Experience in Santa Cruz of Tenerife, Spain, by Eva

How are you liking living in Santa Cruz of Tenerife? Do you recommend it? What is it like?

Santa Cruz of Tenerife, the biggest city in the Canary Islands, is a place where student life is easy to get carried away by, given that everything is nearby and you can find many tourist attractions for visitors.

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

You'll find the best student lifestyle in La Laguna, in streets such as la Herradores or Trinidad. The shops shut around 8 pm, and in the winter around 6 pm, but you'll still find many people in the streets.

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

If you come to Tenerife as part of Erasmus, you will probably be living in the Laguna area (Guajara Campus, Anchieta Campus, Central Campus... ). If you live in the Trinidad area, a room in a shared flat will probably cost you around 300 euros a month. However, if you live in the Chumberas area, you can find decent rooms for 150 euros a month. On the other hand, the food here is quite cheap, and so is public transport. A tram ticket with a student subscription will cost around 80 cents and a bus ticket (known as a 'guaga') costs a minimum of 1 euro, depending on the distance travelled.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Santa Cruz of Tenerife? Can you give any advice?

The best way to find a flat is to join the Erasmus Facebook groups or to find a flat through the websites 'vibbo' or 'milanuncios'. Another good method is to wander down the streets looking for posters saying 'to rent' and then ring the number shown.

How is the food? What are your favourite dishes?

We are fairly internationalised and eat everything (Italian, Chinese, Indian, Turkish, Japanese and Mexican food). The Mediterranean diet (based around fresh products and olive oil) is considered one of the best in the world. On the other hand, Canarian foods (potatoes, meat, fish and mojo sauce... ) are rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Our eating times are: breakfast before we go to class (8 am) and during the break (10 am). In terms of lunch, you should know that it is the main meal of the day, and it is eaten at around 2 pm. We also have a light snack around 6 pm, and eat dinner at around 9 pm.

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

I recommend visiting the Port of the Cross (beaches, botanical garden and the Taoro Park), Buenavista del Norte, the Punta de Teno, Masca village, Garachico town, Teide National Park, the valley of La Orotava, Los Cristianos town, the Cliffs of the Giants, and beaches such as Ancon beach and El Médano (for both nudists and general beach goers)

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Is it good to eat out in Santa Cruz of Tenerife? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Cafe-Bar Tamarino (in Laguna), experts in smoothies and fruit juices, pumpkin and watercress burgers, and an array of delicious sandwiches at a low price.

Lollipop American Diner, which has a vintage American vibe, experts in hamburgers and smoothies.

Cafe-Bar Track and Freddino ice-cream place, both in the Port of the Cross. To have a cup of tea or coffee, go to the Cafe Siete, or La Cafeina in Saint Christopher, Laguna.

For cocktails or mojitos, my favourite places are Santo Pecado Gastrobar or JC Murphy, both in Santa Cruz of Tenerife.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Santa Cruz of Tenerife?

The best area to go to bars is the road Avenida Francisco La Roche (Santa Cruz of Tenerife) where you'll find local bars such as Barbas Bar, El Hombre Bala or the Anaga 15 (for karaoke). Otherwise, there is the Zona Cuadrilátero, in Saint Christopher, La Laguna, with bars which go from playing salsa and reggaeton to rock and heavy metal. My favourite bars in Cuadrilátero are the Haring and the Blues Bar, which I highly recommend, along with their Kalimotxo (a Spanish drink which is a mix of cola and red wine) and margaritas.

If you come for your Erasmus in January or February, you'll be lucky enough to experience the Carnivals of Santa Cruz, the Fiesta of International Tourist Interest and the second most important carnival in the world, after that of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. You can dress up in any way you like!

What advice would you give future students heading to Santa Cruz of Tenerife?

As a tip, I'll add that although there is a temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius in Saint Christopher in La Laguna, the humidity is around 80%, which makes it feel quite cold. Moreover, the best places to do your shopping are Mercadona, Lidl, Alcampo and Carrefour... There's also Alteza, Hiperdino y Día. Don't forget to bring your camera and take the opportunity to visit the rest of the Isles of the Canarian Archipelago!