Tours

• 🌍 Tours Val de Loire Airport (TUF  ^IATA). The local international airport is small, though it receives regular year-round flights from London Stansted, Porto and Marrakech (all operated by RyanAir) and seasonal flights from Marseille, Dublin (both RyanAir) and Corsica (Figari, operated by Corsicatours). The airport is 5 km north of the city centre, and there are car-hire services and a taxi rank on-site (expect to pay €15-20 to get to the city centre). The nearest tramway station (Vaucanson) is a 20-minute walk away, though it claims to serve the airport. To save money, you could always hire a taxi to here from the airport and catch the tram the rest of the way (€1.50 for a journey time of 20 minutes). 
• Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG ^IATA) receives by far the largest number of international flights into France. TGV trains run direct from the airport to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (see below), from where you can pick up a shuttle train into central Tours. The journey time is approximately two hours. If you're hiring a car, the journey time via the A3, Paris ring road (boulevard Périphérique), A6B and A10 is about three hours in good traffic.
• Paris Orly Airport (ORY ^IATA) is closer to Tours than CDG, but harder to get to using public transport. You will have to take a combination of local services to get to Paris Montparnasse railway station, in order to catch the TGV to Tours. Otherwise, by car, the journey is relatively straightforward once you pick up the A10 motorway, and should take between two and three hours in good traffic.
• Nantes (NTE ^IATA) is another airport that can be used to reach Tours. It serves a decent number of European destinations. By car, Nantes Airport can be reach in under 2 hr. By train, expect a journey lasting between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.

Eurostar from London St Pancras takes around 6 hours to Tours, changing to the French national network in either Lille Europe (transfer to another train from this station or from Flandres station, depending on which service you're booked on - check your ticket) or Paris.

You have to catch the Metro from Gare du Nord, where the Eurostar terminates, to Montparnasse-Bienvenüe, close to Gare Montparnasse where the TGV to Tours departs. This journey can be made in around 30 min via Line 4 of the Metro, and though not included in your train ticket, only costs a couple of euros for a single fare.

SNCF is the French national rail operator. The high-speed TGV is the fastest way to get to Tours from Paris and costs about €50 each way. The journey from Paris Montparnasse (to Tours central station) takes just over 1 hour, while you can reach Tours from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in 2 hours (via Saint-Pierre-des-Corps). You could also take the slower Intercités train from Paris Austerlitz which passes Orléans and Blois too, taking a little over 2 hours. Tickets can be bought for about €25 each way.

Tours receives direct trains from Blois, Bourges, Caen, Dijon, La Rochelle, Le Mans, Lyon-Perrache, Orléans and Poitiers as well as numerous smaller regional destinations.

• Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, located on the eastern edge of Tours, is a hub of the national railway network. The station is at the junction of the north–south LGV Atlantique high speed line, the east–west line along the Loire Valley, and several radial routes around the region. Visitors arriving from the directions of Angers, Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes and Strasbourg will need to change here for the fast and frequent shuttle train into Tours proper.

Tours is at the centre of a highway crossroads: the A10 between Paris and Bordeaux (where it connects to the A63 from Spain), the A85 from Nantes and Bourges, and the A28 from Le Mans and Normandy, including the English Channel ports of Cherbourg, Dieppe and Le Havre. The A10 passes between Tours and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, and Boulevard Heurteloup links junction 21 to the city centre.

