Places to be in Tours
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 Tours, 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 Tours:
- Vieux-Tours / Place Plumereau - Cœur médiéval piétonnier, bars et terrasses, très fréquenté le soir.
- Les Deux-Lions - Campus sud au bord du Cher, résidences étudiantes et facultés.
- Velpeau - Quartier résidentiel proche gare, marché et vie de quartier.
Free places to study
Libraries and study spaces open to students in Tours:
- Bibliothèques universitaires de Tours - Réseau de BU, dont la BU des Tanneurs ouverte jusqu'à 19h.
Going out in the evening
The areas students head to after dark:
- Le Petit Faucheux - Scène de jazz et musiques improvisées, tarifs réduits étudiants.
- Le Pym's - Discothèque du centre, ouverte jeudi à samedi.
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 Tours?
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 Tours?
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
- Tours - Agenda de la Ville · 2026-06-20
- ESN Toursofficial · 2026-06-20
- Fête de la Musiqueofficial · 2026-06-20
- Aucard de Tours · 2026-06-20
- Le Petit Faucheux · 2026-06-20
- Le Pym's · 2026-06-20
- Bibliothèques universitaires de Toursofficial · 2026-06-20
- Tours Expat and International Community (Meetup) · 2026-06-20
- Fil Bleu - lignes de nuit N1 et N2 · 2026-06-20
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