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Living in Rennes

Located in the heart of Brittany, Rennes is a dynamic and welcoming city, renowned for its academic excellence, innovation and quality of life. A student city by nature, it offers a stimulating, green environment close to the sea. In 2025, it ranks among the best student cities in France, with a recommendation rate of over 90% according to L’Étudiant.

Discover Rennes

Located 90 minutes from Paris and less than an hour from the sea, Rennes ranks fourth in the list of the most liveable cities in France in 2025, according to the start-up Ville de Rêve.

The capital of Brittany is one of the best cities to study in France. It ranks fourth in L’Étudiant’s 2025 ranking of the best student cities, with a student recommendation rate for their city of 90.28%!

Rennes tops the 2025 ranking of the most attractive large cities (500,000 to 1 million inhabitants) according to the 8th edition of the Arthur Loyd barometer.

All the best things to do in Rennes here.

Rennes is a lively city where you’ll never get bored!

Visit the city centre

Lose yourself in the streets of the historic centre, discover the many terraces, eat local specialities, crêpes, galettes… Visit the iconic sites: Place de la Mairie, the Opera House, the Parliament, the Jacobins Convent, Saint-Pierre Cathedral and Place des Lices, which hosts the largest vegetable market in Europe every Saturday morning.

Going out

Rennes has a wide range of restaurants.

If you want to venture outside the city centre:

  • Morex Custom House for a festive atmosphere and dreamlike decor in Vezin
  • Whiteflields in Cesson for indoor or outdoor dining
  • AVEC in Chantepie for piercings or tattoos
  • Musikam in La Mézière for a karaoke night

Or the guinguettes for summer evenings: Le MeM, Origines, Parc des Gayeulles, etc.

You can find a list of some of Rennes top restaurants and bars here.

Cultural activities

Les Champs Libres, the Museum of Fine Arts, the National Theatre of Brittany, the Ecomuseum of the Rennes Region, the Frac, the Centre for Contemporary Art, the Liberté, the cinema, etc.

Book your guided tour here based on what you want to visit!

Recharge your batteries in green spaces

There are many gardens and parks where you can recharge your batteries:

  • Thabor Park
  • Tanneurs Park
  • Oberthür Park
  • Gayeulles Park
  • Saint-Georges Palace
  • Confluence Garden…

Beyond the parks and gardens, Rennes also has the Vilaine river and many spots for walking by the water. The towpaths are the perfect place for cycling, running, visiting the Saint Martin meadows, renting P’tits Bateaux boats to visit the city from the Vilaine…

Rennes regularly tops rankings of cities where it is good to live, study and work, thanks to several factors:

  • Its dynamic job market: Research & Development, IT, digital economy, hospitality and tourism, commerce, agri-food industries, creative and cultural industries
  • Its student population: its human scale, relaxed atmosphere, openness, proximity to the coast, green spaces and rich cultural offering
  • Events: numerous music festivals, spoken word events, street arts, theatre, cinema, dance, animated films, short films, street markets, trade fairs, etc.
Ville de Rennes, La Vilaine

Getting around

Rennes is a green city, ranking among the top 10 French cities with the most trees and 5th among the 50 largest cities in France in the latest Green City Rankings.

Cycling: Rennes has opted for environmentally friendly mobility options, with special discounts for students.

  • The Vélo STAR service offers around 650 bicycles spread across 55 stations.
  • The Réseau Express Vélo (REV) has 104 km of dedicated cycle routes, connecting Rennes to several towns in the inner suburbs.

Public transport:

Rennes has two metro lines and 149 bus lines serving the 43 towns of Rennes Métropole. Find all the practical information you need about the STAR bus & metro network here.

Place de la République à Rennes - transports

Get away from it all…

The Emerald Coast, the jewel of Brittany! Drive 45 minutes and you will arrive at the coast where there are many beaches to enjoy, Saint-Malo and its pretty walled town, Dinan, Dinard… If you want to explore the small coves with white sand and turquoise water, head to Crozon, Perros Guirec, 1 1/ hours from Rennes. You can also discover the surrounding islands: Île des Glénan, Île de Bréhat…

Ile de Bréhat en Bretagne

FAQs – Living in Rennes  

Why is Rennes regularly ranked among the best student cities in France?

Thanks to its quality of life, economic dynamism, rich cultural offering and human scale, Rennes attracts many French and international students every year.

How can students find accommodation in Rennes?

Rennes School of Business offers comprehensive support through its partner platform Studapart, partner residences (Twenty Campus, Constellation) and the Welcome Office, which assists students with all aspects of finding accommodation.

What are the means of transport for getting around Rennes?

Rennes has two underground lines, an extensive metropolitan bus network, numerous cycle paths and STAR self-service bicycles.

What leisure activities are available for students in Rennes?

Rennes offers a wide range of cultural activities (festivals, shows, museums, etc.), outdoor leisure activities (parks, towpaths, walks) and tourist attractions (Breton beaches, Saint-Malo, Dinard, Dinan, etc.).