Fil Bleu is the authority responsible for all public transport in Tours and the agglomeration. They operate:

• A comprehensive network of buses throughout the urban area, including several high-frequency routes and one bus rapid transit line (Tempo 2), which connects the north and north-east of Tours and the airport with the city centre, the south of Tours and the suburban town of Chambray-lès-Tours. The most important routes operate at between every 2-to-5 and every 10-to-15 minutes, with less important routes following a significantly less frequent timetable
• A single tram line (Tram A) which connects the north of Tours near the airport with the city centre, the L'Heure Tranquille shopping and entertainment complex and the suburban town of Joué-lès-Tours. Trams operate every 4-to-8 minutes during the day and early evening, and about every 10-to-20 minutes in the late evening
• An SNCF / Fil Bleu shuttle train (Navette), which runs between Tours and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps railway stations at regular intervals throughout the day and evening. Its travel time of 5 minutes is considerably faster than the equivalent bus journey

Buses and trams generally operate between 05:00 and 01:00 every day of the week, though services are often reduced early mornings and late evenings, and on Sundays and bank holidays. The website offers timetables for every route and an electronic journey planner.

A single Fil Bleu fare costs €1.50 and can be used for up to an hour on any route, including changes. The fare for two journeys is €2.70 and a day pass costs 3 €3.70. There are numerous other fares available for families, concessions, groups and other types of journey, the details of which can be reviewed on their website. Tickets can be purchased and recharged on board any bus (from the driver) and at every tram stop (using the machines on the platform), as well as at the Fil Bleu information centre on rue Charles Gille and in certain newsagents around Tours. You must validate your ticket or pass each time you board a bus or tram, even when making transfers, by pressing the ticket or pass to one of the blue touchscreens on board. There are frequent inspections on the network and if you are found to be travelling with a ticket or pass which hasn't been validated, you will be treated the same as a fare-evader and may be given an on-the-spot fine.

Maps of the Fil Bleu network can be downloaded from their website.

Cycling is one of the best ways to see the city; Tours lies at the heart of the Loire à Vélo project which has made the entire Loire Valley cyclable, and there are numerous bike rental stores.

Vélociti is the municipal bike hire scheme provided by Fil Bleu. Those staying several months in Tours may rent a bike for €5 per month from the Fil Bleu travel centre at 9, rue Michelet.

Central Tours is compact and very pedestrian friendly so walking is usually the easiest and most pleasant way to get around, particularly as many of the city centre streets are so narrow that the public transport network doesn't directly serve some of the major attractions. A visitors' guide with a recommended walking route can be picked up for free at the tourist office on the corner of rue Bernard Palissy / boulevard Heurteloup. In the See section of this article, you can read about interesting neighbourhoods that can be explored on foot.

Tours is compact enough that you will generally not need your car to get around town. A car would, however, be useful if you plan on exploring the towns, châteaux and countryside outside of Tours, though many sites of interest can be reached by public transport and by bike.

Beware that although Tours is easily driveable and not often congested, the many pedestrianised and limited-access streets in the city centre may mean your desired address isn't directly accessible to cars, though there will always be nearby on- or off-street parking.

There are numerous underground car parks in the city, such as at place du Général Leclerc (underneath the large square in front of the railway station), place des Halles (underneath the Halles market hall, ideal for visiting the old town), and at place Anatole France (easy access to the shops on rue Nationale).

Museum buffs will want to invest in a Carte Multi-visites, which for €10 allows you access to the Fine Arts, Natural History and Compagnonnage Museums, as well as (from 2017) the Saint Martin Museum and the Olivier Debré Centre. This can be purchased from any of the participating museums, or from the city's tourist office.

