When applying for Erasmus, students use up most of their brain power on deciding where to go. A semester or year abroad is a perfect opportunity to live and study in a city of your dreams, and we all have different expectations from places where we would like put down our roots. Students usually lean towards big cities because of their many advantages such as better connectivity, a big number of universities to choose from, amazing nightlife, and similar preferences. However, not everyone can afford to move to a big city because of one reason or another, and not everyone would like to. So here is a list of breathtaking small Erasmus cities just as wonderful and as attractive as the big ones.
Ancona
Venice, Rome, Verona, Florence and other italian beauties are definitely worth seeing, but so is this modern port city. Ancona is a historical city on a hill decorated with beautiful architecture, a heart-stopping view and delicious food.
University in Ancona: Marche Polytechnic University
ESN section: ESN Ancona
Aveiro
Aveiro, also known under the nickname “The Venice of Portugal”, is located along the shore of Atlantic Ocean. This charming little city in Portugal has a rich history, and is famous for its canals and gondola-like boats, and traditional sweets made out of eggs. University of Aveiro hosts a weekly national public television program, which sounds pretty kick ass.
University in Aveiro: University of Aveiro
ESN section: ESN Aveiro
Bamberg
Bamberg is located in Franconia, Germany, and while it may be tiny, it extends over seven hills, each hill crowned by a beautiful church. This has led to this picturesque city being called the “Franconian Rome”. It is famous for smoked beer and is home to nine breweries. University of Bamberg is housed in historical buildings in the Old Town, which means you have a chance to attend classes in a former slaughterhouse or a fire station.
University in Bamberg: Otto-Friedrich University
ESN section: None. Maybe someone should get on that?
Huelva
Spanish city with a longstanding history full of festivals, carnivals and fiestas. You can take a dip on one of many nearby beaches, find out why Christopher Columbus is their local hero, and try some of the best seafood in your life.
University in Huelva: University of Huelva
ESN section: ESN Huelva
Innsbruck
This Austrian gem is situated halfway between Munich in Germany and Verona in Italy. It is a university city, which means it is perfect for social people hungry for new acquaintances. You should consider University of Innsbruck if you are a chemistry student―it has produced several Nobel prize winners, so they must be doing something right!
Universities in Innsbruck: University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck Medical University, MCI Management Center Innsbruck, University of Applied Sciences
ESN section: ESN Innsbruck
Liberec
This small city in Chez Republic rocks all year around, which means it is a perfect choice for both winter and summer semester of the academic years. Overflowing with various events, it will keep you busy every second of every day!
University in Liberec: Technical University of Liberec
ESN section: ESN Liberec
Luleå
This city of northern Sweeden pioneers in several areas―its computer center was Facebook’s first investment outside of the US, and where the world’s first shopping mall was built. The city is full of versatile cultural and sporting events, so it seems it can cater to everyone's needs. Hey, business students, check out their list of alumni―they have a pretty envious number of successful CEOs.
University in Luleå: Luleå University of Technology
ESN section: ESN Luleå
Maribor
Maribor is a small city on the rise! It is very lively, very colorful and has a lot of green spaces for you to enjoy. It will give you a warm welcome with its alternative scene, rising cultural scene and delicious eastern european dishes. If you are a physics student then studying in Maribor should be a real treat for you since the University of Maribor has entered the top 1% of institutions in physics.
University in Maribor: University of Maribor
ESN section: ESN Maribor
This is just the first half of the list of small city, big heart. Another awesome list will be revealed in future ESNblog posts, so be sure to stay tuned.
