10 reasons to do your Erasmus in Spain
Studying abroad is a unique experience and Spain is one of the main destinations chosen by students who decide to live the Erasmus experience. This is due to its climate, gastronomy and culture, among other aspects.
Next, we explain in detail the top 10 reasons to do your Erasmus to Spain.
1. Geographical location
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Spain is located in southwestern Europe, forming a border with France, Andorra and Portugal. Likewise, it also borders the Mediterranean Sea, the Cantabrian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Its location makes travelling to neighbouring countries easy and cheap, although it also has a good air and rail connection, so you can travel to other countries without any issues. Travelling in Spain is fast, cheap and safe, so you can get to know incredible areas of the country.
2. Language
The predominant language is Spanish, although up to five official languages coexist: Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque and Aranese (although the latter only has 2,800 native speakers).
However, Spanish is one of the most complicated languages to learn in Western Europe, as it is a language that has a large vocabulary and somewhat complicated grammar. It should also be noted that other languages such as English is rarely spoken in Spain, so we recommend you taking a previous course before leaving. This will help you integrate more easily which will lead to your first contact in the country being less difficult.
Even so, you should know that Spanish is the second language with the most speakers in the world, it is spoken by 580 million people in the world and it is the third most used language on the Internet, so it presents a great opportunity for Erasmus students who want to improve their employability.
3. Climate in Spain
The climate in Spain is undoubtedly one of the great advantages of this country. Spain is known worldwide for its large number of hours of sunshine and mild temperatures, compared to other European countries. Although the weather and climate vary according to the area, you can find warm temperatures in the south of the country and a mild climate in the north of the country. Therefore, if you want to escape from cold climates, Spain is the perfect option for you.
4. Transport in Spain
Spain offers numerous possibilities and at a very good price so that you can move between Spanish cities, but also with neighbouring countries. This is a reason that you must take into account since we recommend that during your Erasmus stay, you take the opportunity to travel and see different places.
Although there are small cities with a worse transport network, the main cities are very well connected.
Public transport in Spain
Public transport is a very good option to move within the cities since the prices are quite cheap compared to other countries in Europe. In addition, if you are going to use public transport frequently, we recommend that you buy a transport pass, as this will make the routes cheaper for you.
Trains in Spain
The railway connection in Spain is quite affordable and in a few hours, you can travel the country by train. For example, you can find train tickets from Madrid (central Spain) to Barcelona for less than twenty euros and the journey takes less than three hours.
Buses in Spain
Given that not all Spanish cities have a good rail connection, it is also recommendable that you use buses to travel around the country, as it is a widely used mode of transport with a fairly affordable price.
5. Gastronomy in Spain
Spanish gastronomy arouses passions and motivates travel, so this point is one of the main reasons to choose Spain as your Erasmus destination. Spanish gastronomy is considered one of the best in the world due to the quality and variety of the products used.
The national cuisine is made up of many regional cuisines since, in each of these regions climate, history and culture has an influence on their food. Spanish gastronomy is quite similar to that of southern France and Italy, based on the Mediterranean diet (olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and green peppers).
The most typical dishes that you can find and the ones we recommend are the following:
- Paella: Paella has become one of the most international dishes, even though Spain's most famous rice has humble origins.
- Omelette: This is a dish that you can find in most of the country's bars and restaurants.
- Galician octopus or feira octopus: The sliced octopus is served on a wooden board, with a little olive oil, salt and sweet paprika.
- Gazpacho and salmorejo: Gazpacho is a cold soup of crushed bread, water, olive oil, tomato, vinegar, cucumber, onion, garlic and green pepper. It is a very good option to take in the summer months.
- Serrano ham: It is one of the most special foods in Spain. Nor should you forget to try other sausages such as Manchego cheese, embuchado loin, etc.
- Madrid stew: It is the typical dish of the capital of Spain and it is a stew resulting from cooking chickpeas with vegetables, chicken or hen, bacon, chorizo and blood sausage.
6. Cost of living in Spain
At number 6 of the 10 reasons to do your Erasmus in Spain, we have the cost of living. The cost of living in Spain is one of its great advantages since it is cheap compared to other countries in Europe. Even so, the cost will depend both on the area you choose to live in and on the type of accommodation since it is not the same to share a flat as to rent an entire apartment or choose the option of a residence.
Barcelona, San Sebastián, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia are the most expensive cities in Spain.
The cheapest cities in Spain to live in are: Palencia, Melilla, Lugo, Logroño and Teruel.
For more information, go to www.erasmusplay.com, where you can find flats and rooms, always 100% verified so you don't have to worry about fraud.
7. Party in Spain
Regarding the party in Spain, do not doubt that it is a country with great nightlife. If you decide to do your Erasmus in Spain, you will always find a party in its streets, bars, clubs and venues. There are many cities full of international and local students, for this reason, there will always be a good atmosphere and party all around.
The best cities to party in Spain are:
- Madrid: It has a lot of nightlife, especially on the weekends. The best thing about this city is that you can enjoy a night with different styles of music and people of different nationalities.
- Barcelona: It is a city that stands out for electronic music, being a world reference for those who love to party and techno.
- Ibiza: This island in the Balearic archipelago has some of the biggest and most famous nightclubs in the world, where the best DJs come.
- Salamanca: Here you will find a lot of parties since this city welcomes tons of university students.
8. Must see places in Spain
If you are interested in travelling and discovering new places, Spain is a great option as an Erasmus destination, as it has a lot of history.
Here you can find 7 possible plans and places to visit:
- The City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia).
- Old town Salamanca.
- Doñana national park.
- Basin.
- University and historic district of Alcalá de Henares.
- Prado Museum in Madrid.
- Teide National Park, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
9. Main monuments in Spain
In Spain there are also several monuments declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Some of them are:
- Alhambra, Generalife Gardens and the Albaicín neighborhood in Granada.
- Aqueduct of Segovia.
- Mosque of Cordoba.
- Caves of Altamira, Cantabria.
- Cathedral Burgos.
- Gaudí's works in Catalonia (Casa Batlló, Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, etc.)
- Torre de Hércules, A Coruña.
- Monastery of El Escorial, Madrid.
- University and historic district of Alcalá de Henares.
10. Character of Spaniards
Spaniards have a reputation for smiling a lot and being very friendly. In addition, in Spain, there is a custom of having conversations with strangers (for example, in the elevator or even on the street). However, you should know that in public places Spaniards make a lot of noise and speak loudly. Therefore, if you decide to choose Spain as an Erasmus destination, you will feel very welcome.
For all these reasons, we hope you do not doubt that choosing Spain as the destination for your Erasmus experience is a great idea.
Frequently asked questions from students doing Erasmus in Spain
How much does it cost to live in Spain as a student?
As we have discussed before, it largely depends on where you live, but generally, it is a relatively cheap country to live in. Through our search engine, you can find the best prices, comparing between different accommodation websites.
How is student life in Spain?
Spain is a very lively country, full of parties, monuments and a great active life, so you will not stop doing things, discover incredible places and meet new people.
How much does student accommodation cost in Spain?
It will depend on the city and the type of accommodation you choose. You can compare prices through our website www.erasmusplay.com quickly and easily. Also, remember that all accommodations are 100% verified.
How much is the Erasmus scholarship to study in Spain?
The Erasmus grant for destinations in Spain is classified as Group 2 in the Erasmus grant; whose classification is made based on the cost of living in the country.
The financial aid will be between € 220 and € 420 per month.
We hope this was useful regarding your choice of destination. Send us your comments and we will be happy to publish them to help more students in need
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