ORANGE - FAQ`S
Orange is accessible via the Avignon-Caumont Airport, which is served mostly by low-cost airlines. The two closest airports are Marseille Provence Airport and Nimes-Garons Airport.
The distance from Marseille Provence Airport to Orange is 60.3 miles. The easiest way to get to Orange is by train. There is a free shuttle available to take you from Marseille-Provence Airport and Vitrolles-Aeroport Marseille-Provence train station, journey time is about 5 minutes. The train ride from Vitrolles Aeroport Marseille-Provence TER to Orange will take between one hour and fifteen minutes to just over two hours, a direct route is the fastest with an average journey time of 1 hour and nine minutes. The fare will cost between €16 - €25. There is an average of 7 trains per day that go to Orange with the first train departing around 6:17 am and last train departing around 10:36 pm.
Car Rentals are available at Marseille Airport: Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcare and Sixt are all available and open until 11:30 pm every night. Travel time from the Marseille airport to the city of Orange is about 2 hours. Orange is located near the junction of the A7 and A9 autoroutes.
Taxis are located right outside the Marseille Airport. A taxi ride will cost between €65 - €215 and the ride will take about one hour and 15 minutes. This is a good option if you have booked on an early flight to/from Marseille Airport or just prefer to take a taxi.
Nimes airport, 30800 Saint Gilles, Tel. (+33) 4 66 70 49 49, is located about 50 miles from Orange, FL with a drive time of approximately one hour. Train, bus, taxi and car rental are options available to get to your final destination.
The modern Gare d`Orange (train station), Avenue Frederic Mistral, is located 6/10 mile east of the city center. Orange Station is served by TGV (high speed train) and TER (regional train). The train station is centrally located, between a 10 - 15 minute walk to the city center.
What are my transportation options to get to Orange by bus?The City of Orange has 3 bus lines. You will be able to discover the schedules pricing visit: www.flixbus.com/bus/orange. Departures from Paris, Marseille, Aubagne and Toulon Orange destinations are available. The bus stop is at the Arc de Triomphe in Orange.
How do I call/hail a taxi?Taxis can be ordered by calling, the following are taxi services within the city: Anthony Taxi (Tel. 06 75 66 56 99), ETK (Tel. 04 90 340 01 35), Michel Taxi (Tel. 06 1631 31 26), Taxi AO (Tel. 04 90 34 02 66), Taxi Balmer (Tel. 06 66 71 58 02).
Is Orange a walking city?Orange is small and a great city for walking, and in some area, it is the only option. The historic center of Orange is like a small town with narrow streets, picturesque squares and its famous Roman Theater and Triumphal Arch.
I will have a car in Orange, where can I park?Car parking is quite limited right in the historic center, but there`s a large car parking lot at the western edge of the center where the D17 and D976 routes intersect. Just north of the historic center near the Triumphal Arch and only a short walk from the Hôtel Lou Cigaloun, the Parking Sully has 160 free places.
Another lot is southeast of the Roman Theater on the Cours Pourtoules by La Poste, the main post office. About 8 blocks north of the center, at the Arc de Triomphe, you`ll find free parking. It is only about a 10-minute walk back into the center, and there`s a free navette (shuttle bus) between the Arch and various points of interest in the town.
Unlike larger French towns, Orange does not have large numbers of beggars and pickpockets that can make a nuisance of traveling. Still, you are advised to look after your belongings in crowded areas.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?The currency of France is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted. Most of the top restaurants, shopping centers, boutiques, hotels, etc. accept credit cards.
What is the weather like?Orange has a warm, humid subtropical climate, with too much rainfall in summer to have a `Mediterranean` classification. The summers are warm and relatively dry, with seasonal averages around 88°F. Most rainfall occurs in spring and autumn. During the winter and early spring, it can get rather chilly, but even in January and February, the average temperature remains in the mid-50s and fairly mild.
I don`t speak French. Will many people speak English?French is the official language spoken in Orange. However, the staff of most tourism-related venues (hotels, restaurants) speaks English, and plenty of attractions (museums, guided tours) feature a wide openness to the English speaking public. We suggest you get a good English-French guide book and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the food like?The food in Orange is Provencal relying heavily on the use of olive oil, herbs, and the Mediterranean Sea. The fresh and flavorsome cuisine traditionally eaten in this region more resembles Italian, Greek or Spanish cuisine than it does typical French fare. Popular dishes include bouillabaisse (a robust stew made with tomatoes, saffron and several varieties of fish and shellfish), salad Nicoise (a vegetable, tuna and anchovy salad) and fruits (traditionally eaten as snacks and dessert).
There are many good restaurants in the center of Orange. There are a few nice terraces on Place des frères-Monet and Rue Madeleine Roch, near the tourism office and across from the Roman Theater. You`ll find other restaurants located on the different town squares, including the Place de la Republique and Place Clemenceau.
Value-added tax (VAT) rate is currently 20% in France for standard goods. A reduced rate of 10% applies to restaurants, transport, and certain medical drugs. And a 5.5% tax applies to food, water and non- alcoholic beverages, books, some entertainment events and some domestic personal services.
What are the events that take place in Orange?February: Ice Rink
April: Camerone
May: Dance Galas
June: Musiques en Fête (by the Chorégies d`Orange), Music Festival, Jazz Festival
July: Chorégies d`Orange, Producers Market, Orange festival of classical theater
August: Chorégies d`Orange, Music Festival of Orange, Giant screen cinema
September: Roman Festival, Triathlon du Ventoux
October: Terre de Vaucluse Rally
December: Exhibition of Christmas crib figures in the Orange Tourist Office, Christmas market, Fireworks
Emergency dial 112
Hospital Louis Giorgi – Av. De Lavoisier, 84100 Orange, France. Tel: +33 4 90 11 22 22