🇫🇷 Tours, France
Hôtel Berthelot
📍 Tours
Your stay — Hôtel Berthelot
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The Property — Hôtel Berthelot
The Hôtel Berthelot is a straightforward budget stop in Tours' pedestrianised old town. Its lobby is small with a tiled floor, a front desk and a spiral staircase – no lift. The USP is location: you step out onto Rue Berthelot, 200 metres from the cathedral, with cafés and brasseries on every corner. It suits solo travellers or couples who want a clean, no-frills base for exploring the Loire Valley and don't mind carrying bags upstairs.
Chronicles of Tours
Tours grew around a Roman settlement called Caesarodunum, but its real architectural identity comes from the Middle Ages, when the city became a key stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral of Saint-Gatien, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, dominates the skyline with its mismatched towers. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Tours was a royal capital, and the half-timbered houses in the Vieux Tours district date largely from this period. Today the city markets itself as the 'gateway to the Loire châteaux', but its own urban fabric – a mix of medieval alleys and 19th-century boulevards – gives it a distinct, lived-in character.
Best Time to Visit
Full Tours guide →Best months
June to September: warm, long days (20–28°C), low rainfall, and the city is buzzing without the squeeze of peak August. September is especially pleasant for cycling the Loire à Vélo route.
Peak / festival surge
August is peak: French holidays fill the city and hotels, prices jump 20–30%. The main draw is the two-week 'Fête de la Loire' (early July, odd-numbered years only – 2026 is even, so no festival) and general summer sightseeing traffic to châteaux. Expect full occupancy at this hotel; book six months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
May and September: temperatures 15–24°C, still mostly dry. Room rates drop by 15–25% versus August, crowds thin, and you can often walk into restaurants without a reservation.
Live City Briefing — Tours
- Tours city centre is undergoing a pedestrianisation expansion – Rue Nationale (the main shopping street) is car-free from 11am to midnight until September; expect more foot traffic and outdoor terraces.
- The Loire à Vélo cycle route is fully open, with new electric bike rental stations at Tours station. Check your hotel for bike storage – Berthelot doesn't have a dedicated area, so ask at check-in.
- July 2026 sees the 'Tours en Lumières' summer light projection series on the cathedral façade, running nightly from 10pm. Free, and visible from your hotel doorstep.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hôtel Berthelot, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third floor facing the interior courtyard. These rooms are quieter as they're set back from the street, still have good natural light, and suffer less from any ground-level street noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those overlooking the street. They'll pick up noise from pavement-level activity and passing traffic on the Rue Berthelot. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor — there may be early-morning clatter.
Best views
From a third-floor courtyard-side room you'll look over the inner courtyard and neighbouring rooflines — more character and less traffic than the street front. The street-facing view is ordinary pavement-and-traffic stuff.
Quietest floors
Second and third floors are generally quieter, set above street-level bustle and with fewer passing footsteps overhead. The top floor can be slightly warmer in summer but is still acceptable if the courtyard side is chosen.
🔊 Noise notes
Rue Berthelot is a modest one-way street with local traffic, not a major thoroughfare, so it's not terrible, but there will be occasional delivery vans early in the morning. The bar on the ground floor can get chatty until closing time (around 23h), so courtyard rooms are the safe bet for sleep.
Insider tips
Ask at check-in if a courtyard room on the second or third floor is available — they're not always listed as a category but front desk can sometimes switch if free. For parking, there's a public car park (Parking Berthelot) just around the corner on Rue des Minimes, about a 3-minute walk. Don't try street parking on Rue Berthelot itself — it's tight and residents-only in places.
- 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 Berthelot
Free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout, speed ~30 Mbps down, no login constraints
Small lift serves all 3 floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; no physical papers; building is a restored 18th-century townhouse with original staircase and exposed beams
Check-in 14:00–21:00 (flexible by arrangement); early bag-drop allowed from 09:00; late check-out until 12:00 for 15 EUR
Free for same-day early arrival / late departure; no charge
No step-free access; one step at entrance; lift fits standard wheelchair; no adapted rooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park: Parking Wilson (5-min walk) ~12 EUR/24h; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 0.88 EUR per person per night (2025 rate, likely similar for 2026)
Deposit & card hold: 1st night charged at booking for non-refundable; 50 EUR card hold on arrival for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Église Saint-Étienne (61 m · ~1 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: DHAGPO Tours (299 m · ~4 min walk)
- Synagogue: Synagogue de Tours (359 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Église Tours Métropole (489 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Passage du Palais — 461 m · ~6 min walk
Place du 4 Septembre — 234 m · ~3 min walk
Musée des Beaux-Arts — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Comédie de Tours — 193 m · ~2 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 442 m · ~6 min walk
Pharmacie Normale — 145 m · ~2 min walk
Odama Exotique — 201 m · ~3 min walk
Tours — 368 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs in the city centre for the best rates; avoid the currency exchange bureaux at Tours station or tourist shops, which charge poor rates and high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in restaurants, shops, and hotels; contactless and Apple/Google Pay are standard. Small markets or bakeries may have a 5–10€ minimum.
Tipping is not expected. Round up the bill at cafés (leave a euro or two), and for good service in restaurants 5–10% is appreciated, not required. Taxis and hotel staff: rounding up or a couple of euros is fine.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A short espresso (café) at a bar counter costs around 1.10–1.50€; a longer coffee at a sit-down café is 2–3€.
A lunch formule (starter+main or main+dessert) at a bistro or brasserie is around 12–15€. A bakery sandwich or quiche with a drink is 6–8€.
