Insider’s Guide
to the Cité Internationale
Universitaire de Paris (CIUP)
Bienvenue à la Cité Universitaire ! Paris is a big place, so
for starters, we’ve put together this guide to the
essentials in your new home. The CIUP is an
international student housing complex, with 40 houses
and over 1800 residents from all over the world. Here’s
what you need to take advantage:
General resources:
Facebook groups: CIUP Events, Inter CIUP, CIUP Job
CitéScope : http://www.ciup.fr/citescope/
Ma Cité U : http://www.macite-u.com
CULTURE: Le Théâtre de la Cité Universitaire: Theater is
very popular in France, and the CIUP is a great place to
discover international performers: 7€ for students!
http://www.ciup.fr/en/theatre/
Art-hopolis: The first Wednesday of every month from
7pm-9pm, hop from one house to the next for the
exhibition openings of international artists! Openings are
FREE and open to the public (wine and snacks included).
Guided Tours: Not much is open in Paris on Sundays, so
why not take a FREE tour of the other houses? Tours are
in French, and take you to three different houses to
explore their impressive art collections, gardens and
architecture. The second Sunday of every month:
2:30pm - 4:30pm at L/Oblique:
http://www.ciup.fr/en/l-oblique/
Concerts: Many professional musicians live at the CIUP
and they will perform for you for FREE! The Fondation
des Etats-Unis (FEU) hosts a rendez-vous musical of
classical and contemporary music every other Sunday at
5pm. http://www.feusa.org/cultural-events/
Film: If you leave Paris without going to the cinéma,
something’s wrong…
For those who prefer English subtitles, check out Lost in
Frenchlation: http://lostinfrenchlation.com/
Otherwise, there’s the Ciné-club: international film
screenings at different houses and theaters near the
CIUP: FREE - 5€! http://www.ciup.fr/citescope/
Language exchanges: Feel like you’re not getting enough
French practice in? Or maybe you want to work on your
Spanish, Arabic or Russian? Check out the Espace
Langues! Weekly FREE conversation groups at the
Maison Internationale.
http://www.ciup.fr/bibliotheque/espace_langues/
SPORTS: If you’ve already seen the excessive Parisian
gym membership rates, you may be panicking about
daily your baguette intake. Not to worry! The CIUP
offers a gym membership starting at 20€/month or
40€/semester. If you want to take dance classes, or are
into boxing, scuba diving, or capoeira, prices go up to
30€/month or 60€/semester. http://www.ciup.fr/sports/
Dance classes: Prefer dancing to weightlifting? Some
houses and nearby universities also offer dance classes
and don’t hesitate to try something new!
Tango classes: Maison de l’Argentine, 3rd Wednesday of
every month: 8:30pm- 10:45pm, 2€
Swing: Les Soirées Rock Télécom: swing dance events at
Télécom Paris, a university right down the street from
the Cité Universitaire:
https://m.facebook.com/SoireesRockTelecom
Le Parc Montsouris: And of course, don’t forget that one
of Paris’s most beautiful parks is right in front of you! Le
Parc Montsouris is a popular place for runners and sports
groups and classes, which are often open to outsiders. So
don’t hesitate to join in!
FOOD: CROUS Restaurant and Café
As a student in Paris, you don’t need to spend a lot of
money to feed yourself, thanks to the network of
CROUS cafés around the city. Just 3,25€ for an
appetizer, main course and desert at the Cité CROUS
Restaurant: http://www.ciup.fr/en/restaurant/
Open Monday-Friday, 11:45am-2:15pm and 6:15pm-
9:00pm. Maison Internationale, first floor. OR 3,60€ for
breakfast (hot drink, orange juice, yogurt, pastry, bread
with butter and jelly) at the Café in the main entrance
hall of the Maison Internationale. Open Monday-Friday
8:00am- 7:00pm and weekends 9:30am- 7pm.
Restaurant, Collège
d’Espagne
Ok…so now you’re
sick of CROUS meals?
Try some Spanish
food! Breakfast:
3,50€; Full lunch
menu: 8,90€; Daily main course: 5,50€; Full dinner
menu: 11€. Open Monday-Friday, unlimited service
7:15am-2:30pm, Saturday 8:30am-2:30pm, Sunday
8:30am- 10:30am.
http://www.colesp.org/index.php/es/servicios/restauran
te/tarifas-del-restaurante
Le Jardin du monde: Or maybe some home-grown
organic? A garden and greenhouse maintained by
residents, “disco brunches” and other all-organic food
gatherings are often held in this little green space at the
center of the CIUP, just in front of L/Oblique. All
residents are also welcome to get involved in the upkeep
of the garden!
https://www.facebook.com/jardin.du.monde.ciup
LOGISTICS:
Most houses have their own library, copy machine and
printers, but you can also use the Bibliothèque de la Cité
Internationale: Access: 2nd floor, Maison Internationale
Open 10:00am-10:00pm Monday-Friday, and 1:00pm-
7:00pm on weekends. Entry only with your CIUP
residence card (provided by your house), otherwise 3€
fee.
Printer and photocopier in color (You must purchase a
card in the print room at the back of the library, then re-
charge it with coins. The second printer which is
accessible during all building hours is at the library
entrance)
Bank: There is a BNP ATM and branch office in the first
floor entrance hall of the Maison Internationale.
Open Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:15pm
Post Office: There’s even a place to mail postcards back
to mom and dad! (Access just behind the main entrance
of the Cité Universitaire, in front of the Maison
Internationale). Open Monday-Friday 2:00pm-7:00pm
International Student Welcome Service (ADEI) (Access:
basement, Maison Internationale). Having Visa
questions? Don’t understand how to make your OFII
health appointment? That’s what this center was created
for. Open Monday-Friday 9:00am- 4:30pm:
http://www.ciup.fr/adei/