Saint Etienne is a small, mainly student town. Formerly a mining town, it still has a museum. Lyon is not far away, with a direct train line, so if you've had enough of Saint Etienne, you can go on to Lyon or explore the surrounding villages, all of which have their own charm.

In overall and in daylight I would say that this city is relatively safe. The almost constant presence of families and/or mothers out in the streets during the day can calm an anxious ming about harassment, and people generally mind their own business. There are still some places and neighbourhoods that I personally tend to avoid, where the population in the streets is almost entirely made of men.

Saint-Étienne is a rather calm city. Living in the city center, I don’t really have to deal with the more sensitive neighborhoods, but like in all cities, there are places to avoid. For women, it's a matter of vigilance, mainly just knowing the areas where it's better not to go.