The short answer: your Erasmus Lisbon social life will probably start through ESN Lisboa, the local section of the Erasmus Student Network, which runs a free buddy programme (sign up through its website or the ESN Papaya app) and a calendar of events, from cultural activities to big parties. Join that in week one, add one activity that brings you together with Portuguese students (a sports team, a language exchange, a university club), and build a weekly routine. Lisbon is easy to fall in love with; the trick is making sure your friendships do not stop at the international bubble.
Friends who did Erasmus in Lisbon all describe the same first fortnight: welcome events, sunsets at miradouros, late nights in Bairro Alto and a group chat that grows by the hour. It is wonderful and a little overwhelming. The friendships that last usually come later, from smaller, repeated things: the same class group, the same Thursday exchange, the same surf lesson. This guide explains how the Erasmus network works in Lisbon, suggests a weekly social plan, and covers the practical and safety basics that help you enjoy the semester.
Erasmus Lisbon: ESN Lisboa and the buddy programme
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is a non-profit student organisation run by volunteers under the motto “Students Helping Students”. In Lisbon, ESN Lisboa is the section most incoming students will meet first. Its office is at Rua do Alecrim 47, between Cais do Sodré and Chiado, open on weekdays (10:00–13:00 and 14:00–18:00 when I checked in October 2026). Its website lists events such as an Art Circle and Local Games, and it promotes national ESN events such as the Erasmus National Meeting.
The ESNcard
ESN sections sell the ESNcard, a membership card that gives access to ESN events and partner discounts. Price and benefits are set locally, so check ESN Lisboa’s ESNcard page for the current details before you buy.
The buddy programme
ESN Lisboa’s buddy programme pairs incoming students with local students who want to help newcomers. Sign-up works like this:
- Open the Buddy Programme link on ESN Lisboa’s website or use the ESN Papaya app.
- Sign in and fill in your details.
- Choose “I need help” if you are coming to Lisbon (local students choose “I want to offer my help”).
- Save your subscription. You will be notified when you are paired, with your buddy’s contact details.
A buddy can help with practical questions (SIM card, transport, the best supermarket) and is often your first Portuguese friend. Sign up as early as possible, ideally before you arrive. At some universities, being a buddy even counts towards students’ extracurricular credits, which is why many local students take it seriously.
Your own university’s international office
Your host university or faculty will have an international relations office, and many faculties have their own student associations and welcome activities. Ask at orientation what exists in your faculty: smaller, faculty-based groups are often where you meet the people you will see in class every week.
| Option | What it is | Cost | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESN Lisboa | Erasmus Student Network section: events, trips, ESNcard | Events vary; ESNcard price set locally | esnlisboa.org |
| ESN Lisboa buddy programme | Pairs incoming students with local students | No cost mentioned | esnlisboa.org/buddy |
| Language exchanges | Weekly bar and café exchanges with Portuguese speakers | Often free or a drink | our Lisbon exchange guide |
| University clubs and faculty associations | Sports, music, volunteering, academic groups | Varies | Ask your international office |
Your first two weeks of Erasmus Lisbon: a checklist
- Before you arrive: sign up for the buddy programme, join your faculty’s international student group chat if there is one, and save ESN Lisboa’s event page.
- Day 1–3: get a local SIM, sort out transport, walk your neighbourhood and find your supermarket. Message your buddy to say hello.
- Week 1: go to orientation and at least two welcome events. Say yes to the group dinner afterwards, even if you are tired.
- Week 1: sit next to different people in each class and swap numbers with two classmates.
- Week 2: try one language exchange and one sport or club. Note which you enjoyed most; that is your weekly anchor.
- Week 2: suggest one small plan yourself: a sunset at a miradouro, a market visit or a beach afternoon with three or four people.
Common Erasmus mistakes
- Only going to big parties. They are fun, but you rarely see the same people twice. Balance them with small, repeated plans.
- Sticking with people from your own country. Comfortable, but it limits both your Portuguese and your friendships.
- Waiting to be invited. Everyone is new and looking for plans. Be the one who suggests them.
- Leaving everything to the last month. Weekend trips and long dinners are how friendships deepen; start early.
A weekly social plan for Erasmus in Lisbon
The first two weeks will be a whirlwind of welcome events. After that, the students who build the strongest friendships tend to have a simple weekly rhythm. Here is an example that balances fun, friendships and actually passing your exams.
| Day | Plan | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Lunch with classmates after a lecture | Your class group is who you see most; build it early |
| Tuesday | Language exchange in the evening | Meet Portuguese speakers and other internationals |
| Wednesday | Sport or club (football, volleyball, surf, choir) | Same people every week, often local students |
| Thursday | ESN or faculty event | Keep up with the wider Erasmus crowd |
| Friday | Dinner with a small group, then out if you want | Small groups make deeper conversations |
| Weekend | One day trip (Sintra, Cascais, Costa da Caparica) or a beach afternoon | Shared adventures create shared stories |
You do not need to do everything. The key is two or three fixed points per week where you see the same people. The rest can be spontaneous.
