AMBOISE FAQ`S

How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

Tours-Val-de-Loire Airport is the closest airport to Amboise, located about 15 miles away. Rental Cars, Taxis, and buses are available at the airport to get you to your final destination.

Tours Airport has a single terminal building that is easy to navigate, and arriving passengers will find a taxi rank and bus stops outside of the airport building. Although taxis may be a quicker option, many passengers like the bus services as well. Since Tours Airport is not very large, there are not extensive bus services available, but the one used by passengers travels to the city center of Tours, from where further bus and train connections can be found. There is no train station on the airport grounds, therefore the airport buses provide a valuable link between the airport and railway services of the country.

A taxi to Amboise takes 30 minutes and costs about €28.

If you prefer to travel by bus, Fil Vert Buses ( www.tourainefilvert.com ), which operates out of Gare Routière in Tours, just across from the railway station, runs about six to eight buses every day between Tours and Amboise. The one-way trip takes about 50 minutes and costs about €2.40.

If you`re driving from Tours, take the D751, following signs to Amboise.

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

The Train station of Amboise is a hub in the French transport network enabling travelers to reach the region around Amboise (Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Loire Valley). This place provides an easy connection to other forms of road transport if necessary. The town center is a 15 - 20 minute walk from the train station.

There is not a guarantee that taxis will be at the train station. If you are looking to take a taxi to your final destination you should arrange this ahead of time.

How do I get around by taxi?

There are two taxi companies in Amboise:

Taxi Vinci Amboise: +33 6 14 44 12 09
Taxi Bordier Amboise: +33 2 47 57 30 39

Is Amboise a walking city?

The best way to explore Amboise is on foot. The city is very small and all of the major sites can be reached by walking. If you don`t wish to walk around town, a tourist train can be found at the main tourist office in Amboise.

It is beautiful to walk along the banks of the Loire River to watch the boats, and especially the sunsets. Also, after visiting Clos Lucé, we recommend returning downtown by taking Rue Léonard Perrault uphill until you arrive at a viewpoint next to the château overlooking the town, a beautiful view. From there, take the steps down to return to town.

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

You will not want to drive once you get to the city center as Amboise is very small and easy to get around by walking. There is free parking along quai du Général de Gaulle (along the river; parking is prohibited on Friday and Sunday mornings because of the market) and, a few blocks inland, at place Richelieu.

What are the local transportation options available in Amboise?

There is no public transportation in the city center. A tourist train can be found at the main tourist office in Amboise.

The train station is 0.9 miles north of the château, on the opposite side of the Loire. Destinations include Blois (Around €7.20, 15 minutes, 16 to 25 daily), Tours (Around €5.70, 17 minutes, 13 to 23 daily) and Paris` Gare d`Austerlitz (Around €33.20, 1¾ hours, four direct daily).

How do I get around by bike?

Amboise is a great base for bike rides along the Loire. The area has become a magnet for cyclists with a large network of bike routes. Many tourists cycle from town to town to see the châteaux and other sights. To rent a bike, try Détours de Loire, along the river, or Cycles Richard, directly across the river from the town center.

Détours de Loire is part of a Loire-wide bike-rental network. It is located in an oval pavilion across from the tourist office.

Cycles Richard bike shop rents, repairs and sells bicycles. It is situated directly across the river from the town center.

Is Amboise a dangerous city?

Amboise is a very safe place to travel with little crime at all. Of course the normal rules apply - keep wallet/purses in a secure pocket (not back trouser pocket), don`t leave cameras and bags lying around unattended, and don`t take many of your valuables.

Can I pay/tip in US dollars?

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

Currency Exchange: La Poste, 20, Quai du General de Gaulle, 37400 Amboise, Tel: 02 47 30 65 00

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.

Amboise, 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 best seasons to travel here are spring and autumn. The hotel deals come at a much lower price and many popular events can be enjoyed in this season. If crowds do not bother you much, then summer is the best option when the area boasts beautiful weather and longer days.

The best months for good weather in Amboise are July, August, September and October. On average, the warmest months are July and August. The coldest months are January and February. December is the rainiest month.

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

French is the official language spoken in Amboise. Most people understand if it is a mix of French and English. But locals definitely appreciate when you try to speak some French (and most people generally are surprised when Americans can speak some French).

Amboise is a little town that`s very popular with English speaking visitors along with many others. Hotel and restaurant staff in Amboise likely speak enough that you can communicate your order or check into your hotel, but it`s always polite to at least try the local language. 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?

The Loire Valley is one of many famous winemaking regions in France. While Touraine (the area around Tours) wine is not really in the same class as those from Bordeaux and Burgundy, there are many quality wines at very reasonable prices.This area is also famous for its goat cheese.

Some specialties of Loire Valley Cuisine:

Fouace/Fouée - A traditional bread. One version is plain and baked in a wood-fired oven, while the other looks and tastes more like a brioche. These are often served with rillettes as an appetizer.
Rillettes - A shredded, textured pâté. You`ll mainly find pork rillettes, but also salmon or duck.
Fish - Loire Valley cuisine has included freshwater fish caught locally since pre-Roman times. The dishes are often accompanied by a sauce that brings through the delicate flavor of the fish, such as beurre blanc, a butter sauce flavored with shallots and vinegar. A few types of fish you`ll probably see on the menu include sandre (pike perch or zander), alose (shad), anguilles (eel, often stewed in red wine for Matelote d`Anguilles) brochet (pike) and brème: (bream).

There are several shops on Rue Nationale that sell a wide variety of regional products and wines. And Amboise hosts two open-air street markets (marchés) each week.

Amboise has a satisfying selection of cafés, patisseries and restaurants. It`s a good idea to call ahead and reserve a table anytime, but essential from June through September.

What is the nightlife like?

Amboise is no party town, but sipping a Kir Vouvray Pêche under the castle walls at Saveurs de France is pretty idyllic. Local musicians serenade clients at the brasseries lining place Michel Debre. Alternatively, cross the bridge where riverside tables offer a view of Amboise Castle by moonlight.

What are the best areas for shopping?

Amboise boasts a lovely pedestrian street, the Rue Nationale, which passes under the 15th century Clock Tower. The street is lined with small shops and patisseries, with many temptations.

On Fridays and Sundays, stroll down to the parking lot by the river, just across from the Tourist Office, and enjoy the wonderful Amboise Market. You`ll find everything from cheese to sausages to flowers to clothes to kitchen tools! Prepared food stalls provide delicious lunches, dinners, or picnic supplies.

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

Emergency dial 112

Police 117

Intercommunal Hospital Center
Amboise-Château-Renault, Rue des Ursulines, 37 400 Amboise
Tél : 00 33 (0)2 47 23 33 33