TOURS FAQ`S

How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

Tours Val de Loire Airport is located just 20 minutes from Tours city center and St Pierre des Corps train station. There isn`t a shuttle bus to/from the airport. However, there is a tram/bus station just a short 10 minute walk from the airport. The Tram/bus stop is called Vaucanson, and here you can catch Tram A or bus line number 2 (Chu Trousseau direction) to Hôtel de Ville (city center) and Gare de Tours. For Bus 2 the stop for the Gare de Tours (main train station) is call Gare Vinci. The ticket machine is at the tram/bus station, one way is about €1.50 plus €0.10 for the rechargeable card.

How do I get from the train station to my hotel?

The impressive Tours Train Station, also known as the Train Station Gare SNCF de Tours, is the main train station in Tours. Located in the center of historic Tours, just 2 miles east of the Tours Train Station you`ll find the Gare de St Pierre des Corps - offering more frequent arrivals and departures of high-speed TGV trains than the main Tours Train Station. There is a convenient shuttle service connecting these two train stations.

If you arrive at St-Pierre des Corps station, 4 miles east of the city center of Tours, free shuttle buses will take you into the center of town.

How do I call/hail a taxi?

The most extensive taxi network is Taxis Tours (www.taxis-tours.fr; tel. +33 02-47-20-30-40).Their hotline has some English-speaking operators or you can usually find one in front of the train.

Is Tours a walking city?

Tours is a small place and walking is often the easiest and most pleasant way to get around. This is also the best way to discover the hidden gems of the city.

How do I get around Tours using public transportation?

Tours has an excellent modern tramway transport system and offers a convenient way to access the various sites of interest, especially for senior visitors and children.

Tours has buses and a tram line, a network called LeFil Bleu, www.filbleu.fr. Tickets can be purchased from automatic kiosks at a Tram station, from bus drivers or from their office. The price of a ticket is around €2.

The bus network in Tours is one of the best in France. You can buy a rechargeable bus/tram ticket for around €1.60 from a bus driver (including the first journey), which can be recharged at major bus/tram stops for about €1.50 per trip or about €13 for ten trips. These machines take cards and change, but not paper bills.

I will have a car in Tours, where can I park?

There are numerous underground car parks in the city, such as Place de la Gare (underneath the large square outside the train station), Placedes Halles (underneath the Halles market, ideal for visiting the old town), and at Place Anatole-France (easy access to the shops on Rue Nationale).

How do I get around by bike?

Cycling is one of the best ways to see the city; Tours has safe and extensive bike paths and there are numerous bike rental stores throughout the city.

Is Tours a dangerous city? Are there specific areas I should avoid?

Tours is a very safe city in comparison to other French cities. Beware of pickpockets, mostly in crowded buses and in the pedestrian streets. Do not leave any luggage out of view as it might disappear. If you`re taking the bus with a backpack, it`s better putting it between your feet than keeping it on your back.

The quartiers to the southeast of the city are best avoided at night, as there are many high-rise low-rent apartment buildings, but any area in Tours is safe during the daytime.

Can I pay/tip in US dollars?

The currency used in Tours is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. You can get euros in different banks opened from Monday to Saturday and automatic cash points which are opened 24 hours a day.

We recommend that you exchange a small amount of cash prior to your trip, enough for a cab ride or basic spending on arrival. It is also useful to remind your bank and credit card company that you will be traveling to make sure your cards will work while in France. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.

Tours, like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table. But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.

For more information about tipping visit:Tipping in France

What is the weather like? When is the best time to go?

The Loire Valley climate is relatively cool all year round. Average temperatures in Tours vary somewhat and are seasonally temperate. If you`re looking for the warmest time to visit Tours, you should visit anytime during June through August with mid-July being the warmest time of year, regularly around 80°F with temperatures rarely dropping below the mid 50s at night. Springtime (March through May) averages between low 50s to 70°F, with warmer temperatures in the later months. This is a slower time for tourism, which makes it a great time to visit to avoid crowds. Fall (September through November) is also an attractive time to visit with temperatures similar to spring and also less tourism. Winter is chilly, with average temperatures between 40 - 50°F, this is a very slow time of year for tourism.

I don`t speak French. Will many people speak English?

French is the official language spoken in Tours. Hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants in popular areas generally have staff that speaks some English. On the street, many people (especially young people) speak at least basic English, but they will appreciate a little effort in French. If you decide to do some travelling into the surrounding, more rural areas, or happen upon a restaurant off the beaten track then it`s a good idea to brush up on your French! We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

What is the food like?

Renowned as the `Land of good food and living`, Tours is not short of fresh local ingredients from all territory of Touraine. It is home to more than 30 street markets, which would definitely satisfy visitors of different interests and taste, offering a selection of local goats` cheeses, excellent local wines, fresh berries and vegetables and so much more.

Local special dishes to look out for in restaurants include rillettes (coarse goose or pork pate), and ouillettes (tripe sausage), coq-au-vin in Chinon wine, Ste Maure goat`s cheese. `Tours prunes`, macaroons from the monks of Cormery and fouaces (cakes) beloved by Rabelais.

You`ll find a number of inexpensive restaurants, bistros and cafes around Place Plumereau, particularly on rue du Grand Marche. For good restaurants and more local places, try the cathedral side of rue Nationale.

What is the nightlife like in Tours?

Being a lively student town with over 30,000 students living in Tours, there are dozens of late-night bars, dance clubs and discos. Much of the nightlife takes place on place Plumereau. In addition, there are cabaret shows and other after-dark entertainment plus concerts, classical dance and theater. In summer, many of the daytime activities extend nightly with concerts, dancing, food, drink, and games.

What are the best areas for shopping?

In the pedestrian area of rue de Bordeaux, from the train station to rue Nationale, you`ll find dozens of mall-type shops and department stores selling clothes, shoes, jewelry, leather goods, and the like. Up rue Nationale toward the river are more shops and upscale boutiques, and a small mall with chain stores. Rue Nationale continues across the river, but turn left on rue du Commerce toward the old town center. You`ll want to explore the streets and courtyards for regional specialties, books, toys, and crafts. Along rud de la Scellerie, east of rue Nationale (toward the cathedral), You`ll find various antiques.

Tours offers over 30 lively markets, with a market open every day of the week, except Monday which is the normal closing day for shops in France. You will find everything from local food and wine to unique crafts and antiques. The markets have some great local buys, as well as offer some unique insight into the local culture of the area.

Note: 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. If you are not an EU resident, you may be able to reclaim VAT if you jump through enough hoops.

What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?

Emergency dial 112

Doctors and Hospital - Centre Hospitalier Régionale de Tours, 2 Bd Tonnellé (www.chu-tours.fr; tel. +33 2 47 47 47 47).