Your stay — Hôtel Olympia
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Bourges.
The Property — Hôtel Olympia
Hôtel Olympia is a no-fuss 3-star in central Bourges, a short walk from the cathedral. The lobby feels like a 1970s time capsule—tiled floors, a small reception desk, and a faint whiff of coffee from the breakfast room. It suits budget travellers who want a clean, functional base for a night, not charm or frills.
Chronicles of Bourges
Bourges grew from the Roman settlement of Avaricum, sacked by Caesar in 52 BC. Its Gothic cathedral, Saint-Étienne, was built mostly between 1195 and 1255 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city prospered as the capital of the medieval Duchy of Berry, then declined after the 16th century. Today it's a quiet administrative and cultural hub, famous for its biennial Printemps de Bourges music festival.
Best Time to Visit
Full Bourges guide →Best months
June and September: warm, sunny days (20-25°C) and thin crowds. May is also good, though rain is more common.
Peak / festival surge
July and August: school holidays fill the city; hotel prices rise by 20-30%. The Printemps de Bourges festival (April) also spikes demand briefly.
Budget shoulder season
Late September to October: temperatures drop to 10-18°C, but hotel rates fall sharply with fewer tourists. April is also quiet if you skip festival dates.
Weather & packing
June often brings sudden afternoon thunderstorms despite warm mornings—pack a compact umbrella and a light rain jacket. Evenings stay cool, so bring a sweater or cardigan for outdoor dining.
Live City Briefing — Bourges
- Bourges city centre is partially pedestrianised for the summer, with some roads closed to cars from late June. Check ahead for parking alternatives.
- A new bike-share scheme (Vélos Bleus) launched in May 2026, adding 30 stations around the cathedral and train station.
- The Marais de Bourges wetlands, just east of the city, have new marked walking trails open from June 2026.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hôtel Olympia, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor facing the courtyard (rear of the building). These are away from the street and serviced by the lift, so no stair-climbing.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid basement rooms near the breakfast room — they require stairs and will pick up morning noise from the kitchen and diners. Also avoid rooms directly above the side entrance ramp, as deliveries and late arrivals can be noisy.
Best views
Rooms on the second or third floor facing Rue d'Auron overlook the pedestrian street — you'll see traditional Bourges architecture and daytime market bustle. Not spectacular but characterful.
Quietest floors
Floors 1 and 2 (first and second in British English) are quietest: above ground-floor noise but below any roof-level disturbances. The lift serves all three, so no issue.
🔊 Noise notes
Rue d'Auron is a pedestrianised street in the historic centre, so no vehicle traffic at night, but there will be café/bar chatter and delivery carts early morning. The side entrance ramp faces a small car park used by staff; avoid rooms near that corner.
Insider tips
Park at Parking des Arènes (2 Rue des Arènes, 2 mins walk, €12/day) — cheaper than the city-centre lots. Breakfast is in the basement with no lift, so if stairs are a problem, ask for a tray to be brought to your room or skip the included breakfast and grab a croissant at a café on Rue d'Auron.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hôtel Olympia
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed around 20 Mbps; no login required—code provided at reception.
One small lift serves all three floors. No stairs-only sections.
No complimentary digital newsstand or physical papers. The building is a 1920s former bourgeois townhouse with original wrought-iron balcony on the façade.
Check-in from 15:00, check-out by 11:00. Early bag drop available from 08:00. Late check-out until 14:00 for €15 (subject to availability).
Complementary luggage storage in the lobby cloakroom for same-day collection.
Step-free access via a ramp at the side entrance. One accessible room on the ground floor. No lift to the basement breakfast room (stairs only).
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Parking des Arènes (2 Rue des Arènes, €12 per 24h). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.65 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: €150 advance deposit via credit card; €50 incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Église Notre-Dame (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Église des Carmes (1.3 km · ~17 min walk)
- Church: Église Saint-Pierre-le-Guillard (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
- Church: Église Saint-Bonnet (1.7 km · ~21 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centre commercial Avaricum — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Jardin de la Légion d'Honneur — 872 m · ~11 min walk
Musée du Berry — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Théatre de verdure — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
SG — 996 m · ~12 min walk
Pharmacie de la Gare — 924 m · ~12 min walk
Vival — 844 m · ~11 min walk
Gare de Bourges — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at airports and tourist offices which take a big cut.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, contactless is common; Amex is less accepted, and many small places take cash only.
Not expected; rounding up the bill or leaving small change (€1–2) for good service is fine, taxis and hotel staff don't expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A café crème or espresso at a simple café bar for about €1.50–2.50.
