Where can you go out as a student in Lyon? Bars, culture, gastronomy, sport and nature along the Rhône

Located right in the city centre, a stone’s throw from the banks of the Rhône, the INSEEC Lyon campus (25 rue de l’Université, Lyon 7e) is ideally placed to take advantage of the city’s wealth of cultural, festive and gastronomic attractions. Studying in Lyon means living in a city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its quality of life, dynamic student population and friendly atmosphere.

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Nightlife

Bars and nightclubs: a lively nightlife scene

From the Presqu’île to the banks of the Rhône, Lyon has an eclectic festive scene that students love.

Lyon’s bars are numerous and varied, with a high concentration around the Presqu’île (Rue Sainte-Catherine, Rue Mercière, Rue de l’Arbre Sec) and the banks of the Rhône. A few not to be missed:

Delirium Café: Belgian beers and an international atmosphere.
Le Sucre: electro rooftop on the roof of La Sucrière, in the Confluence district.
Le Démodé: dancing, blind tests, DJ sets.
Ed’s Original Public House: the perfect bar for a quiet drink with your mates!
Bro’s: two large terraces in Brotteaux (Lyon 6). Specialising in beer, Bro’s offers a wide choice of draught beers!

Dance the night away:

Le Petit Salon: electronic music and house.
Le Terminal Club: underground and techno.
The Ninkasi Cordelier: craft beer, concerts and a club in an iconic venue.
Les Poupées Russes: If you want to party with friends, try the Poupées Russes bar. The bar also closes at 3am and happy hour sometimes lasts until 1am!
Ayers Rock: iconic bar-disco in the heart of Lyon (4 rue Désirée, 1ᵉʳ arrondissement), open Monday to Saturday, 8.45pm to 6am.
Le Plouf: Formerly the Ayers Rock Boat, is a barge moored at 21 quai Victor Augagneur (Lyon 3ᵉ), which oscillates between bar, pub and club.

Festivals and cultural events not to be missed

Lyon lives to the rhythm of artistic, musical and lighting events throughout the year.

Fête des Lumières (December): 4 days of light shows all over the city. An international event.
Les Nuits de Fourvière: music, theatre and dance in the ancient theatre, with renowned artists.
Nuits Sonores: a not-to-be-missed electro festival, often held in unusual venues (Halle Girard, H7…).
Lumière Festival: dedicated to classic cinema, in the city where the Lumière brothers were born.
Woodstower: An eco-responsible festival just outside Lyon, combining electro, rap and pop music in a natural setting in the Parc de Gerland.
Reperkusound: A not-to-be-missed festival of electronic and urban music, held every spring in Lyon, renowned for its festive nights and international artists.

These events are an opportunity to discover Lyon in a different way, by day and by night, and to enjoy an accessible and lively culture.

Sport and nature in the heart of the city

Large green spaces, modern sports facilities and a river as a playground.

Lyon is an ideal city for keeping active while enjoying pleasant surroundings:

Parc de la Tête d’Or: France’s largest urban park, with its lake, tropical greenhouses, free zoo and expansive lawns.
The banks of the Rhône and Saône rivers: miles of trails for running, cycling, picnicking or simply strolling.
Croix-Rousse and Fourvière: perfect for lovers of running and panoramic views.
The Rhône swimming pool (Tony Bertrand water sports centre): an open-air Olympic pool on the banks of the river, perfect for swimming with a view.

Students can also join one of Lyon’s many sports clubs or take advantage of the university facilities (pitches, halls, fitness facilities, etc.).

Gastronomy

Typical Lyon gastronomy

Lyon is THE capital of French gastronomy, with a popular and generous culinary tradition.

Students can discover or rediscover the pleasures of the table, often at affordable prices:

Les bouchons lyonnais: small traditional restaurants serving specialities such as tablier de sapeur, quenelles de brochet, cervelle de canut and andouillette. Key districts: Saint-Jean, rue Mercière, Croix-Rousse.
Brioche with pink pralines: a must in Lyon’s bakeries.
Les Halles Paul Bocuse: the temple of gastronomy, for a feast or simply a stroll.
Le Ninkasi: combining craft beer, local burgers and a friendly atmosphere.

Gastronomy is part of Lyon’s art de vivre, and students make the most of it.

Access, mobility and practical life

A town on a human scale but perfectly connected, ideal for both study and leisure.

Metro, tram, bus (TCL): 4 metro lines, 5 tram lines and over 100 bus lines. Stops just a stone’s throw from the INSEEC campus.
Vélo’v: France’s leading self-service bicycle hire service, with stations located throughout the city.
Perrache & Part-Dieu stations: TGV links to Paris (1h55), Marseille, Geneva…
Lyon is a pedestrian-friendly city, particularly in the student areas (Guillotière, Presqu’île, Part-Dieu).
Dott / Tiers: Two self-service electric scooter and bicycle services, available throughout Lyon.

Training courses

INSEEC courses in Lyon

A professional, urban campus rooted in the local economic fabric.

INSEEC Lyon offers professional courses from bac to bac+5:

BTS: in customer relations, international trade, marketing, management, etc.
Bachelor & BBA: 3- or 4-year programmes with a specialisation or international focus
Grande École programme: an academic programme of excellence with a Master’s degree.
Masters of Science: work-linked, specialising in finance, digital, management, sport, wine, sustainable development, etc.

The campus is in close proximity to major companies, start-ups, institutions and incubators.