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Voykit pocket guide · France
Aurillac
Aurillac is a 1–2 day stop for the street theatre festival or as a quiet base for Cantal hiking; otherwise skip it on a first Auvergne trip.
Aurillac is the capital of the Cantal department, a small city (about 27,000 people) with a medieval castle, an abbey church and a famous international street theatre festival at the end of August. Most visitors come for the festival or to explore the nearby Monts du Cantal. Outside festival week, the city is quiet and can be seen in half a day.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (festival late Aug)
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (cold, many places closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ 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 18 · Ambulance (SAMU) 15 · European 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 | €1.50–3 |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €12–18 |
| Dinner in a restaurant | €20–35 |
| Beer (demi / pression) | €4–6 |
| Taxi from station to centre | €8–12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CFE · Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne
- About 2 h by car or train
Typical fares
- Train Clermont-Ferrand → Aurillac (TER)
- about €25, about 2 h (check)
- Taxi from station to centre
- €8–12
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
The city centre is compact and walkable. For the wider Cantal area, a car is useful. Local buses (Stabus) cover the town.
See and do
Known for
- International street theatre festival (late August)
- Château Saint-Étienne
- Abbatiale Saint-Géraud
- Gateway to the Monts du Cantal
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monts du Cantal | Car, about 30 min to the Puy Mary trailhead | About 1 h |
| Salers | Car, about 30 min | About 45 min |
| Le Puy-en-Velay | Car, about 1 h 30 min | About 2 h |
Sleep
- City centre
- Walkable to sights, restaurants and the station.
- Near the station
- Convenient for arrivals/departures, fewer dining options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much? | Combien ?kom-byen |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-syon, seel voo pleh |
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
- Festival week (late Aug): book accommodation months ahead.
- Many restaurants close Sunday and Monday outside summer.
- The castle keep may have limited hours: check the tourist office.
Aurillac is a safe small city. Watch for pickpocketing only during the crowded festival days.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Aurillac yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- International street theatre festival (late August)
- Château Saint-Étienne
- Abbatiale Saint-Géraud
- Gateway to the Monts du Cantal
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Aurillac tourist office: www.iaurillac.com/
- Wikivoyage: Aurillac, revision 5066279 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5066279
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/aurillac). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.