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Voykit pocket guide · France
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Spend 1–2 days walking the medieval centre, market and river views; longer only for nearby châteaux day trips.
Sarlat is the historic heart of Périgord Noir, with a compact old town that can be explored on foot in a half‑day. The weekly market, museums and river scenery fill a full day; a second day lets you visit nearby castles such as Domme or Beynac‑et‑Cazenac. Longer stays are for deeper culinary or art exploration.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited opening hours)
- 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 · General 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 in café | €2–3 |
| Foie gras slice | €6–10 |
| Baguette | €1–2 |
| Bus ticket (local) | €2–3 |
| Museum entry | €5–8 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EGJ · Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport
- —
Typical fares
- TransPérigord bus Sarlat ↔ Domme
- ≈ €2–3, 30 min (check)
- Bike rental per day
- ≈ €12 (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
The town is pedestrian‑friendly; a local bus runs north‑south and bike rentals sit by the train station.
See and do
Known for
- medieval old town
- weekly market
- foie gras specialty
- nearby Dordogne castles
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Domme | Bus from Sarlat (TransPérigord) ~30 min | ≈1 h total |
| Beynac‑et‑Cazenac | Bus to Beynac stop, then 10‑min walk | ≈1 h 15 min |
| La Roque‑Gageac | Bus to La Roque‑Gageac stop, 5‑min walk | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Centre‑Ville guesthouses
- Close to market and main sights; ideal for 1‑night stays.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?say kɛ̃ kɔ̃byen |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?u sɔ̃ le twalɛt |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ?ʒə pø pɛje paʁ kaʁt |
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
- Market day (Wednesday) draws crowds; arrive early for best stalls.
- Some museum opening hours are seasonal; check before visiting.
Sarlat is safe; pickpocketing is rare, but watch belongings in crowded market areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sarlat-la-Canéda yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- medieval old town
- weekly market
- foie gras specialty
- nearby Dordogne castles
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: Sarlat-la-Canéda, revision 4489686 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4489686
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sarlat-la-caneda). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.