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Voykit pocket guide · France
Pau
Spend 1–2 days in Pau as a base for the Pyrenees and southwestern France; one night is enough for the town centre sights.
Pau, capital of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, offers a compact historic centre, the Château de Pau and easy rail links. One full day covers the main sights; add a night for relaxed dining or a day‑trip to the coast.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (cold, limited opening hours)
- 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 €55–70 excl. bed · Mid €85–110 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 · Medical 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 |
| Crêpe (plain) | €3–5 |
| Beer (draft in bar) | €3–4 |
| Taxi (city centre 5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (city centre 3.1 mi (5 km)) | €12–15 |
| Regional train (Pau–Biarritz) | €8–12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PUF · Pau Pyrénées Airport
- 10 km (6.2 mi) NW of town, bus links to centre6.2 mi (10 km) NW of town, bus links to centre
Typical fares
- TGV Paris → Pau (2nd class)
- about €70, 5 h (check)
- Funicular Pau ↔ upper town
- €4 round‑trip (check)
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
Walk the compact centre; funicular (check hours) climbs to upper town; taxis available; regional trains from Pau station connect to Bordeaux, Bayonne and Paris (TGV ~5 h).
See and do
Known for
- Château de Pau
- Rugby (Stade du Hameau)
- Basque and Béarn culture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Biarritz | Train from Pau to Bayonne (check), then TER to Biarritz (check) | check |
| Tarbes | TER from Pau (check) | check |
| Bordeaux | TGV from Pau to Bordeaux (check) | check |
Sleep
- Centre near station
- Walk to Château, markets and bars; good for one night.
- Near funicular base
- Quiet, easy access to upper town.
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 bathroom? | Où sont les toilettes ?oo sohn 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
- Funicular may close early or be absent late at night; be prepared for stairs.
- Guided tours of the château are in French only; check schedule.
- Winter weather can bring snow in the Pyrenees; road conditions may change.
Pau is generally safe; pickpocketing can occur in crowded markets, keep valuables secure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pau yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Château de Pau
- Rugby (Stade du Hameau)
- Basque and Béarn culture
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: Pau, revision 5237352 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5237352
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.