Places to be in Lyon
The student neighbourhoods, the libraries to study in, where to go out in the evening, and how to live well on a budget.
Updated 2026-06-20
Knowing where to go makes a new city yours. Here are the student neighbourhoods of Lyon, the best places to study for free, where people go out, and how to eat without breaking the budget.
Student neighbourhoods
Where students tend to live and hang out in Lyon:
- La Guillotière - Central, mixed and student-heavy on the Rhône's left bank.
- La Croix-Rousse - Village feel on the hill, popular with students and creatives.
- Presqu'île - City-centre peninsula between the two rivers, lively and central.
Free places to study
Libraries and study spaces open to students in Lyon:
- Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon (La Part-Dieu) - Largest municipal library in Lyon, central in the Part-Dieu district, network of 16 libraries.
Going out in the evening
The areas students head to after dark:
- Vieux Lyon - UNESCO Renaissance quarter packed with bouchons, wine bars and pubs at night.
- La Croix-Rousse - Former silk-weavers' hill, bohemian bars and terraces, nicknamed the Montmartre of Lyon.
- La Guillotière - Cosmopolitan district popular with students, alternative bars and late-night spots.
Eating well on a budget
CROUS university restaurants serve full meals at a subsidised student price (around 3.30 EUR, about 1 EUR for scholarship holders). Find every site and the menus on the official CROUS map.
Common questions
Where should an international student live in Lyon?
Look first at CROUS residences (cheapest, apply early) and the student neighbourhoods listed above. Use Visale (a free state-backed guarantor) if a landlord asks for a guarantor and your family is abroad. See our guide on living in France for the full housing route.
Where can I study for free in Lyon?
University libraries (BU) and the municipal libraries listed above are free and have long opening hours, especially in exam season. They are also a good place to meet other students.
Sources
- Agenda - Ville de Lyon · 2026-06-20
- ESN CosmoLyonofficial · 2026-06-20
- Fête des Lumières · 2026-06-20
- Fête de la Musiqueofficial · 2026-06-20
- Vieux Lyon · 2026-06-20
- Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon (La Part-Dieu) · 2026-06-20
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