Erasmus Experience in Valladolid, Spain by Eleni

Why did you choose to go to Valladolid, Spain?

Because they told me the University of Valladolid resembled a lot to ours (National Technical University of Athens).

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

The scholarship was 6 months long (I stayed 5) and each month I received a total of 400 euros, so all in all I received 2000 euros to help me with living costs (life there is way cheaper compared to Greece's. Also life in Valladolid was cheaper than in Madrid or other large Spanish cities, therefore it is one of the reasons one should choose to stay in Valladolid).

What is the student lifestyle like in Valladolid?

I think it is just like every other city's lifestyle: lessons in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon and free time in the evenings to do what you like.

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

I would strongly recommend it because of the high quality of education I found there and because of the smoothly running administration system.

What is the food like?

The food is great; I loved the tapas as well as some dishes I tasted at local restaurants.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Valladolid?

No, I spent a whole day searching, based on a list the university gave me and, after seeing 7-8 different apartments, I chose the one I liked best.

How much does it cost to live in Valladolid?

Monthly rent is from 120e-250e (depending on the part of the city one chooses to live in). Drinks are 1. 50 -2. 20e a beer, 3 -4e a drink. All in all, I found it quite cheap (always comparing to Greece's standards)

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

If someone doesn't know Spanish beforehand, it can be difficult to communicate, but I think that's the case all over Spain. I knew Spanish, so I didn't encounter any problems, but friends of mine who didn't, attended a >strong>Spanish course for free which was available at the University and at the end of the semester they could speak quite fluently.

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

From Athens, I suggest boarding a plane to Madrid and then take a train to Valladolid.

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

Firstly, try some tapas at Manduca and then go for a drink at Juanita.

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

I can't recall any restaurant names, I'm sorry.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Plenty! The Cathedral of Valladolid, the museum of Christopher Colombus, the park, the museum of statues, the museum of modern art, etc.

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

If you choose to go to Valladolid, be sure you'll have the time of your life! It's a fairly small city, so you'll get to know almost all Erasmus students and when you go out you'll always be surrounded by familiar faces. For example, in Madrid there are so many Erasmus students that in the end, you might have only a few close friends, whereas in Valladolid the bonding process is quicker and stronger. I don't regret going there and if I was to do it all over again, I would choose Valladolid once again! By all means, don't hesitate any further!