If not speaking Greek puts you off from the decision, don't worry! Most Greeks speak English. In addition, you will be surrounded by students of different nationalities. If you live in a shared apartment, we recommend one where your roommates are Greek or of a nationality other than yours, so you can learn about their cultures and languages.
Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Thessaloniki
Below we share some of the most outstanding:
Advantages of sharing a flat in Thessaloniki
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You will be able to choose between the preferred areas by students to live, in due to their price and location. Some of these neighbourhoods are the city centre, Saranta Ekklisies, Evaggelistria and Ano Poli.
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Young Greeks are usually very open to meeting international students and like to share their culture. If you have a local roommate, you can get to know the Greek culture more from the inside!
Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Thessaloniki
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Pay attention to the characteristics of the spare room or the shared flat in which you are going to enter. Most of them are furnished, but in some cases, they do not have everything a student needs, such as a desk.
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The number of available spare rooms for students in Thessaloniki is often lower than the demand, especially in the months before classes start.
Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Thessaloniki
We recommend that you use one of the Apps for Erasmus+ that you have at your disposal, such as the one from the European Commission. That way you will access a lot of relevant information about the exchange and life in Thessaloniki. One of the tips from students at Aristotle University is that you take advantage of the free food that is offered in the city's university canteen, which is usually breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you will be able to save a lot.
How to meet people in Thessaloniki
Befriending your flatmates is one of the simplest and most fun ways to meet people in Thessaloniki. In addition, we suggest you consider some of the following options:
Student associations in Thessaloniki
The Erasmus Student Network has ESN Thessaloniki and AUTH Thessaloniki in this city. Both organize fun activities that you can join to meet other young people and delve deeper into Greek culture.
Facebook groups for Erasmus in Thessaloniki
In the Facebook groups of the associations, you will be able to view the calendar of the plans that you can join, which usually include game nights in bars, visits to museums, trips to nearby places such as Crete, and tours of Thessaloniki, among others.
WhatsApp groups for Erasmus in Thessaloniki
Both ESNs and students on their own usually create groups on a messaging platform like WhatsApp to be in more direct contact with each other. Take the opportunity to connect with other young people and plan your activities to enjoy Thessaloniki more.
Tips for living in a shared apartment in Thessaloniki
Here are some tips for living in shared flats in this Greek city:
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Find out what day of the week the street market opens in your neighbourhood, called λαϊκή αγορά. In these markets, you will be able to buy vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, etc. at a much lower price than in supermarkets.
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The two main areas in which the city is divided for students are Kamara and Valaoritou. The second is the one with the most nightlife, although in both you will find different places to go.