Students are a noticeable presence in the capital, where intellectuals are the French equivalent of American movie stars. The area surrounding the Sorbonne in the bohemian Latin Quarter is filled with students discoursing in smoke-filled cafés or browsing in crowded bookshops. Visiting students should have no trouble meeting their Parisian counterparts.

In keeping with a tradition of subsidizing education, Paris offers a variety of student discounts. Most museums and movie theaters offer students a tarif réduit of 20%-50%. Unsold theater tickets for the evening's shows can be bought at a 50% reduction at the Kiosques Théâtre (pl. de la Madeleine, 75008; nonstudents can also avail themselves of this offer.

For a detailed listing of deals for students in Paris, ask for the brochure "Jeunes à Paris" from the main tourist office (127 av. des Champs-Elysées, tel. 01-49-52-53-54). Also try Usit Voyages (12 rue Vivienne, 2e, tel. 01-42-44-14-00) for information on hostels, cheap accommodations, and student travel. France-USA Contacts is a twice-monthly publication, available free in restaurants and in most American and British bookstores, with useful information for visiting students.