Places to be in Clermont-Ferrand
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 Clermont-Ferrand, 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 Clermont-Ferrand:
- Place de Jaude / centre-ville - Centre vivant avec bars, restaurants et commerces, bien desservi par le tram.
- Les Cézeaux / quartier des facultés - Proche du campus scientifique, vie de quartier étudiante.
- Beaux-Arts - Quartier animé, fréquenté par les étudiants.
Free places to study
Libraries and study spaces open to students in Clermont-Ferrand:
- Bibliothèques universitaires - UCA - Réseau des BU dont la BU Lafayette (Lettres, Langues et Sciences Humaines), horaires en ligne.
Going out in the evening
The areas students head to after dark:
- Bars étudiants de Clermont-Ferrand (Capitaine Study) - Sélection de bars étudiants, concentrés autour de la place de la Victoire et de la place de Jaude.
- Bars de Clermont-Ferrand (Schlouk Map) - Carte collaborative des bars de la 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 Clermont-Ferrand?
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 Clermont-Ferrand?
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
- Clermont Auvergne Tourisme - Agenda · 2026-06-20
- ESN Clermontofficial · 2026-06-20
- Festival international du court métrage de Clermont-Ferrand · 2026-06-20
- Bars étudiants de Clermont-Ferrand (Capitaine Study) · 2026-06-20
- Bars de Clermont-Ferrand (Schlouk Map) · 2026-06-20
- Bibliothèques universitaires - UCA · 2026-06-20
- Meetup - Clermont-Ferrand · 2026-06-20
- Réseau T2C - bus de nuit · 2026-06-20
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