Erasmus in Santander: surfing and cultural discovery

Why should you do an Erasmus exchange in Santander, Spain?

I wanted to improve my level of Spanish and discover this friendly culture. Northern Spain is also known for its stunning scenery and is also home to many beaches, making it the perfect surfing spot.

Student life in Santander

The timetable is very different: I had classes from Monday to Thursday afternoons, and from Wednesday to Saturday we would go out. However, there weren't many other exchange students studying engineering. When I got there, I found this website particularly useful: Stéréotypes sur Santander. Spain is definitely an easy-going country where working hours are flexible and restrictions to working hours are vague.

Finding accommodation

It's easy to find a friendly host on couchsurfing and you can visit the apartments. For my apartment in Santander I paid €160 (+ bills)/month which is very reasonable compared to cities and is one of the advantages of living in Santander.

Surfing in Santander

Somo, Liencres Langre and Loredo and among the many beaches perfect for surfing. Sometimes you can also surf at Sardinero Uno in Santander. I try to keep my blog surfer à Santander up to date. Santander is a paradise for any student looking to improve their surfing skills. The only problem is the cold water which requires a good quality wetsuit and even slippers, a cagoule and gloves in winter/spring.

The downsides to the town

Santander is often called 'Spanish Brittany' so it is natural to expect lots of April showers. You really need a car to visit the surrounding areas but parking in town is very difficult. Finally, the weather turns quite cold between November and February (below 15°C).