- 16 min read-
“NON-cee” not “NAE N- see”. Planning on spending a year or a semester in Nancy, France? After spending a year studying in Nancy at ICN I have created what will hopefully be helpful for those planning on living there. So, here I have the guide to all your questions and answers that you probably didn’t know you needed.
HOUSING
Where
Location. Location. Location. I say it all the time, but it really does account for like 60% of my decisions when deciding where to stay.
Each area of Nancy has its ups and downs.
Staying near school means that walking to class is easy and you won’t have to deal with the morning tram (or lack thereof). Living close to ICN also allows you to eat lunch at home. You are not as close to downtown Nancy (20 min tram ride, 40 min walk). Which is not too bad, except when you want to go out or come home any time after 22:30 (11:30pm), because the tram stops running until about 5:00 am.
Downtown Nancy, on the main strip or near the city center is an ideal location. Close walking distance too almost everything, except ICN. There are some random Airbnb places that are along the main strip and then near the train station and the canal there are some aparthotels. The main strip and near it has shopping, restaurants, bars, the tram line and more.
The other main location for housing is near where the old ICN building use to be. There are a couple of student residences (Totem & Pythagore) that were once a great location for school, now they are just alright. They are about a 15-20 min walk to the center of Nancy. It is 30-40 minutes to school depending on if you use the bus or not. Beware that many of the people that stayed in the residences did not have electricity for the 1st week they moved in (apparently this is normal). Electricity is also separate and wi-fi is not included.
Adagio Aparthotel (aka Cheese Grater/ Spaceship)
This is where I personally stayed and in comparison, to most of the other places I was satisfied with my decision. Adagio is a modern recently built hotel next to the canal. They have front desk people there from breakfast time until about 7pm. Adagio is about an 8 min walk to Place Stanislas (Center of Nancy). A burger place and a grocery store are around the corner(2min) from the entrance gate. The tram is right in front of the building, so school is about a 20 min ride. The doors/gate have code access, so you never have to carry a key. The room itself comes fully furnished and equipped with kitchen ware and bedding. The full-size bed is a bonus. The washer and dryer are on the 1st floor (€4 to wash/ €2 to dry, soap included). If I did it over, I would stay here again.
General Housing Info/Tips
Electricity: Ask if you will have it when you arrive. Know if electricity is a separate bill and how to pay it.
Price/Paying: Prices vary depending on the type of housing, location, if you are sharing etc. Average price range is (€ 240- € 600). Make sure you ask if the housing is eligible for CAF, which is essentially free money from the French government to assist with housing costs. Some places will allow you to pay with your home bank card/account and others will require you to have a French bank account.
Aparthotels: Usually have everything included and are part of a hotel. Best type unless you are looking to share a place with someone else.
Home-stays: These are rare and not widely available in Nancy.
Some housing owners will not allow one semester students to stay.
Ovens: Unless you are in a nice apartment or Airbnb, it is unlikely that you will have an oven. They do not exist. Hotplates/stove-tops and microwaves are your friend.
The washer and dryer are a unique situation for each place, but usually cost about €4 to €6 a load.
1st floor actually means the 2nd floor, the ground floor is 0.
ICN should give you a link to a housing portal you can access to decide where to live once accepted in the program. Someone from France will call as well to help.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting There
Plane. Train. Tram. Car. Possibly a combination of all four. Now if you are not coming from one of the surrounding countries and must fly, let me explain how you will arrive. The Paris CDG airport is most likely the airport that is combined going to be the cheapest and closest to Nancy. Following is 2 of the basic routes to choose from:
CDG ➡ RER (B) ➡ Gare du Nord ➡ Paris Est ➡ Nancy Gare
The RER is located within the airport just follow the signs, only costs about €10. There are kiosks in the airport to buy tickets (because these cannot be purchased in advance). Exit the RER at Gare du Nord. After exiting you will need to find your way out of the station and on to the next. The Paris Est station is about a 4-minute walk if you know where you’re going or use GPS. Buy the train ticket from Paris to Nancy sooner rather than later, prices will increase. (You can buy in advance online at www.oui.sncf.)
CDG ➡ Lorraine TGV ➡ Lorraine Bus ➡ Nancy Gare
The TGV train is in terminal 2 along with the RER (B). A transfer will take place at the Lorraine station where you will then get on a bus. The bus will then transport you to Nancy!
The 2nd option is faster; however, I just check which price is better. There is a bus that you can take, but nobody wants to spend 5 hours on a bus
Daily
Depending on where you live you will probably use one or two types of transportation more than the others.
1. Tram
The tram (STAN), that you will both love and hate during your stay. It is the fastest form of transportation locally *cough* cough*, unless they are on strike (which does happen frequently 😑). There is a stop right next to ICN, so, if you live close to a stop, the tram is easy to take. The tram will make you feel like you are (S)melly, (T)oo close to people, (A)ngry, and (N)ervous.