• 🌍 Basilique de Saint Martin de Tours (Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours), Rue Baleschoux (Entrance on Rue Descartes), ☏ +33 2 47 05 63 87. Open all day for visitors and worshippers. Built between 1886 and 1924 on the site of a much earlier basilica (whose two remaining towers, the Tour d'Horloge and Tour Charlemagne still stand next to the current edifice), this Romanesque church's dome stands proudly on the city's skyline. The main attraction within is the crypt which houses the tomb of St Martin of Tours. The basilica's nuns can be stern but are generally very welcoming to respectful visitors. Free. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Cathédrale Saint Gatien (Tours Cathedral), Rue Lavoisier / Place de la Cathédrale (The pedestrian route from the railway station takes you via Rue Bernard Palissy and Place François Sicard, from where the cathedral is signposted.). Open all day; cloister closes between 12:30 and 14:30. A Gothic cathedral with a monolithic façade, spectacular flying buttresses and plenty of gargoyles, some of which have some rather rude appendages. The interior is no less impressive and there is very detailed information available on boards all around the cathedral. Adjoining is the Cloître de la Psallette, which may or may not be worth the small entrance fee depending on your level of interest. Cathedral: free; Cloisters: €3, some concessions free. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Centre Marie de l'Incarnation, 2, rue du Petit Pré, ☏ +33 2 47 20 01 68. June–September M, Th–Sa: 10:00–12:00, 15:00–18:00. Closed W and Sa. Closed October–May. Good luck!. This is the convent of the Ursulines of Tours, a sect of nuns, whose most famous sister, Sainte Marie de l'Incarnation, travelled to Quebec in 1639 to spread the order to Canada. She eventually founded the first catholic school in North America. Learn all about the life and travels of the saint in the centre's tiny museum, which is housed in a 15th century room, and take time for contemplation or prayer in the adjacent chapel. Free. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Château de Tours (Tours Castle), 25 avenue André Malraux, ☏ +33 2 47 21 61 95. Tu – Su 14:00–18:00. Architecturally unimpressive by anybody's standards (especially if you've been spoilt by the likes of Chenonceau and Chambord), the castle nonetheless has an interesting history and hosts art exhibitions all year round. Adults €3, concessions €1.50. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), Place Jean Jaurès. This grand 19th-century municipal building stands proudly in front of the ever changing fountains on Tours' central square. If you happen to be there on a day where there is an exhibition inside, it would be worth paying the entrance fee just to see the lavishly-decorated ball room. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Jardin Botanique (Botanical Garden), 35 Boulevard Tonnellé (Bus route 4 from Anatole France or route 15 from Gare de Tours / Jean Jaurès each take about 10 minutes and stop outside the garden.), ☏ +33 2 47 21 62 67, fax: +33 2 47 21 62 90. Open daily, dawn until dusk. Greenhouse and petting farm times vary. This large botanical garden holds year-round interest, with extensive borders dedicated to different climate zones, a magnolia walk and a section tracing the natural history of plants, as well as a large medicinal herb garden and a rockery. In the middle of the garden sits a beautiful 150-year-old gingko tree. There are also tropical glasshouses, several animal enclosures, a children's petting farm and play area, and a lawn for picnicking. Each spring is the Printemps des Poètes, with poems displayed around the garden, and there are other events throughout the year. Free. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Musée des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Museum), 18 place François Sicard (Almost next to the cathedral), ☏ +33 2 47 05 68 82. W–M 09:00–12:45, 14:00–18:00; closed Tu. Inside the former Palace of the Archbishops of Tours, the Musée des Beaux Arts possesses a sizable collection, including paintings by Debré, Degas, Delacroix, Monet, Roslin and Van Goyen, sculpture by Rodin as well as antiquities, objets d'art, tapestry and medieval religious artwork. There is equally a regular cycle of temporary exhibitions and events. The gardens are popular in the summer months and include an enormous Lebanese cedar and a life-sized model of Fritz the elephant, one of Tours' less welcome visitors who went on a rampage after escaping the circus. Adults: €6; 12-18 year olds, students, over 65s, disabled, groups of 10 or more: €3; under 12s: free; first Sunday of each month free entry to all; gardens free. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Musée du Compagnonnage, 8 rue Nationale (By Anatole France tram stop), ☏ +33 2 47 21 62 20. Open daily 09:00–12:30, 14:00–18:00 except Sep–Jun closed Tu. A most unusual museum depicting artifacts of various guilds of master craftsmen, including many masterpieces of tools, sculpture, bells, clothing, shoes, decorated cakes and the exhibition hall of the museum itself, whose roof is supported by tree trunk-sized wood beams. The museum is especially welcoming to children, with quizzes available and friendly staff on hand to inform and educate. Conspiracy theorists can have fun seeing how many masonic symbols they can spot. Adults: €5.50; 12-18 year olds, students, over 65s: €3.80; Under 12s: free. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle (Natural History Museum), 3 rue du Président Merville (located between the Old and New Towns, it is well-signposted from the Rue Nationale), ☏ +33 2 47 21 68 08. Tu–F 10:00–12:00, 14:00–18:00; Sa Su 14:00–18:00. Spread across four floors. Level 4, where the visit starts, is the natural history library. Level 3 focuses on the natural history of the Touraine, including many taxidermied specimens and geological artefacts. Level 2 is global natural history, including taxidermied specimens from the 5 inhabited continents, as well as live insects, spiders, snakes, fish, amphibians and reptiles. Level 1 has the reception, shop and temporary exhibitions, recent examples of which being snakes of the world and mammoths. Adults: €3.50; 12-18 year olds, students, over 65s, disabled: €1.80 €; under 12s: free. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Prieuré de Saint Cosme (Demeure de Ronsard / Pierre de Ronsard's home), rue Ronsard, 37520 La Riche (Although walking along the river bank from central Tours is possible, the 60 minute walking distance and non-signposted route may make it preferable to catch the bus or drive. Car park on site. Bus routes 3a and 3b depart from Gare de Tours / Jean Jaurès to La Pleiade. A map would be helpful as the 5 minute walk from here to the priory is not signposted.), ☏ +33 2 47 37 32 70, fax: +33 2 47 37 25 20, demeureronsard@cg37.fr. 1 May–31 Aug 10:00–18:00; low season times vary, check website. A tranquil corner of suburban La Riche, this ruined priory is most noted for being the home and final resting place of Pierre de Ronsard, celebrated poet of the 16th century. Recent renovations have seen the restoration of the gardens and some of the buildings, the erection of new information boards in English and the addition of an interactive feature whereby visitors can listen to readings of Ronsard's poems within the walls of his former residence. Adults: €6; concessions: €4.50; Under 7s: free. (updated Dec 2016)
• Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.

