a bright winter day. Other cities are easy to reach by bus and train.