Bars: There are (surprisingly for this city in the south of France) plenty of pubs to choose from: take your pick from the Red Clover, 30 rue de la Verrerie, O'Neil, rue d'Italie, Queen's Head, 11 rue St-Jean, O'Sullivan's, place des Augustins or The Old Bulldogge, 32 rue Emeric David. For something a bit more French, try Le Bistrot Aixois, 37 cours Sextius, or the IPN, 23 cours Sextius, both perennial favourites with students. Or for something a bit more upmarket, Les Deux Garçons on the Cours Mirabeau is a good place to while away an evening.

Clubs: The high student population means that there is no shortage of clubs in Aix-en-Provence. The choice is vast: from the well-established Le Mistral, 3 rue Frédéric Mistral (near the Cours Mirabeau) (http://mistralclub.fr), a monument to loud music with a notoriously fickle entry policy, and the place to see and be seen; to venues like Les Templiers, route d'Avignon, in the Lignane district, a house music venue featuring top-notch DJs, or Le Divino, 4039 route de Sisteron (www.divino.fr), a smaller funky club. There are special student nights in many venues, so check local guides for the latest information.

Live Music: The Hot Brass Jazz Club, chemin d'Eguilles, near Celony (www.hotbrassaix.com), is a good place for jazz, while those more into rock should head for Le Bistrot Aixois, 37 cours Sextius.