SAINT-ETIENNE FAQ`S
By Bus: Located near the homonymous SNCF train station, the Saint-Étienne Châteaucreux bus station hosts several bus companies such as FlixBus, Eurolines or OUIBUS. The latter offers trips to and from many French cities. Ticket prices will also vary depending on your departure city.
By Train: The main railway station in Saint-Etienne is the Gare de Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux. The latter is served by many trains (TGV, TER, Intercités). It has a direct connection with Paris-Gare-de-Lyon via a stop at Lyon-Part-Dieu. The station is also a hub for connections between TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes lines. From most French cities, you will have to plan a passage through a Lyon train station. Prices will vary depending on your city of departure.
By Plane: The neighboring Andrézieux-Bouthéon airport now only welcomes private flights. However, you can land at Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport and then reach Saint-Étienne by bus. The company OUIBUS offers daily and regular trips between the fourth airport in France and the city of Saint-Étienne.
Société de Transports de l'Agglomération Stéphanoise, or STAS operates a public transport network and infrastructure in and around Saint-Étienne. Its responsibility is to provide tramway, trolleybus and bus service in the fifteen communes of the Saint-Étienne agglomeration.
The STAS is also operating an automatic bike sharing service called Velivert. A smartcard is needed to operate these.
For further information refer to Getting Around - Saint-Etienne.
Saint-Étienne is a city in the central eastern part of France, 60 km (40 miles) southwest of Lyon. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Saint-Étienne is the prefecture (capital) of the Loire Department. It is situated in the Massif Central.
Saint-Etienne is a former mining town which has a strong industrial history, a center for the production of arms, textiles, and it's here that the first French bicycle manufacturing began more than 100 years ago.
When mining ceased the city reinvented itself as a center of design excellence and it's this bold outlook that's evident everywhere in the city today. There are sculptures, murals, incredible modern buildings, and one of the largest assembly of Le Corbusier (Swiss architect, pioneer of modern architecture) designed buildings anywhere in Europe.
It is not on the main tourist route but for those interested in architecture and modern design, ther's plenty to see and do here. Not far away is the beautiful countryside offering a chance to get out of the city and explore and enjoy the rural side of this part of France.
If you plan to visit Saint-Étienne, you will necessarily wonder in which neighborhood to stay. Several choices are available to you: the Historic Center, Villeboeuf and Fauriel, or Crêt-de-Roc.
As for accommodation, the most classic will surely opt for a hotel room. For something more unique or personal accommodation, you can also choose to stay in an Airbnb apartment.
The best time to visit is from May through October. These month offer pleasant temperature and almost no precipitation. The highest average temperature in Saint-Etienne is in the 80's in July.
What is the language spoken in Saint-Etienne?French is the official language spoken in Saint-Etienne. It's best to learn a few phrases and pick up a good English-French guidebook or app on your phone to help you get around. And familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the currency in France? Can I pay/tip in US dollars?In France, the currency is the euro, and travelers can exchange their dollars for euros at the airport exchange booths or kiosks throughout the region. Since the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates, be sure to check what the current exchange rate is before you go. When it comes to tipping, visitors should note that service charges are usually included on restaurant bills, though it is common to round out the bill with a small tip. Tipping hotel staff a euro or two for their services is also customary.
What should I do if I need medical assistance?In an emergency dial 112 is the general emergency services number or 114 for hearing assistance.