Les Ulis City Guide
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France

Les Ulis City Guide

Les Ulis, a modern commune in the Île-de-France region, is about 25 kilometers from Paris. Established in 1977, it was designed as a planned community with modern architecture and many green spaces. It sits on the Courtabœuf plateau and is close to the Chevreuse Regional Park, blending city convenience with natural beauty. It's a quieter suburban option near a major city, with a significant business park hosting various companies.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Traditional French cuisine is prevalent. International options include Italian and Asian. Vegetarian dishes are available.

Local Dishes:
Coq au vin, Boeuf bourguignon
International Cuisine:
Italian, Asian, North African
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Poor
3

The nightlife scene is limited with few bars or clubs; more vibrant options are in Paris.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

More traditional cafes are common, third-wave coffee shops less so. Better options in Paris.

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Tipping
Not Required

Service charge usually included in restaurant bills. Tipping appreciated for good service: 5-10% in restaurants, a small addition for taxis and services.

Top Attractions
Parc Nord des Ulis
Outdoor
Large green space with lakes for walking and jogging.
Cultural Center Boris Vian
Cultural
Performance hall for cultural events.
Le Centre Commercial Ulis 2
Shopping
Shopping mall with various outlets.
Lac des Ulis
Outdoor
Artificial lake for walking and bird watching.
SIM Cards

SIM cards can be purchased at major provider stores or newsstands in Ulis 2. Providers like Orange and SFR offer good coverage and eSIMs.

Available at:
Orange
SFR
Free Mobile
Bouygues Telecom
Recommended Apps
Citymapper/Google Maps(Transportation)
Uber/Bolt(Transportation)
Too Good To Go(Food & Drink)
La Fourchette (TheFork)(Food & Drink)
Doctolib(Healthcare)
SNCF Connect(Transportation)
Le Bon Coin(Shopping)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

Good municipal standards for cleanliness. Regular waste and recycling programs.

24/7 Services
Limited
4

Limited 24/7 options. Late pharmacies and convenience stores; more services found in Paris.

Groceries
Carrefour Ulis 2
Weekly market at town square

Major supermarkets offer a range of international products. Ulis 2 has a large Carrefour hypermarket, and a weekly market offers fresh produce.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

High cashless readiness; card payments are widely accepted, and contactless options are common.

ATMs

ATMs are easily found at major banks and in shopping centers like Ulis 2, with standard international ATM fees applying.

Schools
International

Local schools primarily use French. International schools are mainly closer to Paris.

Available Schools:
American School of Paris
British School of Paris

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
6
Available Spaces:
Le Lab Saclay
Collaborative workspace in nearby Palaiseau.
Coworking Massy
Flexible workspaces in Massy.
Spaces Massy
Professional coworking environment in Massy.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Limited
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
2

Les Ulis is more residential, with limited nomad community infrastructure. Major community is in Paris.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
9

Many parks and green areas with good access for outdoor activities. Offers shaded walks and running paths.

Running
Excellent
8

Great running paths in parks and greenways; trails in Chevreuse Park add variety.

Gyms
Available

Local sports facilities offer tennis, swimming, and fitness activities. Gyms like Fitness Park are available.

Available Gyms:
Sport Indoor
Fitness Park
Tennis
Good
6

Tennis courts are available at local facilities.

Padel
Poor
3

Less common than tennis but growing. Specific courts might be in the region.

Yoga
Good
6

Studios available in town or nearby with drop-in classes.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Local sports centers offer judo, karate, and possibly other disciplines. Check for English instructors.

Skiing
Poor
1

Not available. Closest ski resorts are in the Alps or Pyrenees.

Water Sports
Poor
2

Limited to small-scale kayaking and paddleboarding on rivers or local lakes.

Surfing
Poor
1

Not available. Closest spots are over 600 km away on the Atlantic coast.

Diving
Poor
1

Inland with no typical dive sites. Coastal diving is far.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
9

France has a high-quality healthcare system. Larger hospitals in the Paris area likely have English-speaking staff.

Hospitals:
Hôpital Bicêtre
Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou
Pharmacies:
Pharmacie des Ulis
Pharmacie Centre Commercial
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe and undergoes strict quality controls.

Common Scams
Pickpocketing in crowded areas, Street petition scams, Fake charity collectors

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Parks like Parc Nord and Lac des Ulis provide family activities. Kid-friendly cafes are standard but not special.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Excellent
8

France is accepting of LGBTQ+ people. Most events and venues are in Paris.

Pet Friendly
Good
7

Pet-friendly with many accommodations allowing pets. Parks are suitable for dog walking.

Communities
Les Ulis communauté (Community)
Expats Paris-Saclay (Expats)

Quick Facts

Population
25,785
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Very high due to a well-developed national grid. Outages are rare and short.

Languages
French(90%)
English(25%)
Emergency
112
European emergency number
15
SAMU
17
Police
18
Fire Brigade

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
1

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
July, August
Temperatures may exceed 30°C.

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