• 🌍 Centre de Création contemporaine Olivier Debré, Jardin François 1er. Contemporary art gallery. €7. (updated Dec 2016)
• Musée Saint Martin. Under refurbishment (updated Dec 2016)

This is the neighbourhood of mainly-pedestrianised medieval streets centred on lively Place Plumereau. Known to the locals as Place Plum, this square is bounded by timber-framed maisons à colombages, cafés and bars, whose seats colonise the entire space when the weather is fine. The commercial thoroughfares of Vieux Tours hum with people day and night, but even in this most buzzing of neighbourhoods you can find many quieter ruelles (side streets), quaint alleys and peaceful squares.

West of Place Plum', on and around rue de la Monnaie is the Quartier Artisanal where you can spot craftsmen busy in their workshops. Look out for the former hostel at 7, rue des Cérisiers, which was reportedly the inspiration for the Pension Vauquer in Tours native Honoré de Balzac's most celebrated work Le Père Goriot.

The Quartier Lamartine is in many ways a western continuation of the Old Town, albeit without the crowds (and, sadly, the pedestrianisation). As such there are many medieval buildings of note and traditional local businesses: boucheries, boulangeries and floristes. The Gothic church on rue Georges Courteline is worth a look.

Unsurprisingly, the district around the cathedral. This well-heeled neighbourhood is mainly residential, with a mishmash of grand houses, and their frustratingly hidden gardens, from every century between the 13th and 19th. Particularly of note is Rue Colbert, as much for its brilliant restaurants as its interesting history. Joan of Arc's personal armourer and the site of public executions by guillotine are two highlights to look out for. A stroll down Rue de la Scellerie, stopping to browse its antiques shops and admire the imposing Grand Théâtre, will take you to the green oasis of Place François Sicard. Lined with handsome bourgeois homes, this is a pleasant park for picnics and is handy for the cathedral and fine arts museum.