Single tickets can be bought at almost any stop, but the pass is purchased at the train station. Beware if you plan on going out at night that the tram usually does not run past 11:30 pm and does not start until about 5:00 am Always check the times or you will be walking (#been there). Also, the tram police will randomly get on the tram to check if you have a ticket/pass and if it is validated. A fine up to €80 is possible if caught, just saying. The tram does not go in a full circle of the route just in case you think you can go all the way around, you definitely cannot.
2. Bus
There are multiple bus routes throughout Nancy and easily used with the same pass that is used for the tram. It is mostly handy if you live in certain residences. The bus also has limited hours.
3. Bike
Bikes are available to rent for about € 2 for 24 hours. Which is actually pretty nice, you just have to use a credit card, no cash/coins. You could also buy a bike, that is one thing that I wish I would have done.
4. Scooter
I will let you discover this one on your own.🛴
5. Walk
Move your legs. No, but really, Nancy is a walkable city for the most part.
Travel
Traveling from Nancy is relatively easy. It would be easier if you were living in Paris, but you are not. So here are the options…
1. Train
Nancy Gare is the train station, you can travel to many places from here. A lot of the time you will have to take a train to Paris or Luxembourg first and then take the train to your destination. The “carte jeune”, a student discount card for about €50, will give you decent discounts on your train tickets (it's worth it). If your ticket is mobile only, screenshot it in case there is no service. Most tickets you can print at the kiosks in the station with your credit card and reservation number. Tickets printed at the kiosks need to be validated before boarding the train. Set an alarm if you plan on napping so you don’t miss your transfer/stop. Trains are probably the most hassle-free way to travel.
2. Bus
The rides are long, but they are cheap. If you have time and don’t mind sitting on a bus it can be a really affordable way to travel. There are several companies (Oui, Flix, Eurolines, etc.) beware of the pickup/drop-off location, in Nancy it is not at the train station. The pickup/drop-off for some is at the complete end of the tramline and if the drop-off is at 2am, the tram is not picking you up (be prepared to call a taxi in French). The busses do have wi-fi and stop for breaks.
3. BlaBlaCar
A long-distance Uber. Basically, people that are already traveling by car can pick up strangers and charge them for a seat in their car (in advance). The profiles have pictures, reviews and verifications on them, so you know what ones to avoid. It is good for last minute travel and a lot less scary than you think.
4. Plane
Flying is great but remember that you are in Nancy, not Paris. So, flying may also include a bus, tram and or train to arrive at the airport. Luxembourg is one of the better options because they have Ryanair flights and there is a shuttle bus (Flibco) that is about €5 and takes you directly to the airport from Nancy.
Flying out of Paris is not as simple as you would like it to be. Budget airlines rarely use ORLY of CDG, they use Beauvais, which is a trip in itself. Look at other options before choosing Beauvais. The Strasbourg airport is a decent option as well. Always check your baggage limits, print tickets if needed and know that budget airlines are notorious for being delayed, but overall a safe bet and worth the risk.
Always remember your passport even when you think you do not need it.
FOOD
Lunch at School
ICN will have a 2-hour lunch break and unless you live close to the school or pack here are the options for lunch.
Maison Kanazawa: Japanese restaurant that has the best rice. Bento boxes, and desserts available too. Accepts card and to go or eat in.
Mexillico: A French attempt on Chipotle. Burritos, quesadillas, nachos etc. If you get a meal it comes with chips and salsa, a drink and if you show your student card they will give you a free cookie. Dine in or to go.
Nathalie Lalonde: Otherwise known as the bakery around the corner from Mexillico. Their quiche lorraine is my favorite. A variety of cold sandwiches are available and many delicious pastries. Also, you can ask for anything to be warmed up (chaud, s'il vous plait). Card minimum.
Emilie Sushi Bar: About a block over from ICN. The sushi and ramen bowls are pretty good. If you are going with a group be prepared to wait a while. There is a high card minimum, so bring cash or group your orders and Venmo later.
Au Bon Chaud: Arguably has the Panini Poulet. Which is a chicken panini that I probably ate at least once a week if not more. If you eat in, you will also have a salad and water with your sandwich. The owner gives a student discount if you have your student card. The pastries are wonderful as well.
There are other options that you will discover as well, such as pizza places like Dino’s, the knock-off Dominos, the actual Dominos. ICN has a dining cafeteria. Last resort, there is Carrefour a small grocery store.
Dinner
Eating is important to the French, which means that a 4-hour meal is common. Dinner won’t start until about 19:00 (7pm). Do not show up at a restaurant at 17:00(5pm) they will likely be closed. If you have a large group, see if the restaurant takes reservations, restaurants are typically small. For free tap water ask for “une carafe d'eau” otherwise it is cheaper to order beer or soda. Place Stanislas and nearby have many great dining options.
A few recommendations à Voyou, 101 Patates, Jack Tavern, Little Italy, Bagelstein and Kebab shops (Coyote Kebab has the best fries in Nancy). Do not eat at Buffalo Grill. Also, andalouse sauce is the best so enjoy it while you can.
