Experience in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain by Guacimara

What's it like to live in Santa Cruz de Tenerife? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a small but delightful city. Additionally it's climate is ideal and if you have chosen Tenerife as your Erasmus destination, you have made a great decision.

What is the student lifestyle like in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

The student life really develops at the weekend, as the clubs, pubs or terraces tend to be full during these days.

How much does it cost to live in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The prices are very good, with around €300 you can find a flat near the University.

Was it difficult for you to find your accommodation in Santa Cruz de Tenerife? Do you have any advice?

Finding accommodation is quite difficult in whatever area. However, the University of La Laguna offers 4 different halls of residence whose prices vary between €115-250 depending on if there's a dining room in the residence or whether or not food is included.

What is the food like there? What are some of your favourite dishes?

I'm Canarian and therefore, I know which traditional dishes exist here.

I recommend encebollado to all foreign students. It's a dish that consists of fish cooked in a sauce which is made mainly from tomatoes and onions. It's usually accompanied by boiled potatoes (in a seasoned gravy). I would also suggest that you try spicy mojo. Well, if you go to any Canarian bar or restaurant, they will give you this spicy sauce to accompany nearly every dish.

Another very typical food is gofio. It's made from a dough that consists of different grains such as wheat or maize (millo) mixed with honey and almonds.

By the way, the words that are in brackets are Canarian words.

And finally, I recommend that you go to a Canarian family bar to try our local food, as they tend to be more affordable.

What places would you recommend visiting in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Depending on what tastes you have, there is a little bit of everything. But, also these places are spread all over the island.

Cultural sites: TEA or the Tenerife Arts Space is an alternative cinema and there's also a lecture space and a exhibition room, Guimerá Theatre, Auditorium, The Fair Recint, the Military Museum, Taucho, which is a social centre created by Tenerife's very own citizens where they hold different cultural activities such as debates or projections of alternative films.

Also, in the city of La Laguna which is where the University is found, there are more cultural places to visit such as: the Leal Theatre, Paraninfo which is a room inside the university where they host concerts, the Science Museum and the Cosmo.

Is it good to eat out in Santa Cruz de Tenerife? What are some of your favourite places to go?

In Santa Cruz there are numerous bars and terraces on the Avenida de Anaga, as well as on Calle el Castillo, which is one of the most visited streets in Santa Cruz.

In La Laguna, there is a place where you can eat Canarian food, which is called Bodegón Viana, so if you have the opportunity to go there, go and you will love our food.

Where would you recommend for a night out in Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

In Santa Cruz there are different clubs or lounge type cafes, like in the case of Cafeteria Macusamba which is next to Sanabria Park.

Do you have any advice for students coming to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the future?

From being born and living in Tenerife I can only say that it's an island that has a little bit of everything. And the only thing I would actually recommend for you to do is go and see more places on the island such as: Teide, Los Acantilados de Los Gigantes, go hiking in Anaga, Teno or Güímar, visit beaches in Fañabé, Puerto de la Cruz or Abades... Ultimately, see the island and its rich variety of landscapes and monuments that aren't only in Santa Cruz and La Laguna.

Happy Erasmus!