East of the cathedral, you venture off the beaten track, meaning you usually get to walk in near-solitude. As you pass along rue des Ursulines, so named for the order of nuns occupying a convent here, listen out for the sound of young musicians perfecting their art in the Conservatoire de Musique. At the corner of rue des Ursulines and rue du Petit Cupidon, go through a walkway under an innocuous-looking block of flats; you'll find a hidden park! This is the Jardin des Vikings, which is something of a misnomer, since the park's main attraction is the last vestiges of the ancient Roman wall which once circled Tours. If you double back on yourself, the next left (rue François Clouet) will take you to the Jardin des Ursulines. Perhaps here you will bask under the mature trees, while your kids try the playground. Before you leave the area, don't miss the lovely Romanesque church at the top of rue de la Porte Rouline, or the tiny Musée de Sainte Marie de l'Incarnation (see above for listing) on rue du Petit Pré.

Explore the quiet streets west of avenue de Grammont and you will be rewarded with elegant 19th century townhouses built in the typical Tourangeau style. Rue d'Entraigues and rue Roger Salengro are both good starting points from the main avenue, and the latter will take you directly to the main focus of the neighbourhood: the Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé. This much-loved municipal park dates from 1872, and was designed in the style of an English landscape garden. Among the park's admirers was Léopold Sédar Senghor, president of Senegal, and one of 20th-century Africa's great intellectuals, who wrote a poem for the garden while teaching in Tours in the 1930s. There are plenty of flowers and mature trees, and the giant sequoias are especially prized by locals. You will also find two music bandstands, a large pond with bridges, and fountains and statues dedicated to famous Tourangeaux, among them Pierre de Ronsard. As with the Botanical Gardens, the lawns are set aside for picnics and there is a play area for children.

There are several major shopping destinations in Tours. Most people who work in these shops are young so there is a large possibility that they will speak English. Never start speaking English with someone before asking politely: "Parlez-vous anglais?" (pronunciation: par-lay voo on-glay). It is also polite to start with "Bonjour" or "Bonsoir", depending on the time of day, before you say anything else.

• Rue Nationale is the beautifully-pedestrianised main shopping street in central Tours, where the only traffic is the occasional tram gliding past. Along with surrounding streets (west into the New Town around Place de la Résistance', and south past Place Jean Jaurès to Rue Bordeaux), this is home to many high street brand names including a large Galéries Lafayette department store and is especially busy in the early evening. There is also a small indoor shopping mall halfway along Rue Nationale called Galéries Nationale which complements the main street rather well without taking away its business.
• L'Heure Tranquille (L'Heure Tranquille tram stop is 15 minutes' ride from central Tours and just outside the centre. Driving not recommended, though if you do the first 90 minutes' parking are free.). Open every day 10:00–20:00. A new shopping and leisure centre that has a good selection of shops, as well as eating and entertainment facilities (cinema, bowling, laser tag) (updated Jan 2016)
• Les Atlantes, Avenue Jacques Duclos, 37700 Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (Easily reachable in 10 minutes on the 3a / 3b bus from Jean Jaurès or in front of the railway station (Vinci end). Driving not recommended.), ☏ +33 2 47 32 25 25. M–Th 9:30–20:30; F Sa 8:30–21:30; Su closed. An out-of-town shopping centre with several large hypermarkets, notably Carrefour, IKEA and Toys 'R' Us, and lots of smaller chain stores. (updated Jan 2016)

• The Old Town particularly has many tourist-oriented shops and is also home to the Quartier Artisanal, where you can purchase locally-made arts, crafts and other handmade œuvres
• Head to Rue de la Scellerie for the best collection of antiques stores in the Loire.
• The vast majority of newsagents and tobacconists (identified by a red diamond "TABAC" sign) in central Tours stock postcards and basic souvenirs such as fridge magnets.

