Ana Belén's Erasmus Experience in Zadar, Croatia

Why did you choose to go to Zadar, Croatia?

I chose Zadar in principle because there were no other cities which were as striking and offered by Erasmus in the first four-month period, and because of the opinion and recommendation of a professor.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive as help?

A semester, I have been here for four months.

What is the student lifestyle like in Zadar?

There is a strong student atmosphere because the campus is close to some pubs and they also have a dining room and fast food for students, which accentuates this atmosphere even more. It's one of the things that most caught my attention with respect to Spain.

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

It depends on your interests. With regards to the level of academia, it is very good and they demand a lot. In relation to the language, they don't speak as much English as you would like because there are many, if not most, people who speak Spanish.

What is the food like?

It is similar to Spanish food.

Was it hard to find accommodation in Zadar?

No, they immediately try to help you at the international relations office.

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How much does it cost to live in Zadar?

Around €250 per month.

How is the language? Did you take any courses at university?

Yes, I attended a course, but it seems to me that it is a language which is very difficult in terms of the pronunciation and especially for the grammatical peculiarities, it has cases like Latin. From my point of view, I think that you have to dedicate a lot of time to it and it would not be possible to speak fluently in less than a year.

What is the most economical way to get to Zadar from your city?

Aeroplane.

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

Maraschino, Q- Bar, Hitch... These are the most famous nightclubs, but there are lots of pubs to have a drink in, it is a very touristic city and in the respect it is very good.

Is it good to eat out in Zadar? Can you name some of your favourite places?

Restaurant Groppo is one of the cheapest and it is also good quality. Even so, students look for cheaper things and there are a lot of good, cheap fast food places.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

It's quite a luxury to be in class with sea views. Its no lie that here you see the best sunsets in the world. I have been able to test it and I would say the tourist sites to visit are: Plitvice lakes, Paklenica National Park, Split, Zagreb, Dubrovnik and some of the closest islands, the transport there is very cheap.

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Is there any advice you would give to future students in Zadar?

It is a very small city and and probably at the beginning you will feel a little bored, but everything is a matter of getting organised and visiting as many places as possible. People are very receptive, they try to help with everything but at first they are characterised by being cold and distant.