Hipsters, Hoods, and Having Fun: The 5 Best Neighborhoods in Paris for Students
Coming up: cocktails, cafes, laptop-friendly brunch spots, student friends, cheap gyms, picnicking in massive parks, and lots of helpful info on where to live in Paris as a student.
For many reasons, Paris is a MASSIVELY popular place to study.
You get: world-class nightlife, friends from around the planet, great food and drink, and many other students.
But it’s a huge city—and different areas offer different vibes:
The city is broken up into 20 different neighborhoods (and some of those are broken up into even-smaller neighborhoods of their own)… so it’s hard to know which part of Paris to live in.
So, coming up, we’ve helped you pick a place:
Want to know where to live in Paris as a student? Where to find the top nightlife? Which neighborhoods have the best libraries and work-friendly cafes? How can you save some money? And the best way to find a nice home without any stress and hassle?
Coming up, your friends at Homelike have covered it all: here’s everything you need to know about the best neighborhoods in Paris for students!
Quartier Latin
Also known as the ‘Latin Quarter,’ this trendy funspot is home to the famous Sorbonne University.
(and for those who want to feel like they’re living in a cute little university town, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris for students).
Although it’s very central and very well-connected, it isn’t just a tourist hotspot: it also offers hidden-away narrow streets, student bars, independent stores and cafes, many lifelong locals, and lots of other students.
Basically, in the Latin Quarter, you can feel like both a local and a tourist… and it’s very easy to make friends. For a compromise of many different types of life, you won’t find anywhere better.
Rental Prices in The Latin Quarter
For a standard apartment, you can expect to pay around €36.80/m² per month here.
(but, of course: if you live with others—in the Latin Quarter or anywhere else in Paris!—you can dramatically cut down on your costs).
Some news: because the Latin Quarter is such a popular neighborhood, it’s hard to find a home here. Many students live in the area, many more students move to the area, and it’s also popular with families, couples, and young professionals.
So… you have lots of competition; making it tough if you don’t speak French.
An easy solution: we have many homes throughout the Latin Quarter. They’re all perfect for living and studying, they’re ready to move into today, and all utilities and internet are included (and organized for you!) in the price of the rent. Easy!
Affordable Eateries in The Latin Quarter
For finding cheap eats, this isn’t a great neighborhood:
Most places here are pricey, to take advantage of the tourists.
But some cut-price Latin Quarter offerings include the Middle-Eastern eats at Falafelo, the excellent Chinese food at modern and trendy TranTranZai, and the very-casual Dim Sum House Restaurant.
Study-Friendly Cafes and Libraries in The Latin Quarter
For finding work-friendly cafes, this isn’t one of the best neighborhoods in Paris as a student: because it’s a touristy district, cafes here are often busy.
That said, laptops are allowed in one room at Strada Cafe, and Dose allow laptops when it’s not too busy (and the coffee is phenomenal).
And it’s not all bad news: there are MANY chain cafes in The Latin Quarter (Starbucks etc)… and you can always work guilt-free in a multi-billionaire chain store.
The neighborhood is home to some excellent libraries, including the iconic and opulent Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève.
Fitness Facilities and Parks in The Latin Quarter
An excellent branch of the KeepCool gym is in the district… but you won’t find many other good fitness facilities.
For outside adventures, the Latin Quarter is home to the botanical garden of Jardin des Plantes… and it borders the always-busy Jardin du Luxembourg. They’re two of the city’s most popular green spaces.
Oberkampf
With a relatively young population and some of the city’s best nightlife, Oberkampf is a small area in the central(ish) part of Paris’ northern side.
For partying and bars, it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Paris for students. Here, you get all-night raves, big bar crawls, hip happy hours, lots of live music, and plenty more after-dark fun. People come from all over the city to drink and dance in Oberkampf.
Here, you’re around 3km (2 miles) from Sorbonne University… but most of the city’s other well-known universities lie on the other side of the Seine.
