Erasmus experience in Venice, Italy

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Why did you choose to go to Venice, Italy?

Because it's a unique place, and Erasmus is good way to really know and live the city!

What is the student lifestyle like in Venice?

There are a lot of students in Venice, and a lot of Erasmus. In Venice it's easy to get to know new people.

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

Yes, it's a unique place, and the university (IUAV) it's a pretty good university.

What is the food like?

The food is good, you will eat a lot of pasta but you can also spend a little bit more and buy yourself some fresh fish at the market place.

How did you find your accommodation?

I went to the university and found some announcements.

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What are the accommodation prices like? What are prices like for other things in general?

The city is expensive, the rooms are expensive. Single rooms in Venice (island) are from minimum 300 euros (without utilities) to 500 euros, but mainly it it will be around 350/400. A double room (2 beds) are less expensive, and the price will change depending on the apartment, you can find pretty cheap ones if you search well.

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

The language is easy, I didn't take any course. IUAV doesn't have Italian lessons, but Ca'Foscari does.

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

From Lisbon I would go with TAP because of the luggage, but the cheapest way would be Lisbon-Milan and then train to Venice.

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

The night in Venice is not the best, it ends early but also starts early. The night places that were open till late were all closed this year, I don't know what will happen next year. Anyway, the students place to go out is mainly is Campo Santo Margarita, then you have Rialto and other places with parties from time to time.

Then on mainland in Marghera you have some discos that are open till 4h/5h and Mestre there is an after hours till 12h, and if you are in the moon too party differently you can go to Padova, it's near!

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

In Venice eating out is expensive, but you can eat fast food with is cheap. You will find good pizza in Campo Santa Margarita! If you want to go for cicchetti, more traditional go to Botegon!

If you want to go and eat in a good restaurant, with costs between 20/-- eurs, you have Paradiso Perduto (really tradicional place) at Fondamenta della Misericordia, and also the Timon in the same Fondamenta. There are a lot of others but those ones were my favourite.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Culture in Venice in a all year round thing! There are a lot of expositions everywhere! And you also have the Biennale, of architecture, art, cinema and dance, you just have to know wich one is on!

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

Venice is unique, and you will only really know it if you live there! Winter is an hard time, but when summer arrive you will have a lot of things to do!

If you chose to live in Mestre, choose an house near the night buses (24hs) the N1 and N2, it will make your life easier! This is the bus and vaporetto site.

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