Erasmus Experience in Sofia, Bulgaria by Paula

Why did you choose to go to Sofia, Bulgaria?

I felt I wanted to discover another side of Europe, because the eastern countries were unknown to me. I didn't really have expectations about Sofia because I didn't know anything about it, and since the moment I arrived there I loved it!

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

I am only staying for 6 months here, and the scholarship that my university gives me is 200€/ month, supposedly. Sofia is a very cheap city so you can easily afford a great flat in the city centre for a very nice price, but the scholarship doens't really help me survive.

What is the student lifestyle like in Sofia?

Sofia is full of young people! Everywhere you go you can find students from all nationalities (since it's full of Erasmus people) and it's an absolutely great destination for students.

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

100%. It's not a common destination but it's worth it, because it's different and very exciting!

What is the food like?

This is the only terrible thing in the city. yes, the food is cheap but the quality is not very good. It's very hard to find fish as well.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Sofia?

Not at all, I rented an Airbnb apartment and in 6 days I found flatmates and a flat!

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How much does it cost to live in Sofia?

It's a very cheap city.

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

I did a Language course of Bugarian an NBU in September and it helped me communicate with the basics! I recommend to learn at least to read, which will be helpful for directions and stuff like that.

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

Plane

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

In the city centre or studenski.

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

Divaka, Made in Blue. There is a street, Tsar Shisman, which is full of modern and lovely restaurants, as well as cafeterias. It's a must.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

There are a lot of cities around Sofia, which is very cheap to travel by bus or train and that are totally worth it.