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Voykit pocket guide · France
Orléans
Spend 1–2 days in Orléans; one full day covers the cathedral, Joan of Arc sites and a Loire riverside walk, add a half‑day for Parc Floral or museums.
Orléans is a compact historic city on the Loire. A single day lets you see the Gothic cathedral, the Maison de Jeanne d’Arc, the Martroi plaza and enjoy a river stroll. A second half‑day adds the Parc Floral or the fine‑arts museum, making 1½ days a comfortable pace.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, shorter daylight)
- 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 €55–75 excl. bed · Mid €95–130 excl. bed · High €150+ 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 (SAMU) 15 · General EU 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 | €1.5–2.5 |
| Croissant | €1–2 |
| Single tram/bus ticket | €1.60 |
| 24‑hour tram/bus ticket | €4.00 |
| Museum entry | €5–12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CDG · Paris Charles‑de‑Gaulle
- Main international hub; about 1 h 30 min by car or train to Orléans
- ORY · Paris Orly
- Low‑cost carrier hub; similar travel time to Orléans
Typical fares
- Paris CDG → Orléans (TGV)
- ≈ €45–70, 1 h 30 min (check SNCF for exact price)
- TAO 24‑hour ticket
- €4.00, valid on tram and bus
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 historic centre is pedestrian‑friendly; rent a bike or walk. TAO tram lines A (north‑south) and B (east‑west) run every 10 min (day) to 20‑30 min (evening) until ~23:30. Single‑journey ticket €1.60, 24‑hour ticket €4.00. Buses serve suburbs and outlying attractions.The historic centre is pedestrian‑friendly; rent a bike or walk. TAO tram lines A (north‑south) and B (east‑west) run every 10 min (day) to 20‑30 min (evening) until ~11:30 PM. Single‑journey ticket €1.60, 24‑hour ticket €4.00. Buses serve suburbs and outlying attractions.
See and do
Known for
- La Cathédrale Sainte‑Croix
- Maison de Jeanne d’Arc
- Martroi plaza & Joan of Arc statue
- Parc Floral
- Loire river walks
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chambord | TER train from Orléans station, about 1 h; walk 10 min to the château | ≈1 h 30 min |
| Blois | TER train, ~30 min; walk 5 min to Blois Castle | ≈45 min |
| Chartres | TER train via Orléans‑Gare d'Austerlitz, ~1 h; walk to Chartres Cathedral | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Youth Hostel Orléans
- Budget dorm, 1 bed per person, €26 / night incl. breakfast
- Hôtel de l'Abeille
- Mid‑range double, €85 / night incl. breakfast, 300 m from main station
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpɑʁ.dɔ̃ |
| Thank you | Mercimɛʁ.si |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?se kɔ̃.bjɛ̃ |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?u sɔ̃ le twa.lɛt |
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
- Tram service ends around 23:30; plan return trips earlier.
- Parking in the centre is limited and expensive; use park‑and‑ride garages.
- Many bakeries close in August for holiday; plan breakfast elsewhere.
Orléans is a calm, walkable city; the real risks are pickpockets around the Martroi plaza and tram stops, bicycles on pedestrian streets, and the last tram around 23:30 — plan your return before then.Orléans is a calm, walkable city; the real risks are pickpockets around the Martroi plaza and tram stops, bicycles on pedestrian streets, and the last tram around 11:30 PM — plan your return before then.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Orléans yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- La Cathédrale Sainte‑Croix
- Maison de Jeanne d’Arc
- Martroi plaza & Joan of Arc statue
- Parc Floral
- Loire river walks
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Orléans official tourism site: www.orleans-metropole.fr
- Wikivoyage: Orléans, revision 5321653 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5321653
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/orleans). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.