Mobility specification

Country:Greece

Institution:Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

City:Thessaloniki

Program:Erasmus+ for study

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Department of English and American Studies

Study level abroad:Bachelor

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

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?it's alright

Are your credits converted?no

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?I was surprised by the length of the lectures, they are two and a half hours long and there are no breaks between each block. It's up to the lecturer if they allow a break and how long.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?The university not so much, but the local ESN section is very active and organizes several events every week.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:12000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?E.g. stay-dom.com, other sites are on the university website or you can contact the local ESN section.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Esn events can only be paid for in cash, even longer trips which can cost up to €200.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The university restaurant is free for all students, with meals three times a day, even on weekends and public holidays, so you can eat for free the whole stay. Otherwise, it's a good idea to get an ESN card and take advantage of discounts from partners, such as the Ryanair discount, where 4 times 20kg of luggage is free (but you need to book a ticket a month in advance.)

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?terrible

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?In the OSETH app you can search for buses and buy an electronic ticket for buses, but they rarely run on time and it's often faster to walk (most people don't buy tickets on the bus because the checks are done by staff in orange vests, so if they get on at a stop, most people just get off the bus 😆 otherwise you can buy paper tickets at any newsagent.)
The metro runs on time and is new and more or less clean, especially compared to Athens 😆 the ticket is bought at the station, but if you use it often it's worth buying a monthly pass which costs €8 for students.
As for getting out of town, it's definitely worth renting a car as there are apparently no intercity buses - only tour buses which aren't exactly cheap, you can take the train to the south of Greece but that's pretty expensive too.

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?Historical sights are free for up to 25 years old, it is definitely worth visiting the White Tower and the Rotunda, walking along the waterfront, the old town of Ano Poli by the city walls, the historic Ladadika, visit the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Byzantine Culture, buy a drink on a pirate ship, visit Aristotle Square and the Kapani market or taste the local food and especially the desserts.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?The monasteries of Meteora and the peninsulas of Halkidiki are a must. You can also climb Mount Olympus or visit the thermal baths of Pozar, the waterfalls and nature park around Edessa, the town of Kavala with its Roman aqueduct, Vergina and it's worth going south to Athens. The nearest island is Skiathos, which can be reached by ferry from Ioannina.
Lots of trips and excursions are also organised by ESN.

Share your best experience:The best experiences were probably the roadtrips, one to Meteora and another to Halkidiki. I recommend both in low season when there are no crowds of tourists. :) Also, organized trips by eSN are usually nice, although the longer ones aren't exactly cheap.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?There is a special bus service from the airport, tickets can be bought at the bus stop.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Definitely swimsuits and sunscreen, and many people were missing hiking equipment when they wanted to climb Mount Olympus. :)

🥳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?Going to Erasmus was the best decision I could have made.