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Voykit pocket guide · France
Périgueux
Spend 1–2 days in Périgueux; most sights are within a 5‑minute walk, so a short stay covers the historic centre.
Périgueux is a compact town in Dordogne with a Roman arena, medieval quarter and several museums all clustered together. Walking covers the highlights, making a half‑to‑full day enough for a first visit, with an extra night if you want a relaxed pace or to explore surrounding villages.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–September
- 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 €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 and ambulance 18 · Medical emergency (SAMU) 15 · European emergency number 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 at a café | €2–3 |
| Croissant | €1.20–2 |
| Bistro meal | €12–20 |
| Bike rental, one day | €10–30 |
| Local bus ticket | €1.50–2 |
| Vesunna museum entry | €6–9 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EGC · Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport
- About 50 km (31 mi) southwest; check the transfer time and whether a car is needed.About 31 mi (50 km) southwest; check the transfer time and whether a car is needed.
- LIG · Limoges Bellegarde
- Rail hub for the Paris connection; check onward train times.
Typical fares
- Paris–Limoges–Périgueux, SNCF
- about €80–120 return, 4–5 h, change at Limoges
- Bike rental, one day
- €10–30 from shops near the tourist office
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 Vesunna museum, the Renaissance quarter, the Roman arena, the art museum and the Odyssey theatre sit within a 5-minute walk of each other, so walking covers the centre. Town buses loop through the centre and out to the suburbs. Bikes rent from about €10 a day and scooters €20–30 a day from shops including MBK near the tourist office. Taxis are few and must be booked ahead, not flagged.
See and do
Known for
- Vesunna Gallo‑Roman Museum
- Medieval half‑timbered houses
- Roman arena
- Odyssey theatre
- Local markets (Wed & Sat)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thiviers | Train north from Périgueux, about 30 min | ≈45 min |
| Sarlat-la-Canéda | Car, about 45 km (28 mi)Car, about 28 mi (45 km) | ≈1 h 15 min |
| Bergerac | Car or train west | check |
| Montignac, Dordogne | Car east via the Vézère valley | check |
Sleep
- City centre
- Close to main sights, easy walking access.
- Near train station
- Convenient for arrivals, a short bus ride to centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C'est combien ?c'est combien |
| Where is the train station? | Où est la gare ?où est la gare |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ?je peux payer par carte |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?où sont les toilettes |
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
- No direct trains from Paris: change at Limoges; the whole run takes about 4–5 h.
- Taxis are scarce; book ahead rather than flag one.
- Museum hours shorten outside the summer season.
Périgueux is a calm small city; the realistic risks are pickpockets in the Wednesday and Saturday markets and a lack of taxis late at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Périgueux yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Vesunna Gallo‑Roman Museum
- Medieval half‑timbered houses
- Roman arena
- Odyssey theatre
- Local markets (Wed & Sat)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ville de Périgueux (official site): perigueux.fr/
- Wikivoyage: Périgueux, revision 4657113 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4657113
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Périgueux
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
US consulate in Bordeaux; other countries: embassies in Paris.
Emergency numbers are free from any phone in France.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/perigueux). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.