Are you a student wondering about the best cities in France to study abroad? These are my top picks as someone who has studied in France!
I spent a semester studying abroad in France in college, and I have spent an extended amount of time living in France after college.
I’ve traveled widely across the country, and these are my top recommendations on the best cities to study abroad.
1. Paris
Am I biased in putting Paris at the top of this list? Maybe… I did study abroad here, after all! In all seriousness, Paris is my top pick for studying abroad in France.
All of the best universities in France are located in Paris, with esteemed institutions like the Sorbonne, Université Paris Cité, and Sciences Po. It’s a world-class city with some of the best art, culture, and museums on the planet.
There’s no place like Paris to study abroad. The Latin Quarter has traditionally been the student neighborhood of Paris, filled with ancient narrow streets, historic buildings, and tons of cafes and bars that come to life at night.
Since the Latin Quarter is more expensive these days, you’ll find many students living in the hip neighborhoods of Bastille, République, Oberkampf, and Belleville.
It’s definitely the priciest city in Paris to study abroad, but it’s worth it for the unparalleled lifestyle you’ll have here.
2. Lyon
As France’s third-largest city, Lyon is another great place to study abroad that is less overwhelming (half a million people versus 2.1 million people!) and more affordable than Paris.
You can get a lot more for your money here (AKA an apartment that’s larger than a closet that you might not have to climb five flights of stairs to reach) and it’s basically like a smaller version of Paris with lots of great things to do.
This city has it all: history, museums, beautiful architecture, and delicious food. It’s also better than Paris for immersing yourself in the French language, since fewer people in Lyon speak English than they do in Paris.
3. Grenoble
Grenoble is the best place to study abroad in France if you want to be close to the French Alps. This small city of 160,000 people is located in the foothills of the mountains in southern France, so the scenery around you will always be breathtaking.
Although it’s a small city, there are numerous universities here, so it has a great student community and you can meet international students from all over the world.
When you aren’t studying, you can head into the mountains for hiking or skiing and snowboarding depending on the time of year.
4. Toulouse
Another great city for students in France is Toulouse. Located in the southern region of Occitanie, Toulouse is the fourth-largest city in the country with a population of nearly half a million people.
This is one of the most affordable big cities in France, with prices beating Paris and even Lyon, so you can stretch your money a lot further here.
Toulouse is a beautiful city with a lot of things to do, and it’s known for its vibrant student life. It’s also a major culinary destination within France, so foodies will love it.
5. Strasbourg
Strasbourg is another awesome place to study abroad in France. This city is located in the beautiful Alsace region, right on the border with Germany.
Culturally, it feels like a blend of France and Germany. Strasbourg is especially spectacular in December when the city hosts its unbelievable Christmas markets. This is a great place to study abroad if you want to explore more of Europe — you’re just a train ride away from many cities and towns in Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. It’s also only 1 hour and 45 minutes from Paris by train.
The city of about 275,000 has lots of students, and you’ll constantly feel like you’re in a fairytale with the colorful half-timbered buildings of Strasbourg.
6. Montpellier
Montpellier is one of the best underrated cities in France to study abroad. This city with a population of 275,00 is located in southern France, just a few miles from the coast. There are some amazing Mediterranean beaches very close to the city, so this is a great place to study abroad if you want to be close to the sea.
This is a youthful city with a large population of students, and it’s also one of the most affordable cities in France.
If you study abroad in Montpellier, you can even head to Spain on the weekends — several cities including Barcelona and Girona, as well as the beaches of the Costa Brava, are within a few hours by train.
7. Bordeaux
Next up on the list of the best cities in France for studying abroad is Bordeaux. With around a quarter of a million people, Bordeaux is a decent-sized city on the southwestern coast of France, about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Paris by high-speed train.
It’s best known for being at the heart of France’s wine-producing region. Need I say more? This is a great city for wine enthusiasts and foodies in France.
The city itself is extremely beautiful and charming, and you have easy access to the stunning countryside where you can tour plenty of wineries and vineyards.
8. Lille
Finally, Lille is a great place to study abroad in France. With 230,000 people, it’s not a huge city and yet it’s only one hour from Paris by high-speed train.
Many students live in Lille and there are several universities in the city, including the largest university in France. It has a significantly lower cost of living than Paris, so you can stretch your money a lot further here.
Lille is located in northern France near the border with Belgium, so it has some Flemish influence. It’s a great place to travel from because you can take the train to Brussels in 45 minutes (and many other cities in Belgium in under 1.5 hours), London in 1.5 hours, and Amsterdam in 2.5 hours.
Best Cities In France To Study Abroad
These are the best cities in France to study abroad.
Studying abroad in France is a great way to immerse yourself in a new culture, explore new destinations, meet new people, improve your French, and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience as a college student.
Hopefully this list gave you an idea of the best French cities for studying abroad!
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