A lunchtime formule (starter+main or main+dessert) at a bistro or brasserie for about €12–16.
A main course at a modest local restaurant for roughly €14–20.
Look for crêperies or bakeries selling savoury galettes and sweet crêpes; the area near the cathedral has a few casual spots.
Intermarché, Carrefour Market, and Lidl are the main budget chains.
Aubenas, Jules, and Kiabi on the outskirts for affordable high-street basics; the centre has a few independent boutiques.
Walking is the best way to get around Bourges centre; the local bus day pass costs about €4.50; from airports (e.g. Paris CDG) take a BlaBlaCar bus or train to Bourges station (around €20–30).
Eat a formule at lunch rather than dinner for better value; buy bread and picnic supplies from a supermarket for lunch; get a city pass for discounted entry to monuments and museums if you plan to visit several.
Good to know — Bourges
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Bourges, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hôtel Olympia
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · SG — 996 m · ~12 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie de la Gare — 924 m · ~12 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Gare SNCF Bourges → Hôtel Olympia (arrêt: Rue Moyenne)
💡 Buy a single ticket at the station kiosk before boarding (no phone tap). Get off at Rue Moyenne, then walk 200m south. Avoid rush hour 17:00-18:30 — the tram gets packed with students.
Paris Gare de Lyon → Bourges Gare SNCF
💡 Buy tickets on SNCF Connect at least 2 weeks ahead for €19 fares. From gare, it's a 10-min walk west on Rue du Grand Meaulnes to the hotel. No luggage lockers at Bourges station.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) → Hôtel Olympia, 4 Rue de la Halle, Bourges
💡 Book with Allo Taxi Bourges 48h ahead for a fixed price. Airport pick-up at arrivals hall B. They'll help with bags and drop you right at the hotel doorstep.
Paris Orly Airport (ORY) → Bourges Gare Routière
💡 This FlixBus direct line (book on FlixBus app) drops at the bus station. Walk 5 mins south down Rue Jacques Rivière to Hôtel Olympia. Cash only on board; prepay online for cheaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hôtel Olympia?
Request a room on the first floor facing the courtyard (rear of the building). These are away from the street and serviced by the lift, so no stair-climbing.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hôtel Olympia?
Avoid basement rooms near the breakfast room — they require stairs and will pick up morning noise from the kitchen and diners. Also avoid rooms directly above the side entrance ramp, as deliveries and late arrivals can be noisy.
Is Hôtel Olympia noisy?
Rue d'Auron is a pedestrianised street in the historic centre, so no vehicle traffic at night, but there will be café/bar chatter and delivery carts early morning. The side entrance ramp faces a small car park used by staff; avoid rooms near that corner.
Which rooms have the best views at Hôtel Olympia?
Rooms on the second or third floor facing Rue d'Auron overlook the pedestrian street — you'll see traditional Bourges architecture and daytime market bustle. Not spectacular but characterful.
What are insider tips for staying at Hôtel Olympia?
Park at Parking des Arènes (2 Rue des Arènes, 2 mins walk, €12/day) — cheaper than the city-centre lots. Breakfast is in the basement with no lift, so if stairs are a problem, ask for a tray to be brought to your room or skip the included breakfast and grab a croissant at a café on Rue d'Auron.
What time is check-in at Hôtel Olympia?
Check-in at Hôtel Olympia is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hôtel Olympia have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed around 20 Mbps; no login required—code provided at reception.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hôtel Olympia?
€1.65 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Hôtel Olympia?
A lunchtime formule (starter+main or main+dessert) at a bistro or brasserie for about €12–16.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hôtel Olympia?
Walking is the best way to get around Bourges centre; the local bus day pass costs about €4.50; from airports (e.g. Paris CDG) take a BlaBlaCar bus or train to Bourges station (around €20–30).
When is the best time to visit Bourges?
June and September: warm, sunny days (20-25°C) and thin crowds. May is also good, though rain is more common.
Top Attractions in Bourges
💡 The interior courtyard is a quiet spot for a break. Free guided tour in French every Saturday at 15:00—ask at the desk. Pick up the free audio guide if available.
💡 Free on first Sunday of month. Check the temporary exhibition schedule—sometimes it's worth the €5 extra. Climb to the top floor for a view of the cathedral roof.
💡 Bring bread for the ducks. The rose garden is best in June. Free public toilets at the main entrance.
💡 Best visited on a weekday morning for peace. Pick up a free walking map from the tourist office. Some paths can be muddy after rain—wear sturdy shoes.
💡 Visit late afternoon for the best light through the south windows. Free guided tours in July-August start at 10:00 from the tourist office opposite.