If someone would have told me that by now I would be living in Portugal for the second time this year, I would have not believed them. Why? I simply knew very little about it to even remotely consider it to become my next home away from home, but it indeed became one. 

In February earlier this year, I moved to Covilhã, a place near Serra da Estrela, which is the highest mountain in continental Portugal. Anyone else would have chosen Porto or Lisbon, so why did I move to Covilhã? What is there?

Covilhã is a quiet and beautiful student city. The cost of living is way lower compared to bigger Portuguese cities. The food is good, the small villages around it are cute, and the views are spectacular! Covilhã spams between 400 and 800 meters of altitude, offering amazing viewpoints over the mountains and hills. There are free elevators in the city that help people move around easily and quickly.  Despite not having a car, I was able to reach the main spots on foot. I only lived there for two months while I was working on my Final University Project but I loved it. Covilhã was definitely the quiet place I was desperately looking for at the time. 

Fast-forward 9 months: I am now living in Lisbon. Covilhã was nice and helped me get out of a difficult situation. However, the capital offers more academic programs, universities, and a wider range of jobs and internships for recent graduates.

Do you feel like having a beer with your friends in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the city? It might cost you as little as €1. Do you want to go to the movies? €7. However, download the WTF app and you will probably get discounts. Oh, and, are you hungry? The main course along with a drink, dessert, and coffee starts at €6. Do you have an ESN card? No? Get one. Most of the clubs are free if you enter before 12.30am. Do you want to stay in touch with overseas family and friends? NOS offers 15 GB of data, unlimited social media, an additional 5GB package dedicated to YouTube and Netflix, unlimited national calls and texts. For the first three months, you only pay an activation fee of €10! Oh, I almost forgot. NOS gives you tons of discounts for Uber, the movies, and more. One more thing. It's 3am and you don't know how to get home? Download Kapten (use the code CRIFAB2 to get a discount) or Bolt (use 93S7J to get a discount). They are quite affordable. No, seriously though. I rode from my house to the airport at 5am and I spent only €4,50. Imagine riding with friends and splitting the bill. You're welcome.

Language barrier scares you? Portuguese Para Todos is a language program offered by the government to all Portuguese learners and beginners. All you have to do is finding the closest public school to you and sign up. Yes, it's free. There is also an e-platform that allows you to access additional material to support your studies.

Now that you know where to learn Portuguese, how much to spend on beer, a phone plan, and uber, you are almost ready to move to Portugal! Oh, one more thing. You might want to know what foods you should definitely try when you are there. No worries, I've got you covered! 

Sweets: Pasteis de Belém, Travesseiros de Sintra, Ovos Moles de Aveiro;

Seafood: Bacalhau com Natas, Bacalhau à Brás, Sardinhas Assadas;

Meat: Alheira, Bifanas, Cozido à Portuguesa, Francesinha.

If you are looking for colorful streets and buildings, sandy beaches, breathtaking landscapes, friendly people and you enjoy being sun-kissed, Portugal is definitely your Erasmus destination. If you accept advice from strangers, listen to mine: look for a room in advance. That is the one thing that will give you headaches, just like finding accommodation anywhere else, and a tiny bit more. 

Last but not least, here's a list of my favorite spots in Lisbon:

MIRADOURO DA GRAÇA

MIRADOURO DE SANTA LUZIA

MIRADOURO PARQUE EDUARDO VII

LX FACTORY (on a Sunday)

TORRE DE BELEM (try Pasteis!)

Are you thinking of moving to Portugal? Have you ever lived in Portugal? Do you have any questions? Feel free to leave a comment.

* All pictures are taken by me. If you wish to repost, credits are appreciated. *

- Cris