France · 2026 itinerary
Pau 3-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day plan for Pau: the best attractions in order, where to eat, how to get around — with free hotel briefings for your stay.
Arrive & Explore the Highlights
A short funicular railway connecting the lower town (Place de la République) to the upper town near the château. Free to use.
🕐 6:00-22:00 daily
Free entry💡 Runs every 2-3 minutes. Great for avoiding the steep hill, and you get a good view of the château from the top.
Hotels near Funiculaire de Pau →Fine arts museum with a small but good collection of European paintings from the 16th to 20th centuries, including works by Degas and Brueghel.
🕐 Closed Tuesdays, 10:00-18:00
Free entry💡 Free permanent collection; temporary exhibitions cost €4. The building itself is worth a look inside for the staircase.
Hotels near Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau →La tireuse · ££
Les Amants du Marché · ££
Deeper Into Pau
A formal English-style garden with large lawns, a lake, and a bandstand. Popular for picnics and relaxed strolls.
🕐 Dawn to dusk
💡 Free public toilets near the bandstand and a café that does takeaway coffee for under €2.
A long, tree-lined promenade offering panoramic views of the Pyrenees. Runs parallel to the town centre and connects the Château to the Parc Beaumont.
🕐 Always open
💡 Go at sunset for the best light on the mountains; benches are spaced along the walk if you want to sit.
Chez Laurette
Oscar & Owen
Final Favourites & Departure
A medieval castle that was the birthplace of Henry IV. Houses a museum of French royal history and decorative arts.
💡 The castle is free for EU residents under 26; otherwise it's €5.50. Go midweek to avoid queues.
Le Garage
Maqani
Getting Around Pau
If arriving from Paris or Bordeaux, Pau station is a 12-minute walk uphill to Hôtel Montpensier. Avoid the taxi queue at the station; walk east along Avenue Jean Birosse then left onto Rue Montpensier. The hotel has no lift, but the walk is fine with a small suitcase.
Buy a ticket from the machine at the airport stop (coins only). Exit at 'Campus' stop, then walk 5 mins down Rue du Château. Cheaper than a taxi but runs less often on Sundays.
The F line runs through the city centre but the nearest stop to Hôtel Montpensier is a 10-minute walk. Useful for getting to the station without climbing the hill. Buy a rechargeable 'Carte Idélis' at the tourist office for multiple rides.
Pre-book with Taxi Pau-Pyrénées (+33 5 59 83 15 15) to avoid the €5 airport surcharge for spontaneous hires. The hotel is pedestrian-only on Rue Montpensier, so ask the driver to drop you at the corner of Rue Louis Barthou.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Pau?
Three days covers the main highlights well. You can see the key attractions like Funiculaire de Pau and get a genuine feel for the city. For a more leisurely pace or to explore neighbourhoods in depth, a 5-day trip is better.
What is the best time to visit Pau?
See our full best time to visit Pau guide — it covers weather month by month, peak vs. shoulder seasons and how to avoid the crowds.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
A central location saves transit time between sites. Top options include Hôtel Bosquet, Hôtel central, Villa Primrose. See the full ranked list with free briefings for each.