Forget the city centre: Europe’s students are quietly redrawing the map of where to live

As peak season for student housing kicks off, HousingAnywhere data shows a 35% jump in neighbourhood-filter searchers — yet most students still default to the most obvious, most competitive areas, even when better-connected, more affordable alternatives are just a few stops away.

Amsterdam, June 25, 2026 — The race for student housing ahead of the new academic year is in full swing, and the data shows it. Across Europe, students searching for a place to live for the new semester are firmly in peak season. HousingAnywhere, the trusted rental platform for students in Europe, reports a 15% month-on-month increase in the number of students actively searching for accommodation in May compared to April.

More tellingly, the amount of students using HousingAnywhere’s neighbourhood filter rose by 35% month-on-month over the same period. The increase shows that, even at this early stage, students already have clear ideas about the kind of area they want to live in once they arrive in their destination city, and are actively narrowing their search accordingly.

Looking at unique searchers activity across HousingAnywhere’s top European countries* between January and June 2026, HousingAnywhere’s top 10 most-searched neighbourhoods in Europe are: Mitte (Berlin), Ixelles (Brussels), Madrid Centro (Madrid), L’Eixample (Barcelona), Friedrichshain (Berlin), Charlottenburg (Berlin), Prenzlauer Berg (Berlin), Kreuzberg (Berlin), Etterbeek (Brussels) and Sol (Madrid).

Five of the top ten spots belong to Berlin alone. That weight tracks with Germany's standing among international students: according to UNESCO figures, Germany hosts more than 400,000 international students and doctoral candidates, making it the most popular non-English-speaking study destination in Europe.

HousingAnywhere’s data points to a curious mismatch. In almost every city analysed, the city centre is the single most-searched neighbourhood. But when the platform surveyed students directly about what matters most in a rental, proximity to university (mentioned by 33% of respondents) and good public transport connections (32%) ranked above being close to the city centre (14%).

The gap suggests many students, especially those moving from abroad, default to the centre simply because it’s the area they’ve heard of — not necessarily because it best fits how they want to live.

Antonio Intini, CEO of HousingAnywhere:

"Students who start their search now — and who look beyond the most obvious neighbourhoods — will have significantly more options. Our data reflects this: use of the neighbourhood filter rose 35% month-on-month in May, yet when we survey students, proximity to public transport and university consistently ranks higher than being in the city centre. Many students, particularly those moving from abroad, simply don't know which neighbourhoods best fit their needs. That's exactly the gap we want to close. With over 110,000 listings in Europe’s top student cities, and a safe online rental platform, HousingAnywhere gives students the breadth to search smarter and find a home that matches their vibe."

To help close that information gap, HousingAnywhere’s student housing experts have identified, city by city, the most sought-after neighbourhoods alongside a lesser-known alternative that offers a comparable student experience with less competition.

Madrid: The most-searched area is Centro, but experts point to Barrio de las Letras as a compelling alternative. It offers a similar atmosphere to Centro, with the same narrow, historic streets, but at slightly lower rents — and a rich cultural scene of bookstores, and independent theatres that makes it especially stimulating for students after an authentic Madrid experience.

Barcelona: L’Eixample tops the search rankings, but Vallcarca stands out as the city’s hidden gem. Sitting right next to trendy Gràcia and its lively squares, it mixes elderly locals and young residents into a neighbourhood full of everyday life, lower rents, and a quirky touch all its own: mechanical staircases that carry residents up its hillside streets.

Valencia: Benimaclet leads the search volumes, while Ayora offers a quieter alternative. It’s a more residential side of the city that still stays well connected to the centre and university areas, with lower rents than the tourist-heavy neighbourhoods nearby and a strong sense of everyday local life.

Sevilla: El Porvenir is the city’s hidden gem: a calm, tree-lined alternative to Sevilla’s busier districts, with elegant architecture and a relaxed residential feel. It gives students access to the city’s daily life — local markets, neighbourhood bars, genuine community — at prices below the historic centre.

Málaga: Las Olletas offers a genuine slice of Málaga that most newcomers never discover. Tucked between the city centre and the hills, it’s a working-class neighbourhood with strong local character, affordable rents and solid transport connections — in a city that is fast becoming one of Spain’s most exciting.

Milan: Porta Romana ranks highest in searches, while NoLo (North of Loreto) is the city’s standout hidden gem. Bordered by Loreto and Pasteur, it has become a hub for independent shops, street art and a young, multicultural professional crowd — with slightly lower rents, solid metro connections, and a local scene that’s only getting better.

