My Experience in Udine, Italy - by Raquel

What's it like living in Udine? Would you recommend it?

Udine is a relatively small, quiet city in northeast Italy, approximately an hour and a quarter from Venice and half an hour from Slovenia on the train. I lived there for six months, and my impression was that it's quite a welcoming city; you get to know the key places straight away which people often go to, places of interest, places for going out, for eating...in terms of architecture and countryside, Udine is perfect, since it combines modern infrastructures with older ones. There are lots of little squares (some which have gardens, and others with monuments), and a view point (situated in the Castello di Udine).

In terms of culture and traditions, it's a city where there's lots of activity early on in the day, but where at midday there are less people in the street (you mostly just see Erasmus students out and about). There are usually quite a few interesting events on (El Friuli Doc, for example, which is a good example of the local cuisine; or the pumpkin festival in Venzone (a nearby city), the fairs... )

Cuisine is one of Udine's strong points, especially in terms of traditional dishes (pasta, pizza, ice creams... ). They prepare food freshly for you in most of the bars and restaurants, and everything is delicious.

In terms of partying, it's not a city renowned for this. There aren't many clubs (the best are on the outskirts of the city and you have to take a taxi to get to, meaning that a night out can end up very expensive). Normally, the people who go partying the most are Erasmus students and the Italians who go with them. Udine is fine for going out for some drinks, but if you're looking for real clubs, then you won't really find any. The distance is pretty far, and there's no public transport there at night, meaning that you have to walk there or get a taxi. There are loads of Erasmus flat parties though...

Udine is well-connected to other cities by train. It usually takes around an hour to get to most of them. To give you an idea, a trip to Venice will cost you eleven euros, and one to Trieste nine euros. In terms of buses, there are various lines, but they aren't very frequent, and most of them stop at nine o'clock. You'll have to walk after this time (or get a taxi).

In terms of price, it depends on the product you're buying. For example, mobile phones are very cheap to organise, and renting cars, too; drinking in a bar is expensive, though. In the supermarket, typical food is cheap, but there are other things which cost more, such as meat and fish.

Finally, the climate is very temperamental: one day, it'll be really hot, and the following day you'll need to wear your coat outside. It normally rains a lot in the wintertime, and it even snows on some occasions.

What's the student life like in Udine?

There are loads of Erasmus students from all over the world in Udine (Germany, Hungary, Belgium, France, Poland... and above all from Spain). I'd even go so far as to say that 80% of the Erasmus students are Spanish there. There's a great student atmosphere, and the Italian students get on really well with the internationals, since they're really into partying too.

How expensive is living in Udine?

Accommodation usually costs 150 euros for a shared room and 200 euros for an individual one, though it all depends on what's included in the price, the quality of the flat or the length of your stay, etc.

The cost of food, as I said, depends on the products: meat and fish are expensive, while beans, pasta and rice are all cheap.

Going out partying is cheap if you play your cards right, meaning you need to know the right places to go to.

Did you find it hard to find somewhere to live in Udine?

No, I found mine easily through the agency San Giacomo, which is linked to Udine University. The manager is called Fulvio and is great, he's already happy to help you and find the right flat for you. I'd definitely recommend him.

What's Italian food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is great, I've got nothing bad to say about that. My favourite dish is pizza, they make it fresh for you. There's an incredible variety of types and it's super delicious.

What places would you recommend visiting in Udine?

Castello di Udine, Piazza I Maggio, Piazza della Libertà, Piazza San Giacomo, el Duomo, Parc Moretti, the city centre in general...

I recommend visiting the Fusine Lagune in Tarvisio (in Udine province).

What about eating out in Udine? What are your favourite places?

Saditapo (free food if you pay for a drink), Spuntino (delicious pizzas), and a pizzeria on Via Roma (no. 48 or something like that) where they make the best pizzas I've ever tasted, and the Gelateria Luna near Piazza Libertà.

What are the best places for partying in Udine?

3Jolie (typical Erasmus club, Minnamoro, Krepapelle, Tana del Luppolo.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Udine?

It's a city where it's easy to meet new people (both Italian and Erasmus), you make new friends straight away. The only inconvenience is that there aren't many clubs, and there aren't people out and about on the weekends. It's a really beautiful city however, and you can walk everywhere in the city centre. It's also well-connected to touristy places such as Venice, Trieste and Tarvisio. I don't regret doing my Erasmus exchange there for a second, so I recommend you choose Udine! :)