My Erasmus Year Abroad in Vilnius, the Capital of Lithuania

Why did you choose to go to Vilnius, Lithuania?

I wanted to discover a culture that's different to France, and I had always been attracted to Northern and Eastern Europe, especially the Baltic states and Russia.

How long's your stay? What financial aid do you receive?

One year and I receive 1600 euros in total for the entire year.

Source

What's the student vibe like in Vilnius?

Really good, the Erasmus students are real party-animals, even if most of the time the evenings aren't what I'm used to in Paris, with commercial music etc. However, for those who like underground music, there's plenty to do too!

Would you recommend the city or university to other students?

Yes, the city isn't very big; it's human sized which means you can do and see things in more depth whilst taking your time and discover the city's rhythm. I think that it's a good transition for people who lived in a small town beforehand.

What's Lithuania's food like?

Typical dishes are potato-based or with fried things. As I'm not a huge consumer of fatty things, I'm not a fan of the local food, even if there are obviously some good things like cepelinai. It's okay though as I live alone in my studio I just make my own meals, so I can eat what I like.

Source

Was it hard to find accommodation in Vilnius?

Yes. If you want to find something in the city centre it's quite complicated, you have to nab the right time to get the best apartments at the best price. Watch out for scams, there are several real estate 'promoters' that lurk on Facebook offering dishonest deals, for example 'Vilnius Appartementi'. I have some friends who came across them and had a few bad surprises. Nevertheless, I recommend the agency that I used as they were able to find me something suitable in a short amount of time and which was within my budget. I don't have the name of the agency but if anybody is interested, contact me on here and I'll find it out for you.

What are living costs like in Vilnius?

Apart from housing, very cheap! Transport costs 5€ a month for students, beer is rarely more than 2. 50€ and cigarettes cost less than 3€. Restaurants are affordable and supermarkets aren't expensive either. However, the prices for designer clothes and shoes are the same as in France.

What's it like learning the language there? Did you take part in a language course organised by the university?

Yes I had lessons, but you can't learn Lithuanian in one semester- the language is really difficult. But it's essential to know some words because it's not a totally anglophone country! They speak Lithuanian, Russian and a little bit of Polish, but as for English, the majority of people can't string a sentence together properly and it's often difficult to communicate with them.

What's the most economical way to get to Vilnius from your home town?

Flying.

Where do you recommend to go out in Vilnius?

I didn't go often but I do know the places for people who love commercial music and the nightclub atmosphere:

• Coccain Bar
• Grand Club
• Salento

For those that prefer things a bit more underground:

• Loftas
• Opium
• Kablys

If you want to grab a drink and check out the bars:

• Pianoman
• Birra
• Gringo
• Mojito
• Marsas
• Vilniaus Alus

And to eat in Vilnius? What are your favourite places?

The French restaurant, La Boheme, is a little more expensive than most restaurants but it's really good. Then, next to Marsas there's a restaurant, I can't remember its name anymore, but they do a meal deal every day which includes soup, salad and a main for fairly cheap! There is also the Meat Lovers Pub, which is a really tasty meat restaurant. Poniu Laime is a help-yourself service too, which is great!

And what cultural places do you recommend going to see?

Vilnius National Gallery is really great! The sublime building and artwork is well worth the trip out. There is also the Contemporary Art Centre (or Siuolaikinio Meno Centras 'SMC') where you'll find a little gallery just to the right of the museum which is worth going to see too. You can't miss the Museum of Genocide Victims. You should go see Vilnius' main cathedral, which is located at the start of Gediminas Avenue (Gedimino prospektas), the city's main street. Užupis is the artistic neighbourhood and is really cool!

Source

Any advice for future students going to Vilnius?

It will be hard at the start because people don't really speak English and they don't seem super welcoming, so you get the impression that you annoy them every time you say that you don't speak Lithuanian.

Also, the bus system is a bit complicated to understand at the beginning but once you've got yourself familiar with the city, it'll make sense. Just stick with it!

Don't miss the school induction because they give you a lot of information, and as someone who missed it, I can say that I felt lost compared to other students from my school who seemed like they'd lived there for 2 years! In brief, really enjoy your experience and talk with Lithuanian students!