Erasmus Experience in Valencia, Spain by Jo

Why did you choose to go to Valencia, Spain?

For the weather and the different culture.

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

I get an Erasmus grant which is about 200€ per month for every month that I am here.

What is the student lifestyle like in Valencia?

There are a lot of parties and trips for Erasmus students. The university life is quite busy but still not too much work.

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

Yes, definitely, because there is a lot of stuff to do and it is a really great city.

What is the food like?

There are a lot of quite cheap and also good restaurants. Especially popular are tapas places and Paella.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Valencia?

No, I simply booked my room over the internet, but it is also very simple to find an accomodation once you arrive in Valencia because there are a lot of free rooms.

How much does it cost to live in Valencia?

I'm not sure, but the living costs are much lower than in central Europe countries like Germany and the Netherlands.

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

It is quite difficult to learn Spanish, but the university offers courses to Erasmus students for about 60€ per semester so it is quite cheap.

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

I went by plane, since it is very easy to get into the city from the Valencia Airport.

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

First a nice restaurant to have dinner, then to a pre-party drink in a park with other students and finally to one of the many clubs in the city.

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

Nothing specific, but in the side streets of the city centre are many really good restaurants that are not too expensive.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The city centre itself is already very nice and there are also a lot of museums and cathedrals/churches/ old buildings to visit. Valencia has a lot of different influences so the architecture is very diverse.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Valencia in the future?

Going to the beach! Depending on the weather you can go swimming in the sea up until November.