Ángel's Erasmus experience in Thessaloniki, Greece

Why did you choose Thessaloniki, Greece?

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It was the most affordable option. Its weather is as good as - or better than - Spain's, the food is free, the public transport is as cheap as it gets and you can travel to neighbouring countries cheaply. There are parties everyday, lots of young people etc. It's all good.

What was the length of your Erasmus grant? How much money did you receive?

In principle it was only a semester. Though I could have increased it to two semesters, I was only given a grant until February (thanks to the incompetence of the lady in Spain's international relations office).

What's the student vibe like in Thessaloniki

It's perfect. There's lots of young people, lots of cafés, people out on the terraces, the sea is nearby...

Would you recommend Thessaloniki and its university to other students?

Definitely, I can't think of a better place to spend your time as an Erasmus student.

What's the local food like?

Brilliant, there are lots of tavernas which serve really good food. There's all sorts available, kind of like there is in Spain. The food that you can get for free in the dining areas isn't the best, but seeing as it's free, you can't complain.

How did you find accommodation?

I contacted another guy that was going to Thessaloniki using the website Erasmusworld, and he got in touch with someone living there to arrange accommodation.

What were accommodation prices like? How were prices in general?

I paid 200 euros for a massive flat next to the sea in the best area of the city. The prices here are standard. The supermarkets are almost all the same as the ones in Spain and you can buy anything you might want.

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How did you find the language? Did you take part in any university language courses?

Almost everybody spoke in English. Honestly, I didn't do much in terms of learning Greek. I had classes everyday at 8:15 and I didn't go to them all that often. But loads of people spoke Spanish too!

What's the cheapest way to get to Thessaloniki from your city?

It's expensive. The cheapest way is to look for flights to Italy, and then search for another flight to Thessaloniki, but if something goes wrong, you might end up missing the connecting flight which makes it worse. People also flew to Athens and then took a 6 hour train journey. I always went with Swiss Air, it cost about 200 euros and avoided any complications.

What places would you recommend for a night out in Thessaloniki?

I don't know what it's like now, but when I was there X-club, It's Only, and the Laladika area had a good nightlife. But I wouldn't worry too much as it isn't very big you'll soon get to know everything.

What about eating out? Can you give us some of your favourite places?

The taverns by Aristotelous Square, but the dining areas are free.

What's it like for a cultural visit?

Everything is very Greek.

Any advice to future students in Thessaloniki?

No recommendations, though I can say that I'm very jealous!