Orléans

Get around

The best way to travel around the historic centre of the city is by foot or bike. The city is not large so by foot is the best way. Many bike rental stations allow you to use a bike from point A to B for a small fee. For attractions further away (in particular the Parc Floral), the tram and bus service are useful.

Local transit is operated by TAO Orléans: Tram, Bus, Bike rental, Car parking and Park and Ride services. Their website has automatic translation by Google and the English translation is usable. Downloadable transit route maps and a journey planner are provided on the TAO website. Google Maps does not know about the trams or buses in Orléans (as of summer 2020) so do not rely on it for transit information.

See

thumb|inside Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans thumb|300px|Orléans Cathedral

Do

Walk around the center of town, or along the banks of the river Loire. Visit some of the city's great boulangeries.

The city celebrates Joan of Arc during the first week of May with parades, demonstrations, a "medieval market" and sound and light shows.

Billiards (pool) can be a fun way to unwind from a busy day. Orleans has many pool salons and even the bowling alley has a billiards section. Billiards is popular among teenagers on Fridays after school, but finding an open table should not be a problem.

Buy

Most stores do accept credit cards. The local chocolate factory, Chocolaterie Royale, makes many interesting and delicious souvenirs. Even if you aren't in the mood to buy chocolate, stopping by their store near the town square will amaze you at the way they can mold chocolate.

Many large French and international stores fill Orleans including H&M and Les Galeries Lafayette.

During August many bakeries are closed because the owners are on holiday. Carrefour and Intermarché shops are open reliably during holiday periods.

Drink

The Rue de Bourgogne is home to the majority of bars, pubs and nightlife of Orleans. Le bord de la Loire (the Loir river bank) is popular among young highschool students as a place for weekend drinking. There are also several concerts held along the Loire River during the summer.

Go next

Visiting the castles and houses along the Loire river is a great day trip from Orleans. A must see is Chambord, near Blois. Germigny-des-Prés, where you can see a Carolingian church with Byzantine mosaics, is also an excellent day trip or stopover on the way to seeing castles.