A main course at a modest restaurant or crêperie is about 12–16€. A pizza or pasta in a casual place is 10–13€.
No dedicated street-food district; bakeries (boulangeries) sell cheap sandwiches, quiches, and pastries. The covered market Les Halles has takeaway stalls with fresh crêpes and sandwiches.
Supermarkets common in the area: Carrefour City, Super U, Intermarché, and Lidl for budget basics.
Main high street: Rue Nationale and Rue du Commerce have chain stores like Zara, H&M, Kiabi. The pedestrian streets around Place Plumereau have indie boutiques. No major market for clothes.
Buy a 1-day ticket for the local Fil Bleu bus/tram network (4€) at a tram stop machine. From Tours airport, budget option: bus #4 to the Gare de Tours (1.70€ single), or a taxi about 25€.
Eat lunch menu formules instead of dinner – same food for lower price. Buy a reusable water bottle and fill it at public fountains (tap water is safe). Get the Tours City Pass for free museum entry and tram travel if you plan to visit multiple attractions.
Good to know — Tours
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Tours, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hôtel Berthelot
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 442 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Normale — 145 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Aéroport Tours Val de Loire (bus stop 'Aéroport') → Gare de Tours (train station—200m walk to hotel)
💡 Buy a ticket at the automated machine near the stop (coins only) or via the Fil Bleu app. The bus drops at Gare de Tours: walk down Rue de la Gare—the hotel is opposite the station entrance.
Gare de Tours (tram stop 'Gare de Tours') → Various spots across Tours (e.g., Université, Charcot, Vaucanson)
💡 The tram is the best way to reach the old town (stop 'Place Jean Jaurès'—10 min walk) or the Palais des Congrès. Buy a 10-trip Carnet (€14.40) if staying multiple days—valid on bus and tram. Validate your ticket in the machine onboard.
Main French cities (e.g., Paris Montparnasse, Bordeaux, Lyon) → Gare de Tours (directly opposite the hotel)
💡 TGV from Paris Montparnasse takes 1h05—book at least 2 weeks ahead for €15–30 fares. The hotel is literally across the street from platform 1 exit. Avoid the slow TER regional trains from Paris (3 hours).
Tours Val de Loire Airport → BestWestern Plus L'Artist Hôtel (1 Rue de la Gare, Tours Centre)
💡 Fixed-rate taxi stand outside arrivals; confirm price before getting in. The hotel is 10 minutes from the airport by the D910 road.
About Tours
Wikipedia ↗
Tours ( TOOR; French: [tuʁ] ) is the largest city in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the prefecture of the department of Indre-et-Loire. The commune of Tours had 138,668 inhabitants as of 2022 while the population of the whole metropolitan area was 526,370. Tours sits on the lower r...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hôtel Berthelot?
Request a room on the third floor facing the interior courtyard. These rooms are quieter as they're set back from the street, still have good natural light, and suffer less from any ground-level street noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hôtel Berthelot?
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those overlooking the street. They'll pick up noise from pavement-level activity and passing traffic on the Rue Berthelot. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor — there may be early-morning clatter.
Is Hôtel Berthelot noisy?
Rue Berthelot is a modest one-way street with local traffic, not a major thoroughfare, so it's not terrible, but there will be occasional delivery vans early in the morning. The bar on the ground floor can get chatty until closing time (around 23h), so courtyard rooms are the safe bet for sleep.
Which rooms have the best views at Hôtel Berthelot?
From a third-floor courtyard-side room you'll look over the inner courtyard and neighbouring rooflines — more character and less traffic than the street front. The street-facing view is ordinary pavement-and-traffic stuff.
What are insider tips for staying at Hôtel Berthelot?
Ask at check-in if a courtyard room on the second or third floor is available — they're not always listed as a category but front desk can sometimes switch if free. For parking, there's a public car park (Parking Berthelot) just around the corner on Rue des Minimes, about a 3-minute walk. Don't try street parking on Rue Berthelot itself — it's tight and residents-only in places.
What time is check-in at Hôtel Berthelot?
Check-in at Hôtel Berthelot is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hôtel Berthelot have Wi-Fi?
Free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout, speed ~30 Mbps down, no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hôtel Berthelot?
0.88 EUR per person per night (2025 rate, likely similar for 2026)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hôtel Berthelot?
A lunch formule (starter+main or main+dessert) at a bistro or brasserie is around 12–15€. A bakery sandwich or quiche with a drink is 6–8€.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hôtel Berthelot?
Buy a 1-day ticket for the local Fil Bleu bus/tram network (4€) at a tram stop machine. From Tours airport, budget option: bus #4 to the Gare de Tours (1.70€ single), or a taxi about 25€.
When is the best time to visit Tours?
June to September: warm, long days (20–28°C), low rainfall, and the city is buzzing without the squeeze of peak August. September is especially pleasant for cycling the Loire à Vélo route.
Top Attractions in Tours
💡 Skip the tourist-trap crêperies near the fountain. Head to 'Le Vieux Mûrier' on the north side for a decent galette at €10. The square is busiest between 19:00 and 21:00.
💡 Step behind the altar to see the 13th-century 'Tree of Jesse' window. Climb the north tower for a view of the Loire (small fee, but the nave is free).
💡 Go to the crypt (free) to see the original tomb. The Sunday morning mass at 10:30 includes a small choir—worth timing your visit.
💡 Visit in spring when the magnolias are in bloom. The greenhouse is only open on weekend afternoons.
💡 The permanent collection is free every first Sunday of the month. The garden's cedar of Lebanon, planted in 1804, is worth a look.