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Voykit pocket guide · France
Angoulême
Spend 1–2 days in Angoulême: arrive by TGV, see the cathedral, comic museum and painted walls, then catch a train to Bordeaux or Royan.
Angoulême, capital of Charente, is a compact town with a strong comics heritage and a historic centre that can be explored on foot in a half‑day. One night is enough for the main sights; add a second day for festivals or nearby markets.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–June, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- July–August (heat, occasional festival crowds)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Croissant | €1–2 |
| Baguette sandwich | €3–5 |
| Beer (pub) | €4–6 |
| Taxi (first 5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (first 3.1 mi (5 km)) | €12–15 |
| TGV Paris‑Angoulême (2nd class) | €70–100 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CNG · Angoulême – Cognac Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Paris → Angoulême TGV
- about €80 2nd class, 2 h 10 min (check)
- Taxi Angoulême station → centre
- ≈ €12–15 (5 km (3.1 mi))≈ €12–15 (3.1 mi (5 km))
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; buses #3 and #5 serve the Comic Museum. TGV station connects to Paris (2 h 10 min) and Bordeaux (≈1 h 30 min).
See and do
Known for
- Comic Strip Museum (Cité du Bande Dessinée)
- Painted walls (Murs peints)
- Cathedral Saint-Pierre
- Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville)
- Paper Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bordeaux | TGV from Angoulême, about 1 h 30 min | ≈2 h total |
| Royan | Car or bus, ~1 h 30 min | ≈2 h total |
Sleep
- Mercure Angoulême
- Central, walk to train station and main sights.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?c‿ɛ kɔ̃bjɛ̃ |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?u sɔ̃ le twalɛt |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez‑vous anglais ?paʁle vu‿z‿ɑ̃ɡlɛ |
| I would like a coffee | Je voudrais un caféʒə vudʁɛ œ̃ kafe |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Check opening hours of the Comic Museum (seasonal schedule).
- Some attractions close on Mondays; verify before visiting.
Angoulême is low‑risk; typical city cautions apply – watch belongings on crowded trains and check festival crowd levels.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Angoulême yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Comic Strip Museum (Cité du Bande Dessinée)
- Painted walls (Murs peints)
- Cathedral Saint-Pierre
- Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville)
- Paper Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Angoulême: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1313
- Wikivoyage: Angoulême, revision 5018394 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5018394
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/angouleme). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.