Erasmus in Pécs

Information and tips for Erasmus students in Pécs

Why do Erasmus in Pécs? This Hungarian city is located on the border between Hungary, Serbia and Croatia. It's one of the cultural treasures of the country, as many describe it as the most beautiful city in Hungary, and in it you will find monuments and buildings from three different cultures that have marked the history of the city. Of course, since it is not such a well-known city, you will avoid the crowds of its capital Budapest. But that doesn’t mean that it’s a boring city, since it is a University City! This will allow you to meet lots of people from different countries and make lots of plans.

If you want to do Erasmus in Pécs, keep reading this article, because we are going to tell you everything you need to know before you start your trip. We will start by talking about the cost of living in this Pécs, including Erasmus parties and leisure. We will also explain its culture and gastronomy, and finally we will discuss the advantages of doing Erasmus in this city, the cheap flats you can find and we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions from students.

Cost of living in Pécs, Hungary

The cost of living in Pécs it's not as high as in other European cities. In general, a student spends approximately €400 monthly, including accommodation, food and some outings.

As for accommodation, there are different types, costing between 40,000 and 160,000 HUF per month (between €100 and €400).The cheapest option is a room in a shared apartment, which costs about 40,000 HUF per month (about €100).There are also other options, such as a room in a student residence, which costs around 40,000-52,000 HUF per month (€100-130). Finally, you can also opt to rent a private flat, which costs between 70,000 - 160,000 HUF (approx. €175-400), although it depends on the number of people living there.

In terms of transport, Pécs is not a very big city, and the university is located in the city centre, so many students decide to walk. But there are also city buses, where you can get a student discount by presenting your student card (Hungarian or European Union). The monthly pass with this discount has a price of 3,900 HUF (€10).

Student life, Erasmus parties and leisure in Pécs

Being a relatively small city, there is not much nightlife, but we all know that the important thing about partying is the company! Some of the bars and clubs where you can party with your friends are Pécs Est, where they organise various events or Amper Club.

Another thing to note is that there are several cinemas where you can watch films in English (in case you can't speak Hungarian), and they offer discounts for students.

Another leisure activity that you have to do in Pécs, as it is part of Hungarian culture, is to visit the water parks and thermal baths. These are located approximately one hour by bus from the city. One of them is the Spa Szigetvári, with a water temperature of 62 degrees and several rooms with different elements, so you can spend a day of total relaxation!

If you are a fan of swimming, you can go for free to the indoor swimming pool of the Faculty of Sciences or the outdoor swimming pool during the summer (Pollack Swimming Pool).

This city also offers the possibility of doing several outdoor routes, varying levels of difficulty so that everyone can enjoy the nature of this region.

Culture and gastronomy in Pécs, Hungary

At this point we tell you a lot of things related to the culture and gastronomy of Pécs.

In terms of culture, we want to highlight the early Christian heritage that is spread throughout the city, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The 11th century Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul (zent Péter és Szent Pál székesegyház) is also very impressive. The Pasha Quasim Mosque (Pécs-Belvárosi templom - Dzsámi) is a very curious building, since it has been a church since the 18th century, but it still retains the structure of the mosque. Another religious building that we want to highlight is the Great Synagogue of Pécs (Pécs Zsinagóga), the only one of its kind remaining in the city.

In this city there is a district dedicated to art, specifically porcelain: the Zsolnay Cultural District, a favourite place for young people and artists.

There are also several museums in Pécs. Among them stand out the Zsolnay Museum, where you can see a historical ceramic collection of Zsolnay ceramics, or the Archaeological and Lapidary Museum (Ókeresztény Mauzóleum), for those most fond of history and archeology.

After this overview of the most notable cultural points of the city, it is time to move on to gastronomy. One of the best-known dishes of this country is Gulyás (goulash), a rather hearty soup, perfect for the coldest days. If you feel like eating something quicker and simpler, you can opt for Lángos, a fried dough accompanied by a sauce and two ingredients, with a distinctive flavour. Another popular dish is Paprikás Csirke, which consists of chicken with pepper sauce, accompanied by gnocchi. A very curious part of Hungarian cuisine is cold fruit soups as a starter. The most popular is the Hideg meggyleves (sour cherry soup) and is usually eaten in summer.

Advantages of doing Erasmus in Pécs

• Pécs is a University City, so the student atmosphere is diverse and you can meet many young people of different nationalities.
• Hungarian is considered one of the most difficult languages ​​in the world, so studying in this city will surely help you with your learning. In addition, we tell you that international students use English to communicate with each other and for classes, so you will also be able to improve in that language.
• As we have already commented before, for many people this is the most beautiful city in Hungary, so studying here is a fantastic opportunity to discover the city and the local culture first-hand.
• The cost of living in Pécs is not very high, so it is a good Erasmus destination if you don't want to spend a lot of money and enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Cheap student accommodation in Pécs, Hungary

Do you need accommodation in Pécs and don't know how to get it? In Erasmus Play you can find the best ones for free flats, rooms and residences for students in Pécs.

Frequently asked questions about doing Erasmus in Pécs

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