Groceries
As nice as it sounds, eating out for every single meal every day is unrealistic and you will have to go to the supermarket at one point. The following are the main options depending on where you live in Nancy. Lidl (€), E.Leclerc (€€) Carrefour(€€) Monoprix (€€€). Bring a bag because they will not have plastic ones, you can buy a reusable bag for less than a euro.
NIGHTLIFE
Bars: There are enough that you do not need to go to McCarthy’s every night. I repeat there is more than just McCarthy’s. McCarthy’s does have a lot of space and the Coyote Kebab place (best fries in town) is across the street. They have space that you can reserve in the basement for large groups. Although, there are many other cool bars: Pub Le Phoenix, Le Mouton Electric, La Quincaillerie etc. At most bars the cheapest beer is about €4 and going up from there, just remember pre-drinks are your best friend.
Clubs: Let me be honest, none of these are out of this world, but it is what Nancy has to offer so, work with it. The larger group that you can get to go, usually the better the time you will have. Les Caves and La Place are side by side in Place Stanislas (cover €3 to €5). L’appart is another option, usually a cover and there is a coat check for about €2. Underground aka (The Love Bar) has two main areas for dancing, it is close to McCarthy’s and there is usually no cover. There are a few others, but those are the most centrally located. Most of them are open until 4 or 5 am and nothing really happens until 12:30 am at the earliest. Also, realize that unless you can walk home or have a car, a taxi will be your only option home (there is no Uber). As far as the music, there is usually a mix of American, French and a variety of other genres. Some nights there will be themed music like 90s R&B hits.
THINGS TO DO
Even though you may be planning on traveling every single weekend, you will get exhausted and want to stay home for a weekend or two occasionally. There are also the evenings after class or days when you will only have one class. So, what is there to do in Nancy other than eat, drink and drink again. Let me share with you my friends…
Movies: There are 2 theaters in Nancy. Films in English are on Wednesday @UGC. Student discounts are available with an ID.
Parc de la Pepiniere: Great place to just hang out with friends. There is a place to play football(soccer), basketball and plenty of room in the grass for frisbee, volleyball etc. The park also has an ice cream place open on the weekends, a randomly placed zoo and a flower garden.
Gym Membership: Not a personal favorite, but Nancy does have a few gyms that you can join. Basic Fit (near Place Stanislas), Keep Cool (near ICN) and a few others.
Bowling: There are two in Nancy. PopKfe, the nicer of the two, they have several bowling lanes, pool tables, a bar, dining and Ben & Jerry’s. Bowling de Vandoeuvre-Nations is the other which is closer to ICN and is more low key, less crowded and a little cheaper.
Museum/Aquarium: Both are free on the 1st Sunday of each month.
Ride Bikes: €2 for 24 hours. There is a lake/river (Meurthe) that you can bike to and hang out. The rest of Nancy is great for biking as well just watch out for the tram.
Events/Fair/Festivals: Throughout the year Nancy will have different events going on whether it is a music festival, the month-long carnival in April or an open market in the park.
There is also a trampoline park, go karts and golf course. None of which I made it to, but may be worth checking out.
And if you still want to escape Nancy there are a few easy cheap day trips. Metz, Strasbourg, Colmar, Reims/Epernay the champagne region and Luxembourg City. All of which are about 2 hours or less by train from Nancy.
PHONE PLAN
The cheapest and easiest plan is Free Mobile. For €20 a month, you will receive unlimited data & calling in the EU and a hotspot. The kiosk center is in the center of the mall and there is a guy there to assist that speaks English. Just remember that Switzerland and a few other places you may visit are not part of the EU and you will be charged extra for usage.
SCHOOL
ICN is a unique place that you will grow to love and hate. Here are some general tips as you will learn that things are always changing. Check out my other post about the difference between American and French Universities to get an idea of what grades, projects etc. are like.
Coffee: is 30 to 40 cents, take advantage of that during your breaks. Not the best, but it serves its purpose.
Library: Only open until 6pm (hopefully they change that). There are rooms that you can rent out for group projects.
There will be approx. 15 classes each semester and groups in almost every class. Make a spreadsheet or document that organizes your groups and classes because you will get confused.
All classes are 3 hours long. At one of these time frames (9:00-12:00 or/and 14:00-17:00). There will be a 10 – 15 minute break in the middle.
Homework is not really common; projects and tests are a majority of your grade. Do not procrastinate until the last week and have 10 projects to finish.
Have an open mind, otherwise you will not enjoy your time.
DISCOUNTS
Your visa/passport along with the international student ID (ISIC) that you will receive, will help you save money.
Many of the tourist attractions in Paris will be free entry including the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe climb.
Flix, Oui and Eurolines are all buses that offer a discount with your ISIC card
Disneyland in Paris – 20% off
Some restaurants (the non-fancy ones) offer a student discount
Many other cities will have various discounts, just ask if you are unsure
That about covers it, anything else you will figure out on your own or struggle trying.
Bonne Chance!
Oh, and be a Future Global Decision Maker.
- Morgan
Link to PDF version click here