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Voykit pocket guide · France
Carcassonne
Spend a half‑day in the Cité and a quick stroll in the lower town; one full day is enough for the main sights.
Carcassonne’s medieval fortified Cité and its lower town fit comfortably into a single day; add a night only if you want a relaxed evening in the Cité or to avoid peak‑season crowds.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–June, September–October
- Avoid
- July–August (heat and crowds)
- 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 €45–70 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 / Ambulance 18 · Medical (EU) 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 |
|---|---|
| Cassoulet plate | €12–18 |
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Taxi (airport → Cité) | €15–20 |
| Parking P0 Delteil (per hour) | €1.5 |
| Petit train round trip | €7 |
| Château Comtal entry | €13 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CCF · Carcassonne Airport
- Shuttle €6 per person to town centre (2026).
Typical fares
- Shuttle CCF → town centre
- about €6 per person, round‑trip (2026)
- Taxi airport → Cité
- ≈ €15–20 depending on traffic
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 Cité is a 20‑minute walk from Gare de Carcassonne; most sights are within 5 min walk. Taxi stand at the station (≈€10‑€15 to town centre). Public bus lines connect town and Cité; small‑train €7 runs June‑Sept.
See and do
Known for
- UNESCO‑listed fortified Cité
- Château Comtal
- Cassoulet
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Châteaux de Lastours | Bus from Carcassonne station (≈30 min) or drive | ≈1 h total |
| Canal du Midi boat trip | Board at the jetty near the station | ≈2 h round trip |
Sleep
- Hosteling International Carcassonne
- Budget dormitory inside the medieval city.
- Carcassonne Porte de la Cite
- Mid‑range hotel, ~5 min walk from the Cité.
- Hotel de la Cité
- Luxury historic hotel in the Cité.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?sayt kom-byan |
| Where is the train station? | Où est la gare ?oo eh lah gar |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez‑vous anglais ?parlay voo ahn-glay |
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
- Last train from Toulouse arrives after 20:00; plan return accordingly.
- Shuttle bus schedule may change in winter – check the airport website.
- Peak summer can make restaurant queues long; consider eating in the lower town.
Carcassonne is safe for tourists; stay aware of pickpockets in crowded train stations and keep an eye on traffic when crossing streets near the Cité.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Carcassonne yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- UNESCO‑listed fortified Cité
- Château Comtal
- Cassoulet
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Carcassonne, revision 5339913 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5339913
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/carcassonne). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.