Εμπειρίες Erasmus+ εισερχόμενων φοιτητών

My Erasmus semester started at the end of September 2024 and ended at the end of January 2025. I spent this time at the University of Crete on the Rethymno campus, which is located a little outside the town. The campus offers a fantastic view of the sea, especially from the library or the very affordable and high-quality restaurant.
I initially chose five courses, but during the summer, some professors retired, and their courses were no longer available. Fortunately, the university had a wide range of courses to choose from, so it was easy to find replacements. In the end, I took six courses. Only one of them was in English, but since I speak Greek, I was able to follow the lectures without any problems.
I arrived earlier than the official start of the semester to enjoy the beautiful Greek weather and get to know the area and its people. Finding accommodation was quite difficult, but eventually, I found a lovely place by the seaside. The Erasmus administration at the university was extremely helpful throughout my stay and was always available for any questions or concerns.
The weather in Crete was fantastic throughout my stay. Even in January, we occasionally had temperatures around 20°C, and I spent time on the beach or my balcony. Many people even went swimming during these warm winter days.
Life in Rethymno is vibrant and enjoyable. The city has a lively nightlife, with students partying from Thursday to Sunday in various clubs. The restaurants are excellent, offering a wide variety of delicious food, including places with live music. With a population of around 38,000 people, the city is not too big, and everything is easily reachable within a 15–20-minute walk.
Rethymno is ideally located on the island. It takes just over an hour to reach both Chania and Heraklion, and trips to the other side of the island are also around an hour. Crete is home to two of Europe's top ten beaches, according to TripAdvisor. There are numerous options for weekend trips to explore the island, though it is so vast that it is impossible to see everything in just one semester. The ESN network organizes many great excursions, providing opportunities to experience the culture and meet local people.
One of the best aspects of my Erasmus experience was meeting so many amazing people from different European countries. In Rethymno, there were about 50 Erasmus students, and almost every evening, some of us would meet and do something together. This created a fantastic social environment.
I can only recommend doing an Erasmus semester in Crete. I promise you won’t regret it! It will be an unforgettable time filled with new experiences, exposure to different university methods and lectures, and personal growth. It is truly enriching both academically and personally.