Places to be in Rennes
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 Rennes, 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 Rennes:
- Sainte-Anne / Centre - Quartier étudiant mythique, à deux pas de la rue de la soif
- Villejean-Beauregard - Nord-ouest, campus Rennes 2, desservi par le métro, moins cher
- Beaulieu - Est de la ville, campus INSA et Rennes 1, proche du parc des Gayeulles
Free places to study
Libraries and study spaces open to students in Rennes:
- Les Champs Libres - Bibliothèque, musée et espace des sciences au centre, espaces de travail
- Bibliothèques de l'Université de Rennes - BU Centre et BU Beaulieu, horaires élargis en période de cours
Going out in the evening
The areas students head to after dark:
- Rue de la Soif (rue Saint-Michel) - Un bar tous les 7 mètres, cœur de la vie nocturne étudiante
- L'Ubu - Club et salle de concerts (indie-rock, électro)
- Guide des bars de nuit (Office de Tourisme) - Sélection officielle des bars de nuit rennais
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 Rennes?
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 Rennes?
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 Rennes Ville et Métropole · 2026-06-20
- ESN Rennes Sans Frontières · 2026-06-20
- Les Tombées de la Nuit (arts de la rue) · 2026-06-20
- Les Transmusicales (musiques actuelles) · 2026-06-20
- Rue de la Soif (rue Saint-Michel) · 2026-06-20
- L'Ubu · 2026-06-20
- Guide des bars de nuit (Office de Tourisme) · 2026-06-20
- Les Champs Libres · 2026-06-20
- Bibliothèques de l'Université de Rennesofficial · 2026-06-20
- Language Exchange à Rennes (Meetup) · 2026-06-20
- Réseau STAR (Rennes Métropole) · 2026-06-20
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