We don't expect it to be all work and no play. So take advantage of your time abroad by immersing yourself in the local culture - the festivals, fetes, fiestas and parades – there’s plenty out there. Remember to read what former Erasmus students did in their time abroad by reading one of our Case Studies or Insider's Guides and looking at their photos on the Erasmus Facebook Page.

What the Erasmus Students think.....

“Being located in the heart of Europe meant that many summer festivals were within reach. In June, we visited Rock im Park, Europe's biggest outdoor festival held in Nurnberg. The experience was culturally enriching not only musically, but also as we learned plenty of German during the weekend!” Roosa Sofia Tikkanen, Pharmaceutical research, University of Manchester/Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH (Biberach an der Riss, Germany)

"I was lucky enough to go to Viareggio in Tuscany with my flatmate and his Italian friends to one of the most prestigious carnivals in Europe! The carnival boasts a parade of floats and masks depicting caricatures of popular public figures and there is music, dressing up, dancing and fun all weekend!" Silvana D'Imperio, Italian and Management Studies, UCL/Universita’ degli studi di Roma Tre

"An old custom of barrel rolling at the Fête du Vin, Bordeaux, France....the barrel-rollers performed several tricks with the barrels, including one involving a unicycle. The custom evolved to make use of the leftover barrels after wine production!" Dominique Bailey, Law, University of Kent/Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV

"A fantastic part of Erasmus is the opportunity it provides to travel. Before we all finished my friends and I went to a music festival in Belgium before splitting up across the globe." Amber Cuttill, Ancient History, University of Leicester/Humboldt Universitaet zu Berlin

" Culturally, there was constantly something happening in Paris. An excellent example of this is “Fete de la Musique”. Celebrating world music throughout the city for 24hours, people swarm the streets with instruments, playing in bands, singing in groups and raving to beats in the summer sun with friends. Great times!" Joanne Smith, International business, Glasgow Caledonian University/Leonardo De Vinci, ESCE, Paris

"Feria is the biggest ‘fiesta’ of the year in Seville with a massive fairground and thousands of private parties in rows upon rows of marquees where people dance ‘sevillanas’.  I unexpectedly was able to wear a traditional dress when I went with some Latin American friends and had a fantastic time." Alice Katrina Pike, Anthropology, University of Sussex/University of Seville

"Every Sunday in Paris, the local authorities close around 10km of roads within the city to allow for a huge rollerblading event, hundred of people took part and we came across this one by mistake whilst walking along the Seine in St Germain." George Shannon, International Business, Glasgow Caledonian University/ESCE, Paris, France