Nowadays, many people do an Erasmus year. You may be wondering, what is that? Well, it's studying a year abroad with your university. In my case, it was in Dublin. So, I have some tips and tricks on how to make your Erasmus experience the best it can be. Here's everything I wish I'd known before going to Ireland.

First of all, you want to be informed on where you are staying, whether it be a residence or a rented apartment. But make sure you know how to get there from the airport. There are two main options: taxi or bus. I'd only take the taxi if you're traveling with 2 or 3 people, or if you're carrying heavy bags. Otherwise, I would recommend taking one of the buses. AirCoach is a bus company that makes travelling comfortable and is faster than taking a bus that will drive you through many towns (link: https://www.aircoach.ie). 

You can also book their tickets in advance through the internet, which you'll get cheaper and it's very handy. Once you are settled in your place of living, look to get a student LeapCard, as it will make your bus travelling less expensive (yes, buses in Ireland are expensive).

Now, whether you want to live in the city center or prefer the outskirts, that's your choice. If you are more of a party person and like going out every night, then maybe the city center is your better choice. Still, living outside the city won't deprive you of any of these experiences, as Dublin has a great bus network and there's always taxis. I live in the outskirts, in Belfield, and it's only a 20 minute bus ride to the city center.

In regards to cheap grocery shopping, I would definitely recommend going to Lidl (I'm not a huge fan of Aldi, but it works as well). It has weekly promotions and is the most affordable grocery store. Nevertheless, Tesco is also a good alternative. Lastly, you should do your shopping in whatever shop is nearest to you, as it is an inconvenience to carry many bags a large distance, but one of the before mentioned stores would be best. And if you need stuff where you live, say, a desk, I'd definitely go to Ikea, where you can find everything you need in one go and it's pretty affordable.

You may be wondering, what is the weather like in Ireland?What type of clothes should I bring with me?Let me tell you,Ireland's weather is weird. You should definitely bring layered clothes with you, because one moment it can be sunny and warm, the next raining, and then sunny again. 

It's a mess. Make sure you take an umbrella with you, because it tends to rain a lot. Nevertheless, don't leave your sunglasses behind, some days can surprise you. Regarding clothes that take up more space in your baggage, just take the essentials with you, as you can always pop into Penneys (Primark for the rest of the world) and do your cheap shopping there.

Once you get there, before anything else, get to know your city. Dublin is beautiful and not that big, so visit it in the first few days staying here. It will help you later on when meeting with friends or going out. Highlights of Dublin are: St. Stephen's Green, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church, Phoenix Park,Trinity College... 

To go shopping, you can't go wrong with O'Connell Street (go see the Spire while you're there) or Grafton Street, as you will find all your typical shops there. For you fans of beer, visit Temple Bar, a district full of bars (and my favourite place to visit by far), and the Guinness Storehouse, at the end of which tour you'll get a Guinness and be able to see the city from its Gravity Bar.

This is for you party people. You may want to know where to go out at night, where everyone goes. I myself tend to go a lot to Dicey's. It's this great pub near St. Stephen's Green known for how cheap it is (keep in mind that alcohol is kind of expensive in Ireland). If you don't like it, on the same street you have some more options, like Dtwo or Coppers; and not far away, Flannerys, a favourite of the Irish people. As I said before, Temple Bar is also great to have an earlier night out.

Finally, one last piece of advise. Try to visit as much of Ireland as you can while you're there, because that's definitely something you'll regret if you don't. There are many cities through Ireland worth your time visiting and also some natural monuments. As well, take the chance and visit the UK if you haven't been there yet, as flights from Dublin are cheap.

So, I hope this will be helpful to you guys and that you enjoy your time abroad and try to make the best out of your experience!