Your Erasmus Roommate Might Be a Saint…or a Nightmare. Here’s How to Survive Either
/The Unfiltered Guide to Erasmus Co-Living in Athens
Sharing a flat in Athens? You’re not alone. Literally. Here's how to stay sane when your roommates test your every nerve
So, you’ve landed an Erasmus spot in Athens…
Congrats!
You’re about to eat like a king, party like a mythological beast, and live in an apartment that’s... well, shared.
With strangers.
Possibly five of them.
Possibly from five different countries.
Possibly with only one working bathroom.
Welcome to Erasmus co-living—where culture, chaos, and clogged drains collide in beautiful, hilarious, occasionally soul-crushing harmony.
This is your guide to surviving (and even enjoying) the ride.
The Erasmus Roommate Genome: Who You Might Meet
Let’s break down the usual suspects:
The Ghost
They vanish Monday morning… and return Sunday night.
Sometimes leaves passive-aggressive notes about fridge space.
No one knows what they study, if they eat, or whether they’re a hallucination.
The Party Animal
Every night is Friday night.
Brings home strangers, speakers, and smoke.
Always says “just one more drink” — and means six. You'll like them until midterms.
The Chef
Cooks three-course meals at 11pm.
Owns 17 spices, 2 blenders, and zero desire to share fridge space.
The apartment always smells amazing. You’re always hungry.
The Online Phantom
Has 8 Zoom classes a day.
Never leaves the room.
Might be building a startup or binge-watching telenovelas—no one knows.
Will unplug the Wi-Fi during your exam if you don’t make peace early.
The OCD Legend
Cleans everything.
Even things that don’t belong to them.
Leaves chore lists, buys toilet paper, and eventually breaks down crying when no one else contributes.
Deserves a statue in Syntagma.
The Apartment Itself: Not Exactly the Acropolis
Here’s the truth:
Most Erasmus flats in Athens were not built for 2025 humans.
More like 1978 Greek uncles who were fine sharing a single ashtray and a tiny bathroom.
Expect:
One bathroom for five people (with that one roommate who takes 45-minute showers)
A tiny shared kitchen where everyone’s trying to boil pasta at the same time
Noisy neighbors that somehow party harder than you do
AC units that barely work, and only in the living room
But hey—you’re not here for luxury. You’re here for memories.
And with the right attitude (and earplugs), you’ll survive just fine.
The Great Door Debate
To open or to close?
Some flats are “open door,” where roommates flow in and out like a Greek taverna.
Others are “closed door,” where everyone lives in a little bubble.
Pro tips:
If you want quiet, signal it early
If you want connection, bring wine
If you want both… move into a monastery
Communication = Salvation
Here's where 99% of drama starts: Nobody talks.
You think the dishes will clean themselves.
They think your hair in the drain is a hate crime.
The tension builds. Someone cries over a cucumber.
Fix it like an adult:
Create a WhatsApp group on Day 1
Set basic rules: cleaning, groceries, guests
Say things before they explode
And please… don’t do the post-it note thing. You’re not five.
Toilet Paper Economics 101
You will run out. You will think someone else will buy it.
You will be wrong.
Buy a giant pack.
Hide a few rolls in your closet like a wartime strategist. Trust no one.
Cooking vs. Coexisting
Everyone thinks they’re tidy until it’s 2am and they’ve left a tornado of tzatziki and forks in the sink.
Golden rules:
Wash what you use
Label your food unless you enjoy cold wars over hummus
Don’t steal cheese. That’s unforgivable
Bonus tip: Have one or two group meals early on.
It bonds the house and reveals who can’t cook to save their life.
Bedroom Boundaries (a.k.a. Keep Your Pants On)
Hookups happen. That’s life.
But if your roommate’s boyfriend starts using your shampoo, it’s time for a talk.
Set boundaries:
No surprise guests staying five nights in a row
No loud bedroom Olympics at 3am
Respect closed doors. Always
If things get weird?
Blame it on Greek plumbing. Works every time.
Late-Night “Fun” — Without the Aftermath
Erasmus life in Athens comes with energy, freedom, and yeah… sometimes questionable judgment.
But here's the thing: your apartment isn’t a nightclub—and if it turns into one, your lease might vanish faster than your Friday plans.
Most student landlords (us included) have a zero-party policy—and for good reason.
Your neighbors aren’t just students.
They’re families, elderly folks, and sometimes a very cranky lady named Maria who will call the police if she hears Despacito after midnight.
Instead?
Take the fun outside.
Athens has rooftop bars, beach clubs, and 24/7 kebab joints with better vibes than any living room DJ setup.
You can still live it up—just don’t burn the roof down doing it.
Maintenance: Who Fixes What?
Spoiler: Not your landlord.
Not unless something explodes.
So…
Know where the fuse box is
Have a bucket, mop, and bleach at hand
Find that one roommate who’s handy and bribe them with beer
And whatever you do: Don’t leave mystery leaks for the next person. That’s criminal.
The Unexpected Magic
Yes, there will be annoyances.
Yes, you’ll consider murder when someone eats your avocado.
But you’ll also:
Watch sunsets on the roof with new friends
Learn three new cuisines and four swear words
Cry-laugh over shared chaos and cold showers
Erasmus co-living isn’t just about survival—it’s a rite of passage.
It teaches you how to live with others, tolerate chaos, and maybe (just maybe) become the kind of person who refills the ice tray without being asked.
🏁 Final Word: You’re Not Just Sharing a Flat
You’re sharing a season of your life.
Make it count. Be kind, be clear, and maybe wash a dish or two that isn’t yours.
And if you want a place that’s actually designed for students—not tourists, not business bros, not Greek uncles from 1978—check us out.
RoomsAthens has been housing thousands of Erasmus students for over a decade.
We get the vibe. We get the struggle. And we make it 10x smoother.
