Erasmus Experience in Vigo, Spain by Maria

Why did you choose to go to Vigo, Spain?

I have always wanted to live in Spain. It was my dream since I was 15 and I believed that this was a great opportunity to experience this life for a few months to see if I like it. I have always seen Spain as a free and dynamic country and these months proved me I was right.

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

I am supposed to live here for 4 and a half months and I think that the scholarship covers all my expenses. If you don't want to travel outside of Vigo you may go back home with money but this would not make any sense, at least for me. I like to travel, to see other cities and to experience all sorts of things. In this case, I needed more money so I used my own savings.

What is the student lifestyle like in Vigo?

Student life is fun. Despite the fact that we have many classes here, more than I have home, I managed to focus on studying and traveling, at the same time. People have fun here and they know how to introduce foreign people in their culture. Their lifestyle is quite different than my own, but I managed to adapt my habits to this culture very fast and I enjoy it.

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

I would recommend it because it is a great chance to experience Spain. Life here is fun and school is not as hard as other people say. well, at least from my point of view. The ESN group is very nice and they help you with everything you need. Their parties are insane! Also, I recommend making friends with Sharing Galicia team. They have different trips for Erasmus students and they can show you another version of Spain and of other countries as well.

What is the food like?

The food is delicious! The tapas that usually come with a drink of your choice are to die for.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Vigo?

No. I found an apartment through ESN. But you can also pay Beroomers to find you an apartment.

How much does it cost to live in Vigo?

The rent and the utilities are around 250 euros in total, but other people pay more. Also, you will need an PassVigo card for the bus because if you don't have it you have to pay 1.35 euros for every trip to the university. If you have the card, you have to pay half. The food is not very expensive but if you are used to eat sushi every day you may need to use your own savings.

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

The courses are accessible. You have courses both in English and in Spanish and also you have an introductory course in Spanish language.

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

I had to take a flight from Romania and it costed around 200 euros one way.

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

There are a lot of places. I personally enjoy Imperial, that's a nice pub close to my house. I also go to Ferre, if you are in the mood for a wild night out because there you have discounts if you show them your ESN card.

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

There are a lot pf good restaurants but I don't quite remember the names. The small pubs are open every day and they have a wide variety of tapas for a quick brunch. For a nice dinner out, you can go to Porto Santo, Burrito's Bar or Domino pizza, why not, for a nice pizza. Also, the Chinese restaurants have some delicious food.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

O'Castro, Old Town, Samil, that's a beach, there is also a famous bench on top of a mountain

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

Take an umbrella with you because it's raining a lot in Vigo!!!