Places to be in Nancy
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 Nancy, 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 Nancy:
- Ville Vieille - Cœur historique, épicentre de la vie nocturne étudiante (rue des Maréchaux).
- Charles III - Quartier commerçant central, proche de la place Stanislas et du campus Sciences Po.
- Boudonville - Quartier résolument étudiant proche du campus Lettres et Sciences Humaines, loyers plus abordables.
Free places to study
Libraries and study spaces open to students in Nancy:
- Bibliothèques universitaires de Lorraine - Réseau de BU avec nocturnes étendues en période d'examens.
- Bibliothèque Stanislas - Bibliothèque patrimoniale du centre, salle de lecture et wifi, gratuite pour les moins de 26 ans.
Going out in the evening
The areas students head to after dark:
- Sortir à Nancy (Grand Nancy) - Guide officiel des bars et lieux de soirée, concentrés autour de la Vieille Ville et de la place Stanislas.
- Bars de Nancy (JDS) - Sélection de bars et pubs étudiants du centre-ville.
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 Nancy?
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 Nancy?
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
- Destination Nancy - Agenda et grands événements · 2026-06-20
- ESN Nancyofficial · 2026-06-20
- Le Livre sur la Place · 2026-06-20
- Jardin Éphémère (place Stanislas) · 2026-06-20
- Fêtes de Saint-Nicolas · 2026-06-20
- Sortir à Nancy (Grand Nancy) · 2026-06-20
- Bars de Nancy (JDS) · 2026-06-20
- Bibliothèques universitaires de Lorraineofficial · 2026-06-20
- Bibliothèque Stanislas · 2026-06-20
- Meetup - Nancy · 2026-06-20
- Réseau Stan - Pleine Lune · 2026-06-20
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