Erasmus Experience in Zaragoza, Spain by Daniel

Why did you choose to go to Zaragoza, España?

In my opinion, Zaragoza offered everything that I wanted from a city. It was small enough so that it was easy to navigate and appreciate completely in only one semester but it was also big enough and culturally diverse enough so that it wasn't boring. The location of Zaragoza as well makes it perfect for anyone who loves to travel like me; it is basically an equal distance between Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia so it's a great springborad to experience the rest of Spain.

What is the student lifestyle like in Zaragoza?

The student lifestyle is Zaragoza was good as there are plenty of bars which cater to students needs (cheap beer and lots of it l!). Also, most Thursdays there is an event in the centro called "Juepinchos" which is basically a student night where a beer and a tapa is €1 each which was good fun. However, in terms of clubs and the "going out" nightlife, I thought Zaragoza lacked as there were few good clubs, for me at least, in good locations and which had a good atmosphere. This is just my opinion though so for some people it might be amazing!

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

Yes I would, I loved my time in Zaragoza. It's really a city that you can fall in love with due to its charm and I definitely did. It may not be the biggest and most diverse city ever but it makes a great place to live as everything is so accessible so I would definitely recommend it.

What is the food like?

Amazing! If you like tapas you're sorted and there are so many different types of restaurants close to the uni. For example, my favourite restaurant in Zaragoza is a Turkish restaurant so that was a surprise haha

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Zaragoza?

No it was pretty easy to find accomodation there are lots of options available close to the uni. I lived in a mixed flat with locals about 10 mins away from the uni. There are also a bunch of student accomodations on campus available so it just depends on what you are looking for but Zaragoza will definitely have something for you.

How much does it cost to live in Zaragoza?

I'd say it's a pretty standard price for Spain. It is cheaper to live here than in Madrid but not by a huge amount in terms of cost of living

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

Of course it depends on your fluency level but everyone I spoke to at the uni made me feel super welcome and didn't make me feel bad about any language difficulties I had so that was very positive. I believe the uni does offer Spanish language courses for all different levels but I never had any experience with them.

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

The bus and the trams are super good in Zaragoza. All you have to do is buy a bus card from any local store (they sell them everywhere) and you basically fill it with trips (each time you use the bus is a trip) and you just scan your card when you get on the bus or tram. It's super easy even for me and I suck at public transport normally haha. Saying that, Zaragoza is great as I found that I could basically walk or skate to anywhere in the main city area so if you don't mind walking that's a easy alternative

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

I found the clubs in Zaragoza a bit samey so I'd say go to the different bars in the centre. Some of them have such a great character and are really good fun. For any people who likes 80's music though there is a super funky back to the future themed club which is good fun haha

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

Dumbo's Turkish restaurant was one of my favourites and for a quick, cheap snack 100 Montaditos is a great option. Everything is so cheap in there it's amazing haha

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

El Pilar in the center is amazing, I spent so much time just hanging out there during the evenings. It is also possible to go to the top of this cathedral to get a view of the city which is cool. Zaragoza also has the Aljafería which is basically a islamic fortification buit during the Islamic occupation of Spain and that is super impressive. It's very beautiful and a great insight into Spain's during this era. Finally, I loved the Goya art museum (he was born in Zaragoza) and it's free every first Sunday of the month I believe which is nice. It's a great museum because it is quite small and can easily been seen in an hour or two so it's not too time consuming. A highlight for me is the upper level where you can see Goya's personal drawings which is a great insight into his mind. I'm not even a big art buff but this museum was sick!

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

I'd say just make the most of the Centro area near El Pilar especially at night because it's so beautiful and a great place to chill. Apart from that Zaragoza is such a cool city so I'm sure anyone going there will enjoy it and it's a great place to do Erasmus as it is so close to loads of other cool places.