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Voykit pocket guide · France
Laon
Spend a half‑day exploring the hilltop cathedral and medieval streets; add a night if you want a relaxed pace and easy bus access.
Laon sits on a hill in Aisne, offering a compact historic centre with a Gothic cathedral, medieval hospital, abbey ruins and city walls. Walking the sights takes 3–4 h; a night lets you enjoy the views without rush and use the local bus for nearby villages.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited bus service)
- 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 €70–110 excl. bed · High €110+ 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 · Medical 15
- 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 | €1–2 |
| Croissant | €0.80–1.50 |
| TUL bus hour ticket | €1.20 |
| Museum entry | €5–7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CDG · Paris Charles de Gaulle
- TGV to Laon via Paris Gare du Nord, about 2 h total
- ORY · Paris Orly
- RER B to Gare du Nord then train to Laon, about 2.5 h
Typical fares
- Paris → Laon train (second class)
- ≈ €23 one‑way, 1½ h (check)
- TUL bus hour ticket
- €1.20 per hour
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 medieval hill is walkable (300 ft climb). For longer trips, use the TUL bus: €1.20 per hour, lines 1 and 4 connect the new town, station and historic centre. Drive to the new town and park there; parking in the old town is scarce.
See and do
Known for
- Cathédrale Notre‑Dame de Laon
- Hotel Dieu museum
- Abbey of Saint‑Martin
- Templar Chapel
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bruyères | TUL bus line 1, about 15 min from the historic centre | ≈30 min round trip |
| Presles | TUL bus line 4, about 20 min | ≈45 min round trip |
Sleep
- Hotel‑Restaurant de la Banniere de France
- Historic centre, close to cathedral; good for English‑speaking guests.
- Hotel des Chevaliers
- Budget‑friendly, renovated rooms, friendly owner.
- La Maison des 3 Rois
- Cozy B&B near the historic centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?say set kohn-byen |
| Where is the bathroom? | Où sont les toilettes ?oo son lay twah-let |
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
- The climb to the high town is steep; avoid heavy luggage.
- Parking is limited in the historic centre; use the new‑town car park.
- Bus service is reduced on Sundays and public holidays.
Laon is generally safe; keep an eye on belongings in crowded areas and watch the steep steps when wet.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Laon yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cathédrale Notre‑Dame de Laon
- Hotel Dieu museum
- Abbey of Saint‑Martin
- Templar Chapel
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- TUL bus service: www.tul-laon.fr/
- Wikivoyage: Laon, revision 5244872 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244872
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/laon). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.