A popular safe haven for hard-drinking students and grungy granola freaks, this college town hosts a crushing amount of diversity. Grenoble’s suburbs are home to the city’s immigrants; the old city houses an eclectic mix of Indian and North African cultures, not to mention an extensive international student population. Ringed by the pristine French Alps, the city is a cheap and relaxing option for eco-conscious types who aren’t as into nature as they’d like to be, but still love the odd hour-long hike or afternoon ski; regular buses to various trailheads transport diehards to the beginning of their seven hour treks through the mountains and snow. Refreshingly, Grenoble’s bars cater almost exclusively to local students as opposed to tourists, and as a result are some of the cheapest in France.