Tours

Tours is the largest city in the Centre-Val de Loire region with a city population of 137,000 and 360,000 in the agglomeration (2020). The city sits on both the river Loire and its tributary the Cher, with the centre located between the two. Tours offers two cathedrals, interesting museums, and great local cuisine, while being excellently placed as a base for exploring the countless châteaux of the Loire Valley. The region of Touraine is renowned for its wines and for the supposed perfection of its local spoken French.

Tours Val de Loire Airport is 5 km north of the city centre and receives regular year-round flights from London Stansted, Porto, and Marrakech (all operated by RyanAir), plus seasonal flights from Marseille, Dublin, and Corsica. A taxi from the airport costs €15-20 to the city centre. The nearest tramway station (Vaucanson) is a 20-minute walk away. To save money, you could take a taxi to the tram station and catch the tram for €1.50 for a 20-minute journey.

Tours has a tramway system with stops including Anatole France, Gare de Tours / Jean Jaurès, and L'Heure Tranquille. Bus routes 4 and 15 serve various destinations including the Botanical Garden. Fil Bleu monthly passes are accepted on the La Calèche horse carriage rides.

Tours can be visited year-round, though spring and summer offer pleasant weather for walking along the Loire and visiting gardens. The Printemps des Poètes (Poetry Spring) occurs each spring at the Botanical Garden with poems displayed around the grounds. Various events are held throughout the year at museums and the garden.

AJ du Vieux Tours 5 on Rue Bretonneau is a cheap, safe, and clean hostel with no curfew, ideal for international students. The staff speak English and it is a great way to make friends quickly. It has communal bathroom facilities, meals available in the cafeteria, and cooking facilities. The location is excellent next to internet cafés, bars and pubs of Place Plumereau, and across from the main campus of Université Francois-Rabelais.

Place Plumereau and Rue Colbert are the best two areas to eat in Tours. Rue Colbert has cuisines from all over the world including Iranian, Turkish, Arab, Japanese, French colonies, and Italian. The old town around Place Plumereau has many places to drink, where people sit on chairs placed by surrounding restaurants. L'Academie de la Biere at the end of Rue Colbert offers about 200 types of beer with a tiny dance area.

You can cycle, walk or jog along the Loire starting at Pont Wilson on either bank for many miles. La Gloriette is a public park southwest of the centre with an experimental vegetable garden and adventure park, free of charge. Le Petit Train de Tours is a road train that follows a circular route through the city centre passing all major landmarks, departing from Boulevard Heurteloup in front of the tourist information centre.

Tours is a very safe city compared to other French cities. Homeless people may approach you asking for spare change or cigarettes. Almost all areas are safe during daytime. However, the quartiers to the southeast and east of the city are best avoided at night due to high-rise low-rent apartment buildings. The nearby suburb of Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, where the other major train station is located, should be avoided outside the immediate station area.

Tours has several internet cafés near Place Plumereau. The city uses standard French electrical outlets (Type E, 230V/50Hz). Mobile coverage is provided by major French carriers with 4G availability in the city centre.

Budget accommodation at AJ du Vieux Tours hostel offers long-stay rooms for international students. Eating at Place Plumereau and Rue Colbert offers options across price ranges. Local cuisine in Touraine region features regional specialties. Transportation via tramway (€1.50 per journey) and buses provides affordable city travel.

Tours is excellently positioned as a base for exploring the châteaux of the Loire Valley. Nearby destinations include Angers (home of the Tapestries of the Apocalypse), Orléans (historical association with Joan of Arc), Nantes (Venice of the West), and Le Mans (famous for 24 Heures du Mans race and its cathedral).

From Tours, you can travel southwest to Bordeaux via Poitiers, or northeast to Paris via Blois and Orléans. Angers houses the fantastic medieval Tapestries of the Apocalypse. Orléans is an interesting, cosmopolitan city famous for its historical association with Joan of Arc. Nantes is a major city of Brittany, sometimes called the Venice of the West. Le Mans is famous for 24 Heures du Mans, the world's oldest sports car race held annually since 1923, and also has a unique cathedral.