Rental Prices in Oberkampf
You’ll likely pay around €34.50/m² per month… but some of the posher parts of Oberkampf can cost up to €46/m² per month (or more!).
Affordable Eateries in Oberkampf
This is a high-end area, so don’t expect many cheap eats. Yep, you’ll find some small and affordable cafes and canteen-style places… but overall, if you want low-price food, this isn’t one of the best neighborhoods in Paris as a student.
Study-Friendly Cafes and Libraries in Oberkampf
You have some great options:
- Brunch-and-breakfast-serving Café Obrkof is comfy and cozy, and allows laptops for an hour or two.
- The excellent Unicorners Café Coworking is close to the neighborhood, and built specifically for coworking.
- Câlin Matin (minimalistic, with excellent coffee and cakes) is also close to Oberkampf, and also laptop-friendly.
- And in and around the nearby Marais neighborhood, you’ll find many excellent cafes.
It’s not all good news though: there’s only one work-friendly library in the neighborhood. And it’s the small Bibliothèque Parmentier.
Fitness Facilities and Parks in Oberkampf
Oberkampf is home to zero parks, and only a couple of gyms. You won’t find any exciting workout spots here. For keeping fit, this isn’t a good choice.
Belleville
Directly bordering Oberkampf to the east, up-and-coming Belleville is pretty similar to its nearby neighbor.
It offers a diverse population, great nightlife, and an underground art scene. If you want Oberkampf vibes with a slightly quieter life, this is where to live in Paris as a student.
Again, you’re close to Sorbonne University, while Belleville also offers many global eats (including a popular Chinatown!). Other perks of the neighborhood include world-class street art, an untouristy vibe, and people from around the planet.
Alluringly chaotic, Belleville is a great option for people who like gritty but central neighborhoods.
Rental Prices in Belleville
Here, you’ll likely pay around €41.40/m² per month.
If you head to the outskirts of the neighborhood (especially away from the city center), you might find something a little more affordable.
Affordable Eateries in Belleville
For chowing down on cheap Asian eats, Belleville is the place.
Expect dim sum, Vietnamese treats, and Asian street snacks you haven’t heard of.
Wen Zhou Mei Shi Lin and Chez Yu are two popular joints… while the neighborhood is also home to cheap burgers, sandwiches, and Ethiopian food.
Study-Friendly Cafes and Libraries in Belleville
Hip and trendy Le Barbouquin sits inside the neighborhood and is work-friendly, while the minimalist and popular Café Pimpin 20 sits just outside Belleville (and is work-friendly outside of lunchtime).
Meanwhile, the popular Naguib Mahfouz Bibliothèque is the neighborhood’s only library (but there are MANY more within a 15-20 minute walk).
Fitness Facilities and Parks in Belleville
The excellent Centre Sportif Rem-Gym lies just northeast of Belleville, and has a massive weights section, plenty of supplements, and many classes (including yoga).
In and around Belleville, you’ll also find pilates places, a Muay Thai gym, a boxing gym, and other ‘normal’ gyms.
And as a nice bonus, the neighborhood is als home to the hilly and view-packed Belleville Park. Good for hill sprints!
All in all, for keeping fit, Belleville is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris as a student.
Pigalle
If you’re only sticking around for a year or so, Pigalle is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris for students.
One of the city’s most touristy areas, living here makes you feel like a long-term visitor.
Right beside iconic Montmartre, and home to the Moulin Rouge, Pigalle was once the city’s red-light district. Now, it’s a little more tame—but it still offers cocktail bars, late-night hangouts, and lots of nightclub fun.
Very close to the European International University, Pigalle offers an alluring combo of students, locals, and tourists.
Other perks include lots of galleries, many events, good live music, and excellent proximity to the rest of central Paris—here, you’re only around 3km (2 miles) from the Seine’s northern banks.
Rental Prices in Pigalle
Prices are super varied here—expect to pay anything between €36/m² per month, and €50/m² per month. You’re likely to find the best prices in the district’s western corner.