Meeting Portuguese students, not just other Erasmus
It is easy to spend a whole semester in Lisbon with other internationals. That is fun, but many people later wish they had more Portuguese friends. A few things help:
- Your buddy. Ask them to introduce you to their friends, and invite them to things too.
- Group projects. Volunteer to work with Portuguese classmates. Projects mean regular meetings and a shared goal.
- University sports teams and clubs. These are mostly local students and meet weekly.
- Language exchanges. Portuguese students who want to practise English or another language come to these specifically to meet people like you.
- Say yes to invitations, even if it means a long dinner or a trip to someone’s home town at the weekend.
Portuguese students are often friendly but may already have close friends from school. Be patient and consistent; showing up for the same things week after week is what moves you from “the Erasmus student” to a friend.
A few Portuguese social customs
- Coffee is social. A quick espresso (uma bica in Lisbon) at the counter is a classic way to suggest a short break with a classmate.
- Dinner is later than in the UK or Ireland. Many people eat around 20:00 or later, and nights out start late.
- Greetings. Two cheek kisses are common between women and between men and women in social settings; men usually shake hands. Follow the other person’s lead.
- Academic traditions. You may see students in black academic capes and hear about praxe, the initiation traditions some faculties have for first-year students. Participation is voluntary, and Erasmus students are not expected to take part.
Learning Portuguese
You can get by in English in Lisbon, especially at university and in the centre, but even basic Portuguese makes a big difference to daily life and friendships. Many universities offer Portuguese courses for international students; ask your international office. Pair a course with a weekly language exchange or a one-to-one tandem partner, and practise in shops and cafés.
Useful Portuguese for your first weeks
- Olá, sou estudante de Erasmus. Hi, I’m an Erasmus student.
- Pode falar mais devagar, por favor? Can you speak more slowly, please?
- Vamos tomar um café? Shall we get a coffee?
- Onde é que vocês costumam sair? Where do you usually go out?
- Obrigado / Obrigada. Thank you (men say obrigado, women obrigada).
Practical basics that make social life easier
- Transport. In the Lisbon metropolitan area, higher-education students aged 23 and under can get a free Navegante public transport pass (the Sub23 pass). Eligibility depends on your documents and enrolment, so check with your host university’s student services; Iscte, for example, publishes a guide to the Sub23 pass. If you are not eligible, a monthly Navegante pass is still the cheapest way to get around.
- Where to live. Living close to your faculty or in a central neighbourhood makes it easier to say yes to plans. If you are considering shared housing with built-in community, see our guide to coliving in Lisbon.
- Budget. Many Erasmus social events are cheap or free, but nights out and weekend trips add up. Set a weekly budget and look for free plans: miradouros, beaches, free museum days, picnics.
- Study spaces. University libraries are free; some students also use cafés or coworking spaces with student rates. Our guide to coworking in Lisbon lists spaces with day passes.
How an Erasmus Lisbon semester compares
Lisbon combines a very international student scene with beaches, a mild climate and relatively walkable neighbourhoods. Prague is cheaper and very social but colder in winter; Barcelona and Madrid are bigger and busier. If you are still choosing or comparing, see our guide to Erasmus in Prague for a different kind of semester, or our guide to Erasmus in Berlin if Germany is on your list.
Safety box: nights out and new people
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web and works in your browser, starting in Malta. The Android app is on Google Play; the iPhone app is not in the App Store yet. Open MeetNow and see the plans posted in Malta. (MeetNow is our own app.)
FAQ: Erasmus Lisbon
How do I make friends during Erasmus in Lisbon?
Sign up for ESN Lisboa’s buddy programme before you arrive, go to welcome events in your first week, then build two or three weekly routines such as a language exchange, a sport and your class group. Seeing the same people regularly is what turns acquaintances into friends.
What is ESN Lisboa?
ESN Lisboa is the Lisbon section of the Erasmus Student Network, a volunteer-run student organisation. It runs events, a buddy programme and the ESNcard, and has an office on Rua do Alecrim.
Is the ESN Lisboa buddy programme free?
ESN Lisboa’s buddy page does not mention any cost. You sign up through its website or the ESN Papaya app and are notified when you are paired with a local student.
Do I need to speak Portuguese for Erasmus in Lisbon?
Not to get by, as many students and young people speak English. Basic Portuguese makes daily life and local friendships much easier, and many universities offer courses for international students.
Is public transport free for Erasmus students in Lisbon?
Higher-education students aged 23 and under can get a free Navegante Sub23 pass in the Lisbon area, but eligibility depends on your documents and enrolment. Check with your host university’s student services before you arrive.
