ORLEANS FAQ`S

What airports service Orléans, France?

The best way to get to Orleans by plane is to fly into either one of the two Paris Airports. Most international carriers will service Charles De Gaule, but most low-cost carriers will service Orly. Orly airport is slightly closer to Orleans if you are driving, but neither airport provides direct services to Orleans and one will most likely have to transfer in Paris.

You can also fly from London, Porto or Dublin (only during summer) to Tours (74 miles from Orléans) with low cost airlines.

Loiret Airport is located 12 miles east of Orleans, the Loiret airport in Saint-Denis-de-l`Hôtel allows air access for light airplanes for tourism and business.

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

Two SNCF stations serve the regional capital which is 1 hour from Paris and Tours: the Orléans station, located in the city center, and the Gare des Aubrais-Orléans, located further north. They are linked by daily SNCF shuttles and by tram; many trains stop at both.

The railway station Les Aubrais (Gare des Aubrais-Orléans) in Orléans (France) is not the station in the city center of Orléans. Most high-speed trains only stop here and do not serve the city center. If you want to get to the city center, use a local train.

The railway station of Orléans in the city center (the main station): Gare d`Orléans. Most high-speed trains only stop in Orléans-Les Aubrais.

Blois-Chambord - €11.50, 40 minutes, 14 to 23 daily
Paris Gare d’Austerlitz - €20.80, 65 minutes, hourly
Tours - €20.70, 1½ hours, 13 to 17 daily

(This information was accurate when it was published in 2018, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.)

How do I get around by taxi?

Taxis Orléans can be found throughout the city. They can be ordered by phone or there are ranks in front of the train station and at the corner of rue Royal and place du Martroi.

Is Blois a walking city?

Orléans city center is small and many streets are pedestrianized. The best and easiest way to explore the town is by foot.

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

All the sites in the city can be explored on foot. If you do have a car, underground parking is easy to find with sign postings; there are convenient lots beside the Hotel de Ville, the Cathedral, and near the river at Place du Châtelet.

What are the local transportation options available in Bloise?

Orléans has both buses and trams that run through the city by the TAO (www.reseau-tao.fr). Trams will serve your visit best; line A reaches the train station and line B goes by the cathedral. Tickets are around €1.50 and can be purchased from automatic kiosks at the Tram station, or for the bus (about €1.60) directly from the driver. Within Orleans the tram runs from the city center down Main Street to the outlying small towns and suburbs. This does not provide much help to tourists, but can be useful getting to and from the train station.

Trams run until around 12:30 am, buses till 9:00 pm or a bit later.

Navette O (Around €0.50), an electric shuttle, makes a circuit around the city center four or five times an hour.

Bus: Ulys links Orleans` bus station with destinations in the Loiret département, including Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, Germigny-des-Prés, St-Benoît-sur-Loire and Sully-sur-Loire (all line 3); and Beaugency (line 9). Buy tickets (around €2.40) on board.

How do I get around by bike?

Vélo’+(www.agglo-veloplus.fr) on-street bike-hire system, with stations around town. There are around 350 bikes available at 33 stations around the city. You can register online where you can also download a map ofthe city`s bike stations or directly at one of the 8 bike stands where credit cards are accepted. The cost is around €1 per day.

For rides out of town, try Wheel Free, which rents, delivers and picks up classic and electric bikes.

Is Orleans a dangerous city?

Orléans 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.

Avoid walking alone at night, this is a general recommendation for any unfamiliar area, but should be followed in Orléans as well.

Can I pay/tip in US dollars?

The currency used in Orléans is the euro (€), US dollars are not accepted. The city center has plenty of banks, especially around shopping hub Place du Châtelet.

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 travelling 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.

Orléans, 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?

Average temperatures in Orléans vary little and are seasonally temperate. Warm summers and comfortable winters offer a great place to visit throughout the year, however, certain months can be more suitable for outdoor activities than others. If you`re looking for the very warmest time to visit Orléans, the hottest months are July and August. The warmest time of year is generally early August where highs are regularly around mid to upper 70s F with temperatures rarely dropping below 41°F at night. If crowds do not bother you, then summer is the best option when the area boasts beautiful weather and longer days.

Winters are fairly mild in Orléans and can be a good time to visit as there are not many tourists around. The coldest months of the year on average are December and January, during which time the daily high temperatures will reach into the 40s. The nighttime temperatures during these months will generally stay above freezing, but this is not always the case.

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

French is the official language spoken in Orléans. 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?

Visitors to Orléans France can explore the streets of the old city and find some excellent restaurants that feature traditional French cuisine.

The city of Orléans has gained a reputation for its wine vinegar and mustard, Martin Pouret (founded in 1797) being the last specialist company surviving. Production began in the Middle Ages, as a means to make use of any spoiled wine arriving in the river port of Orleans by boat. Today, a bottle of vinegar or pot of mustard makes a great souvenir!

Some specialties of Orleans and the Loire Valley:

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).
Les rillons - confit slices of pork belly, to be enjoyed with Dijon mustard, or if you want to buy local, Orléans mustard.

Other local specialties include mustard, vinegars, quince jam, pear spirits, Chavignol goats` cheese and honey from the Sologne.

What is the nightlife like?

Much of the nightlife takes place in the old city, rue de Bourgogne (especially around rue de l`Empereur), rue du Poirier and place de la Loire where you`ll find numerous cafes and bars.

The free monthly Orléans Poche (www.orleanspoche.com), available at the tourist office, details concerts, theatre, dance, opera and films.

What are the best areas for shopping?

Many visitors to Orleans France enjoy visiting the local shops. Popular items to purchase are French garments, perfume, vinegar, wines and cheeses.

The town has a large number of shops specializing in antiques, several of these antique dealers are located along the Rue de Bourgogne. The historic center of Orléans offers numerous picturesque shops and houses. Many of the houses are medieval half-timbered houses, now restored as cafes or shops. This area is also where you will find numerous small specialist shops and cafes, as well as recent additions such as a cinema. Many large French and international stores fill Orléans including H and M and Les Galeries Lafayette. Several markets are held in the town each week, and visitors also enjoy the Friday evening market in Place du Martroi.

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

Emergency dial 112

Police 117

Doctors and Hospitals - Centre Hospitalier Régionale d`Orléans, 1 rue Porte Madeleine(www.chu-orleans.fr); Tel. 02-33-51-44-44.