Apart from the Halles covered market hall (more about that below), there are a few food shops and supermarkets which may be useful for your stay. Note that almost everything of this genre is shut on Sundays.

• Monoprix, 63-65 Rue Nationale, ☏ +33 2 47 61 96 00. 09:00–21:00 (last entry about 20:45, when security locks the entrance doors). The largest and best supermarket in the city centre, with a large clothing section at the front and a food hall at the back. (updated Jan 2016)
• Simply Market, Two locations: Place du Général Leclerc / Place Jean Jaurès (Leclerc: in front of the station, next to Le Grand Hôtel / Jaurès: on the corner of Rue Victor Hugo), ☏ +33 2 47 05 29 51 (Leclerc), +33 2 47 60 11 60 (Jaurès). Leclerc: M–Sa 7:30–20:00 / Jaurès: M–Sa 9:00–19:30. Medium-sized and well-priced supermarkets (updated Jan 2016)
• Intermarché Express, 13 bis - 17 Rue Charles Gille (One block down from Rue de Bordeaux, between the station and Jean Jaurès), ☏ +33 2 47 70 49 49. M–Sa 09:00–20:00, Su 09:30–13:00. The only central supermarket open on Sundays. (updated Jan 2016)
• 8 à Huit, 77 Rue Colbert. Despite its rather explicit name, M–Sa 8:30–13:30, 15:00–20:00; Closed Su. French version of a 7-11, albeit with shorter opening hours. (updated Jan 2016)
• Cocci Market, Rue Constantine (On the corner of Rue du Commerce heading into the Old Town). Open every day 8:45–22:00. Small convenience store (updated Jan 2016)
• A tiny off-licence on Rue Colbert simply signed Alimentation Générale ("general foodstuffs") has a surprisingly good selection of tinned foods, confectionery and some fresh fruit as well as plenty of alcohol. Best of all, it's open well into the early hours, far later than any of the supermarkets. Great for after-hours drinks and snacks!

• Hardouin, Two locations: 70 Rue Bernard Palissy / Les Halles de Tours (Palissy: Next to the Vinci Convention Centre / Halles: inside the covered market.), ☏ +33 2 47 05 12 87. "Charcuterie tourangelle de tradition" says it all really. Easily the best and most well-known charcutier (delicatessen) in the Touraine, serving dried and cured meats and saucisson, cheeses, and wonderful seasonal pastries, all using locally-sourced ingredients. (updated Jan 2016)
• Any one of the dozens of boulangeries / patisseries around town. No directions needed, there's one on practically every corner. While all are of good quality and sell roughly the same mix of bread, pastries and desserts, different shops specialise in different products; you may find the place that does your favourite baguettes may not sell the tastiest croissants, the best place for a cheeky quiche or tartine may not have the nicest selection of cakes, etc. So shop around, explore and enjoy!

There are many kebab (shawerma) restaurants all over.

• 🌍 Restaurant Le onze Tours, 11 Pl. de la Résistance. Brasserie (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 Au Maître Carré, 23 Rue de la Monnaie. French (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 Brasserie de la Victoire, 14 Pl. de la Victoire. (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 La Dînette, 3 Rue Corneille. (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 La Grange des Celtes, 22 Rue Lavoisier. Crêperie (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 Désir Des Mets, 134 Rue Colbert. Hamburgers (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 Mei-Wei, 14 Rue de la Rôtisserie. Hot pot (updated Feb 2023)

• 🌍 Restaurant Grill Le Twistin, 5 Rue Auguste Comte. French cuisine (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 Maison Colbert, 26 Rue Colbert. French cuisine. (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 L'Hédoniste, 16 Rue Lavoisier. French cuisine (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 Boll N Roll, 17 Rue du Commerce. Vegetarian (updated Feb 2023)

• 🌍 La Maison des Halles, 19 Pl. des Halles. (updated Feb 2023)
• 🌍 Auberge De Port-Vallières, 195 Quai des Bateliers. (updated Feb 2023)