Carcassonne for £100 a night: this hilltop town is rich in history, charm and delicious French delicacies
Located between Toulouse and Narbonne in southwestern France, the historic city of Carcassonne consists of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed upper citadel (known as La Cité) and the lower city, the Bastide St. Louis.
It’s compact, packed with heritage and home to reasonably priced local food.
Here’s how to visit the historic French city of Carcassonne, located between Toulouse and Narbonne, on a budget
Where to stay
Hotel Espace Cite
This small hotel is located just 200 meters from the medieval city center and 500 meters from the Canal du Midi. A buffet breakfast (£7.40) is served daily (weather permitting) on a terrace overlooking the city. The rooms are simple but neat and spacious, and the location makes it the perfect base to explore the city. Double room only rooms cost from £52 (hotel-espace-cite.fr).
Ibis styles
When planning a trip to Carcassonne, consider staying at Ibis Styles, where a double room costs from £64
For a chain option close to the citadel, this three-star hotel is a reliable budget choice.
The hotel’s decor has a medieval motif and the rooms are comfortable, while all the main attractions are close by. Double room only rooms cost from £64 (all.accor.com).
Hotel du Pont Vieux
Check into Hotel du Pont Vieux, which is close to Carcassonne’s old bridge, and you’ll find a rooftop terrace with views of the city walls
Located close to the Old Bridge, which connects the two levels of the city, this family-run 3-star hotel features 19 simple but comfortable rooms in a townhouse. The garden is a relaxing place to have breakfast, with bamboo waving in the breeze, and there’s a roof terrace overlooking the ramparts – ideal for a sunset. Double room only rooms cost from £66 (hotelpontvieux.com).
Tribe Hotel
Overlooking the River Aude, this modern 4-star hotel has a picturesque roof terrace and panoramic breakfast room. Modern artwork adorns the walls and there is an informal café on the ground floor where you can have a coffee and check your email. Double room only rooms cost from £71 (all.accor.com).
What to see and do
Storm the ramparts
Carcassonne’s ancient fortifications reflect the city’s long history, from Roman times to its medieval heyday and 19th-century Renaissance
Take a 75-minute walking tour of the city from the tourist office. Tickets cost from €11.30
Make the UNESCO World Heritage-listed citadel your starting point. The ancient fortifications reflect the city’s long history, from Roman times to its medieval heyday and the 19th century Renaissance. The latter was supervised by the architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc.
Join a 75-minute walking tour (from £11.30) from the tourist office. The 12th-century Porte de l’Aude (Aude Gate) makes for the ultimate selfie spot.
Taste the local products
The covered market, Les Halles Prosper Montagné, has great products ranging from oysters to oreillettes (thin pastries). But the nearby streets are also worth exploring, with the delicatessen shop La Ferme (laferme-carcassonne.fr) sale of goat cheese. There is no sign for Fuster pastry shop, but you do see a line. Get the madeleine-like petit Carcassonnais.
Try people watching
Visit the Museum of Fine Arts (above) on Place Gambetta for some classic art – entry is free
Cross the pedestrian bridge from the citadel and visit the medieval lower town, which later became the center of the city’s textile industry in the 19th century.
Visit the Museum of Fine Arts (free) on Place Gambetta for some classic art before taking a seat on Place Carnot for coffee at Le Petit Moka.
Take a boat trip
Explore the Canal du Midi, which dates back to the time of Louis XIV and stretches 150 miles from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Above you can see a section of the canal near Carcassonne
The Canal du Midi, the city’s other UNESCO-listed landmark, dates back to the reign of Louis XIV and stretches 150 miles from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. From April to October, boat trips depart from just outside the train station. Tickets cost €8.70 (Tourisme-carcassonne.fr/en/leisure/de-cocagne-cruises).
Where to eat
The Escargot
This is a popular, relaxed spot for tapas and drinks, with small plates costing around £8 to £12 each. Located in the citadel, it’s a bijou place, so book ahead. The house specialty starter is a plate of six garlic-rich snails (set menus cost from £17). Start with an aperitif based on Cremant, a sparkling wine from the Aude. It is closed on Wednesdays (restaurant-lescargot.com).
Freaks Café & Canteen
The bustling brunch and lunch spot, near the lower town tourist office, has a daily changing menu of good quality meals, including vegetarian options. Named after a B-movie from the 1930s, it has a quirky vintage-style interior and a cozy atmosphere. Main courses cost around £15 (facebook.com/pages/Freaks/1674217839514547).
Comte Roger
Try cassoulet, a local stew of white beans, sausages and duck, at Compte Roger (above)
Every restaurant in Carcassonne claims to prepare the best local specialty: cassoulet, a stew of white beans, sausages and duck. But this spot in the citadel is the locals’ favorite and offers al fresco dining. The cassoulet costs £22 (comteroger.com).
Le Trivalou
This small but popular brasserie on the lively Rue Trivalle is a lunch spot with an affordable set menu (£17 for two courses), including the delicious homemade cassoulet.
This street, which leads to the Old Bridge, is a popular meeting place, with terraces galore (facebook.com).
How to get there
Ryanair flies from Manchester and London Stansted to the city from £50 return (ryanair.com). The airport shuttle costs GBP 5.20. To see tourism-carcassonne.fr.