Erasmus Experience in Warsaw, Poland by christina

Why did you choose to go to Warsaw, Poland?

I chose Warsaw, because I like its history during the 40s and wanted to visit every museum and building connected to WW2. Additionally, Poland is very affordable even if you want to rent an apartment and Warsaw is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to.

What is the student lifestyle like in Warsaw?

Warsaw is full of students and anytime you go out for lunch or coffee or drinks at night, you see a lot of young people. It's a pretty active city and is the right place for students.

What is the food like?

You can find a lot of cheap restaurants and cafes with great polish food, but also italian, turkish and chinese cuisine. You can also buy a lot of great things at supermarkets and cook some traditional polish dishes yourself! Prices are very low and suitable for students!

How much does it cost to live in Warsaw?

I have been told that Warsaw is more expensive than other polish cities, because it's the capital, but I think it's very affordable for someone who doesn't spend a lot. If you cook at home and choose cheap places to go out, you won't spend more than you usually spend at your own country (and maybe even less if your country is more expensive than Poland).

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

Warsaw offers a lot of places to go out for a drink. I personally prefer going out at Pawilony on Nowy Swiat street, very close to Centrum Metro station. You can find a lot of bars and pubs one next to another, and choose whichever you like the most! On Fridays and Saturdays it's very crowded and it's a guarantee you'll have great time!

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

I think Zapiecek and Manekin are the most affordable restaurants and have a big list of dishes for everyone! Traditional polish food such as pierogis, sausages, crepes with special ingredients, you name it!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Chopin Museum, Warsaw Rising Museum, Lazienki Park, Copernicus Science center, National Museum, Warsaw zoo... Just a few places that are my personal favourites! The museums are very interesting even for someone who isn't really into them!

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

Just try to adjust to Warsaw, people are very nice and you'll get to know some polish! I'm so glad I chose Warsaw for Erasmus, it's the right place for anyone who wants to experience something different than a typical European city!