Nightlife in France is usually best in Paris and the major cities. University towns and coastal resorts during summer or alpine resorts during winter are also a good plan. Paris nightlife Europe's biggest city is busy regardless of the time of year. See Timeout Guide to bars and pubs in Paris. The happening areas of Paris in terms of nightlife are the Marais, the Bastille and the rue Oberkampf area. Franceguide.com Nightlife Guide List of Paris nightclubs (in French) Major university towns: Lille, Montpellier, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nancy, Strasbourg and Rennes have large student populations and are fairly lively during semester. Other major cities in the south such as Marseille and Nice have plenty going on year round. Coastal summer hotspots: Cannes, St Tropez, Biarritz, Hossegor, Ile de Re, Deauville Country nightclubs France has a curious set up with nightclubs in the regional areas. Often nightclubs are located between towns and many of them have swimming pools. Festivals-Fetes-Feria These are annual festivals usually held in southern towns and cities that last for between two and seven days. The whole town stops and parties virtually non-stop. See the Festivals page. Bar tips If you are drinking spirits you can buy a whole bottle over the bar at around double the takeaway price (still cheap) They will give you unlimited mixers and ice. If you dont finish the bottle they will write your name on it and hold it for six months Instead of shouts the French will all put 10 or 20 Euro each in a dish or ashtray and the barman will just take out of that until it needs topping up. Cafe-Bars are open for breakfast and will serve you a beer if the mood takes you. Cafe-Bars usually do good cheap meals such as steak and chips (breakfast, lunch and dinner) Many bars have a TAB (called PMU in France) where you can have a punt. Bars have to display their prices on a prix des consomations card Drinking at the bar is cheaper than being seated out the front with waiter service. Tipping is not essential but often a good idea