France is a very popular destination for Erasmus students. Its culture and history, language and location are some of the reasons why this country is so popular among international students. If you are thinking about doing your Erasmus in France but you don't know which destination to choose, discover in this post which are the best Erasmus destinations in France.

Strasbourg

This city is located in the Alsace area, very close to the German border, so the architecture is a mixture of French and German architecture. Strasbourg is known for its canals and its historic district, the Petite France, characterized by its cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and canals.

During your Erasmus in Strasbourg we recommend that you reserve at least several days to visit the rest of the cities of the Alsace region. Many of these cities are only half an hour away by transport. Moreover, if you do it in winter you will be able to discover their famous Christmas markets. The Strasbourg Christmas market is one of the oldest and largest in Europe.

Lyon

Lyon is the third most populated city in France, and is a popular destination for students due to its culture, history and, above all, the great student atmosphere.

There you can visit its monuments and its historic center, included in the World Heritage. Of course, you will also be able to enjoy French cuisine, as Lyon is considered the capital of French gastronomy.

Another positive aspect of doing your Erasmus in Lyon, is that this city is quite close to the Swiss border, so during your Erasmus you can not only easily visit other French cities like Grenoble or Clermont-Ferrand, but you can also travel to other European destinations, either by bus, train or plane, since Lyon has an airport, one of the most important in France.

Being such a populated city, its cost of living is relatively high, although not as high as Paris.

Lille

Lille is located in the north of the country and is an increasingly popular university town for international students.

There are several educational institutions, such as the University of Lille, the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Lille (EDHEC), or the Ecole Centrale de Lille.

Due to the large number of students in Lille, the student and nightlife scene is very good. Most parties tend to be concentrated on Rue Massena or Rue Solferino. In addition, given the proximity to Belgium, you will find a great variety of beers in the pubs and nightclubs. It is also a relatively small city and most of the faculties are located in the city center, so you will have no problem getting around Lille. Another advantage of doing your Erasmus in Lille is that from there you can also travel easily to the rest of the French cities, but also to other countries like Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany. All this makes Lille one of the best Erasmus destinations in France.

Toulouse

Toulouse is located in the south of France and is also known as the "pink city", because of the terracotta color of its buildings.

Although it is a rather quiet city, you should know that every year it receives thousands of international students. In fact, it is said that more than 100,000 students live in the city. Students tend to gather in the areas near the universities, as there are many bars and restaurants. Also on the banks of the Garonne River and in the area around Saint-Pierre you will find bars and cafes where you can go for a drink.

París

As you know, Paris is the capital of France and is the most popular destination in the country. Some of the most prestigious universities in the country are located in this city, such as the Sorbonne and Sciences Po.

Although Paris is a great Erasmus destination, you have to know that the cost of living is high. But even so, it is a city that is completely worth it. There you can visit its famous monuments and its great variety of museums and galleries. In addition, there is always a great student atmosphere and a lot of partying practically every day of the week.

Another positive aspect of doing your Erasmus in Paris is that you will be able to travel easily to other cities in France, but also to other European cities, since there are three airports in Paris where low-cost airlines operate. Travel is guaranteed!

Nantes

Nantes is a city full of history, located in the region of Brittany, in the west of France. Here you can visit the castle of the Dukes of Brittany or the Isle of Machines, among many other places. In addition, Nantes is located near the west coast, so you can also make excursions to the beach.

Nantes is also home to the University of Nantes and the Audencia Business School, which offer a wide range of educational opportunities for international students. Although it is a relatively small city (about 300,000 inhabitants), it has a very good student and nightlife atmosphere.

This is our selection of the best Erasmus destinations in France. From Erasmus Play we hope it helps you.