Mobility specification

Country:Croatia

Institution:University of Zagreb

City:Zagreb

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2021/2022

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of European Ethnology

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?no

Does the university offer enough courses in English?neutral

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Ethnology does not have special courses for Erasmus students. So you will be going with the locals to their regular courses, which are taught in Croatian. However, you will have no problem agreeing with each teacher on substitute materials and fulfillment in English.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Zagreb has a well-functioning ESN, which regularly organises events and excursions.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?I haven’t noticed

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:15000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?Thanks to my personal contacts, I lived in an apartment with one other local roommate and there were no complications the whole time. However, without reliable contacts, I would be very cautious of offers of private accommodation. Facebook is full of scam ads. Dorms are always a safe bet.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Although Zagreb is the capital, you won't encounter the tourist traps that you do in the seaside resorts. Prices are mostly similar to Brno. Coffee is cheaper, beer is more expensive. If you live further away from the centre, I recommend buying a pre-paid ZET travel card.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?Zagreb has a good tram and bus network. You can find the connections easily on the web: https://www.zet.hr/en. There is a newsagent on every corner where you can buy tickets. Alternatively, you can buy a pre-paid ZET travel card at the ZET branch. Please note that the readers in public transport are not used to buy tickets quickly with a card, but only to deduct money from special prepaid cards. For trips outside the city, you can use FlixBus, other bus services or even trains (but expect the longest delays and least comfort). You can easily get around the city by car or bicycle.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?The city centre and its streets in the radius of trg Ban Josipa Jelačića - Kaptol - Gornji Grad. Any market where you can find meat, dairy products and flowers in addition to fruit and vegetables. Museum of Broken Relationships or Museum of Hangovers. Bars and pubs: Alcatraz, Čeh Pub, Krivi Put and others. Probably the shortest cable car in the world Zagrebačka uspinjača, Jarun Lake, ZOO, Maksimir Park.... And Zagreb is full of cafes with great coffee and restaurants with great food, just take your pick. If you like football, don't miss a match of a local club. Croatians live for football and you'll see the Dinamo logo plastered and sprayed almost everywhere.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Plitvice Lakes (ideally outside the high season), Daruvar - the town with the largest Czech minority in Croatia, seaside towns.

Share your best experience:Any event with local Croatian students studying Czech at UNIZG. It was mutually enriching and I maintain friendships with some of them to this day. In general, everyone in Zagreb was nice and even the older generations have a good command of English (most movies in Croatia are also undubbed, watched in the original with subtitles).

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Bus

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Don't let the grey apartment blocks and the old bus station deter you along the way. It's just a book cover :) Once you go to the city centre and get to know the warm-hearted Croatians, you will forget these imperfections. I recommend having some cash on hand, especially if you want to go to the market or smaller places that sometimes don't take cards.

Can you pay by card?in most places

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Zagreb is the perfect place to slow down, experience a bit of the Balkans and feel safe and at home.