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Planning a trip to Tours
Arriving: As many as 14 high-speed TGV trains per day depart from Paris’s Gare Montparnasse and arrive at St-Pierre des Corps station, 6km (3.75 miles) east of the center of Tours, in an hour. Free navettes, or shuttle buses, await your arrival to take you to the center of town (the Tours Centre train station). A limited number of conventional trains also depart from Gare d’Austerlitz and arrive in the center of Tours, but these take twice as long (about 2.25 hrs.). One-way fares range from 16€ to 70€. For information, visit www.sncf-connect.com or call tel. 36-35. If you’re driving, take highway A10 to Tours.
Visitor Information: The Office de Tourisme is at 78–82 rue Bernard-Palissy (www.tours-tourisme.fr; tel. 02-47-70-37-37).
Getting Around
On Foot: Besides the TGV train station which is in the suburb of St-Pierre des Corps, most other sites of interest in Tours are accessible on foot.
By Bicycle: There are safe and extensive bike paths in Tours. You can rent a bike at Detours de Loire, 35 rue Charles Gilles (www.locationdevelos.com; tel. 02-47-61-22-23), at a cost of 18€ per day.
By Car: If you have a car for exploring the Loire, you can find a number of underground parking garages downtown. There is a convenient one at the Tours Centre train station and another at rue Nationale and rue de la Préfecture. You can rent a car at Avis (www.avis.fr; tel. 02-47-20-53-27), located in the Tours Centre station, or Europcar, at the St-Pierre des Corps station (www.europcar.fr; tel. 02-47-63-28-67).
By Taxi: The most extensive taxi network is Taxis Tours (www.taxis-tours.fr; tel. 02-47-20-30-40). Their hotline has some English-speaking operators or you can usually find one in front of the train.
By Public Transport: Tours has both buses and one brand new tram line, a network called Le Fil Bleu, 9 rue Michelet (www.filbleu.fr; tel. 02-47-66-70-70). Tickets (1.70€) can be purchased from automatic kiosks at a Tram station, from bus drivers or from their office.
Fast Facts
ATMs/Banks: The city center has plenty of banks, especially around Place Gaston Paillhou or along rue Nationale.
Doctors & Hospitals: Centre Hospitalier Régionale de Tours, 2 Bd Tonnellé (www.chu-tours.fr; tel. 02-47-47-47-47).
Internet Access: Many cafes in the center have Wi-Fi. You can get online and savor a good cup of coffee at the cute modern coffee shop Le Petit Atelier, 61 rue Colbert (tel. 02-47-31-94-21).
Mail & Postage: La Poste, 1 Bd Béranger (tel. 36-31).
Pharmacies: Pharmacie du Centre, 28 rue des Halles (tel. 02-47-05-65-20).