Rome: Trastevere draws the most searches, but San Saba offers a rarer combination: a peaceful, residential atmosphere with easy access to the city’s major universities and landmarks. Nestled between the Aventine Hill and Ostiense, it’s one of Rome’s quieter hidden gems, with green streets, a strong community feel and significantly less housing competition than the more popular student areas.

Florence: Centro Storico leads the rankings, while San Niccolò offers one of the city’s most charming, authentic alternatives. Sitting at the foot of the Oltrarno hills, just across the river from the historic centre, it combines small artisan workshops and beloved local bars with views up to Piazzale Michelangelo — at rents slightly more accessible than the tourist-heavy north bank.

Berlin: Mitte is by far the most-searched neighbourhood, but Oberschöneweide is the city’s most distinctive alternative. Built around the Wilhelminenhof campus of the Berlin University of Applied Sciences and Technology, this former industrial riverside district has been transformed into a modern campus area with a growing creative and startup community — giving students affordable housing, a strong peer network, and waterfront recreation all in one.

Munich: Maxvorstadt tops the search volumes, while Freiham stands out as the city’s most future-facing alternative: a new urban development with modern housing stock, significant infrastructure investment, and far less competition than established student areas, all with easy S-Bahn access into the centre.

Hamburg: Eimsbüttel ranks first in searches, but Wilhelmsburg offers a one-of-a-kind setting on Hamburg’s Elbe islands — diverse, multicultural and significantly more affordable than the city’s central districts. Recent urban regeneration has brought new energy to the area, giving students lower housing competition, a unique waterfront setting, and easy access to both the city centre and green recreation.

Amsterdam: Centrum is the most-searched area, while Amsterdam Zuidoost is fast gaining ground among internationals. A modern, diverse neighbourhood with excellent connections to Schiphol, Amsterdam South and the city centre, it offers some of the largest green spaces in the city and is known for venues like the Johan Cruijff ArenA and Ziggo Dome — combining urban energy with real housing value for students priced out of the centre.

Rotterdam: Centrum leads the search rankings, but Prins Alexander delivers excellent value and connectivity, with train, metro and bus links covering the city efficiently, access to the city’s largest shopping centre, and proximity to university and business areas — a strong quality of life at a rental price that’s hard to match closer to the centre.

Paris: The 6th arrondissement draws the most searches, while the Butte-aux-Cailles area in the 13th arrondissement offers a uniquely village-like experience of Paris: cobbled streets, low-rise buildings, and a lively street art and bar scene that belongs to locals rather than tourists. Well served by metro lines 6 and 7, it sits close to several university campuses around Place d’Italie.

Lyon: While the city centre areas rank highest in searches, La Guillotière in the 7th arrondissement stands out as one of Lyon’s most multicultural and energetic neighbourhoods, with a vibrant, diverse food scene unlike anywhere else in the city. Direct access to Université Lyon 2 and Lyon 3 campuses along the Rhône, combined with excellent tramway and metro connections, makes it as practical as it is interesting — at rents noticeably lower than the Presqu’île or Croix-Rousse.

HousingAnywhere’s message to students this peak season is simple: the earlier the search starts and the wider it spans, the more options students will have. With over 110,000 listings across the top European student cities, the platform allows students to search not only by city but by university, with a map view that shows public transport connectivity, hotspots and areas of interest, plus filters built specifically for student needs — from room type and bills-included listings to flatmate preferences and deposit-free options.

HousingAnywhere is present in Europe’s top student cities across various countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and beyond, excluding the UK, Ireland and Switzerland.

About HousingAnywhere

HousingAnywhere is Europe's leading rental platform for students. The marketplace offers a safe, online booking experience by connecting students from around the world with verified property providers across 125 European cities. Advertisers (from landlords to property managers) list their rooms, apartments and studios and collect their rent safely, while tenants stay protected online. HousingAnywhere users are usually 18–35 year-old students seeking mid-term rentals (6–12 months) to unlock the potential of the next chapter in their lives.

The HousingAnywhere Group represents three student-focused brands: HousingAnywhere (Europe), Kamernet (the Netherlands) and Studapart (France). In 2024, the HousingAnywhere and Studapart marketplaces collectively generated 60,000 bookings, and Kamernet had 80,000 paying subscribers. Headquartered in Rotterdam, the company employs 250 professionals.

Press contact

For more information, please contact press@housinganywhere.com. For more reports, go to the press page.