No matter which part of Pigalle you choose, you might struggle to find a place to live here (just like in the Latin Quarter!). Lots of people want to live here, so competition is high.
But, we have a solution: our apartments in Paris are bookable right now, all utilities (including internet) are included in one price, and you don’t need to do any bargaining or negotiating.
Affordable Eateries in Pigalle
As you might have guessed, this isn’t one of the best neighborhoods in Paris as a student (well, as a student looking for affordable eats). You’ll find some low-price takeaway-style Middle-Eastern joints here, but little else.
Study-Friendly Cafes and Libraries in Pigalle
Pigalle is home to many artisan cafes (and many of them are fine with you working there):
KB Coffee Roasters has an outdoor patio, some of the city’s best coffee, and a section of laptop-friendly space (during non-busy hours), while La Compagnie du Café is another work-friendly roastery.
For drinking good coffee while working on your laptop, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris for students.
Louise Walser-Gaillard Bibliothèque is Pigalle’s most popular library.
Fitness Facilities and Parks in Pigalle
Though there are no big parks in Pigalle, you get many fitness facilities.
In and around the district, you get a branch of Keep Cool, lots more gyms, and the massively-popular CrossFit Louvre 3.
You can also expect personal trainers, yoga and pilates, and some exercise classes.
Charonne
For underrated and under-the-radar, this is one of the best neighborhoods in Paris for students.
Very close to both Oberkampf and Sorbonne Nouvelle University, it’s emerging as a hip place to live. You get great nightlife and cafes… but because it’s in the far-eastern side of the city center, you don’t get many tourists or much bustle.
Charonne is also very close to the excellent Bois de Vincennes park. Twice the size of Central Park, it features a botanical garden, a zoo, cycling and hiking trails, lakes and streams, pop-up events, and plenty more. You’ll always find students hanging out here.
This is a good choice for people seeking a slightly quieter life—relatively residential, most people who live in Charonne are families and young professionals.
Rental Prices in Charonne
Here, you can expect to pay around €31.05/m² per month
Affordable Eateries in Charonne
Big favorites for affordable eats include the burger-serving Mangez et cassez-vous, the hyper-informal Lebanese SANIOURA, and Le Provencal (where you get authentic French eats in what feels like a cozy time portal).
Because you’re almost on the outskirts of the city here, you’re within easy distance of a wide variety of affordable food—for cheap eats, it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Paris as a student.
Study-Friendly Cafes and Libraries in Charonne
For work-friendly cafes, this really isn’t one of the best neighborhoods in Paris for students.
Because you’re far(ish) from the center, you don’t get many hip cafes or artisan places. Instead, most cafes here double up as bars or bistros—and those places usually aren’t work-friendly.
But it’s not all bad news—there are MANY libraries in and around the neighborhood, some of them belonging to Sorbonne University.
Fitness Facilities and Parks in Charonne
As we mentioned, you’re right beside the humongous Bois de Vincennes park.
And in and around Charonne, you’ll also find a huge number of gyms (Fitness Park is particularly popular), and many places to practice yoga, pilates, and meditation. The neighborhood is also home to the super-popular Arkose Nation rock-climbing gym.
Best Neighborhoods in Paris for Students: Final Thoughts
Done! That’s everything you need to know about the best neighborhoods in Paris for students.
To sum up: Charonne is your top underrated pick, Pigalle is best for short-term stays, and the Latin Quarter is the best overall choice. But all 5 are top-quality options.
So… if you didn’t know where to live in Paris as a student, you do now!
But: as we said earlier, you’ll likely struggle to find a nice place to live. Paris is a hugely popular relocation hub… and without speaking French or having local friends, you’ll probably pay too much money for a subpar place.
So: move into one of our apartments! They’re all ready today, they’re all fully-furnished, and all utilities (including internet!) are covered in one fee. Which makes moving to Paris a whole lot easier.
Thanks for reading, thanks for choosing Homelike, and enjoy living in Paris. Bye for now!
