As the title says, this will be a short (as possible) article about my four-month adventure in Thessaloniki. To briefly introduce myself: my name is Vendy, and I am a Master’s student at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, studying Nature Conservation. I’ve been taking full advantage of the Erasmus+ programme; my first experience was in 2023 in Huelva, Spain, and those were genuinely the best five months of my life. Last summer (2025), I participated in an Erasmus internship in Norway, and immediately after that, I moved to Greece for my second study exchange.
Why Thessaloniki?
As much as I love Northern Europe—where I see myself in the future—I wanted to complete both of my study stays in the South. I see the Erasmus study stays more as a necessary pause from the hectic lifestyle. Being in Spain and Greece truly taught me how to be more laid-back, how to rest properly, and how to avoid constant rush and stress.
The climatic conditions certainly help; imagine walking to school in late November, the sun is shining, and the streets are full of locals enjoying their morning coffee. After finishing my Erasmus in Spain, Greece simply made sense. I still wanted to be by the Mediterranean, but I was looking for something very different from Spain.
The "Brno" of Greece
I had visited the Greek islands multiple times before, but I was excited to see the mainland and get to know the local culture. If I had to compare Thessaloniki to a city in Czechia, it is a bit like Brno—it is the second-largest city and is well known for being the "city of students." With three universities, you will always spot students hanging out in the city center. It is not as touristy as Athens, and the season ends with the summer, which I prefer. Last but not least, I felt very safe there, even at night—a very important factor for me as a woman. Unfortunately, I would not say the same about Athens, which I visited twice.
Social Life and ESN
This Erasmus was also my first hands-on experience with the ESN (Erasmus Student Network), and it was great! Every week there was something to do—from parties and city tours to tasting festivities and trips. I participated in a trip to Corfu, which was truly amazing. Erasmus students from all over Greece gathered there; we stayed at a beautiful resort and enjoyed activities like the Corfu festival, beach parties, and a very fun boat party.
Academics
You might be asking—what about school? Since my studies are still quite niche, there were not many other Erasmus students in my classes; in most of them, I was actually the only one. Therefore, it didn’t make sense for the professors to teach in English for just one person.
Instead, most of my courses consisted of one-on-one consultations and projects. I only had one course solely for Erasmus students, which I really enjoyed because I got to meet other people. I cannot say I didn’t learn anything; the consultations can be quite intensive, so I really got to practice my GIS skills. I also took an Aquaculture course where I saw mussel and trout farming, sea salt mines, and chlorella production, which was fascinating.
The Reality Check: Patience is Key
Greece may be in the European Union, but it often doesn't feel like it. You just have to accept things that are considered normal there—from chaotic traffic and random bus schedules, paying rent in cash because many still don't trust banks to just simply not understanding what is happening.
Bureaucracy and Organization: The organization of studies and communication with some professors can be truly challenging. Upon arrival, prepare for an endless and annoying process of administrative tasks. Getting all the various student cards and navigating through multiple online platforms felt never-ending. And a warning for those who like to have things wrapped up quickly: getting your Transcript of Records takes a long time. In Greece, they simply "have all the time in the world" for everything. They have even more time than in Spain and that was surprising to me.
The Housing Struggle: Already looking for an apartment was really hard. I lived in a newly renovated apartment, yet the electricity got cut off because the previous tenant hadn’t paid (the landlord said it was "normal"), the bathroom flooded the floors below us, the doors wouldn't close, and the fridge beeped randomly. But you just have to accept it; that’s how life works there.
Pro tips for you:
- If a class starts at 10:00, no one (including the professor) will be there before 10:30.
- Don’t bother with bus schedules; just go to the stop and wait.
- Remember: "Ne" means YES. That was a hard one for me!
The Best Part: Free Food!
I have to mention probably the best thing about Thessaloniki: students get three free meals per day at the university canteen. Breakfast includes eggs, bread, cheese, ham, and drinks. For lunch and dinner, you usually have three choices (one is almost always vegetarian/vegan), soup, a starter, a main dish, and dessert or fruit. Crazy, right?
Final Encouragement
While all of this might sound a bit wild, I believe everyone should give it a try. Our faculty offers so many options, including the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). These only last about a week, you travel with other students from our faculty, and most expenses are covered. I’ll be participating in a BIP soon and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
Do yourself a favor and look up the options that our faculty and the international office offer! If you have any questions or want to know more about my experience in Thessaloniki, feel free to contact me!
