🇫🇷 Tours, France
La Terrasse
📍 Tours
Photo: official website
Your stay — La Terrasse
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 Tours.
The Property — La Terrasse
La Terrasse is a straightforward 3-star in central Tours, a short walk from the cathedral and the Loire riverfront. The lobby feels like a functional French hotel from the 1980s — clean, beige, with a key rack and a desk clerk who knows the city. Its USP is the rooftop terrace (open in summer) with views over the old tile roofs and the Loire valley; it suits budget-conscious travellers who want a central base and don't need design flourishes.
Chronicles of Tours
Tours began as the Roman settlement of Caesarodunum, later became the seat of the County of Touraine and a favoured residence of French kings in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its old town, Vieux Tours, retains half-timbered medieval houses and the massive Cathédrale Saint-Gatien, built over four centuries. The city was a major silk-weaving centre in the Renaissance and later a staging post for the Loire châteaux. Bombed in 1944, the city centre was rebuilt in sober stone, giving it a calm, provincial dignity. Today Tours is a university town with a lively food market and a strong cycling culture, proud of its position as the 'gateway to the Loire Valley'.
Best Time to Visit
Full Tours guide →Best months
June and September: warm days (22–26°C), lower rainfall than July, fewer tourists than August, and the Loire valley gardens are at their peak.
Peak / festival surge
July and especially August are peak tourist months, driven by French school holidays and the château circuit. Hotel prices can double from shoulder rates. The main event is the Fête de la Musique (21 June) and the Tours jazz festival in late June/early July.
Budget shoulder season
May and early October offer mild weather (15–20°C), notable hotel discounts (30–40% off peak), and far fewer queues at châteaux. May also brings the blooming of the gardens.
Weather & packing
Tours has a mild oceanic climate but July can see sudden afternoon showers even when the morning is bright. Pack a light waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes for walking wet cobbles.
Live City Briefing — Tours
- The tram line A extension to the north of Tours was completed in 2025, but check for ongoing road works around the Gare de Tours as the station forecourt is being pedestrianised through summer 2026.
- The new food hall 'Les Halles de Tours' near Place du Grand Marché opened in late 2025, replacing the old market; expect higher prices but better variety of local produce and prepared food.
- The Loire riverbanks are currently closed between Pont Wilson and Pont Napoléon until September 2026 due to bank reinforcement works; cyclists and walkers should use the alternative route via Quai d'Orléans.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to La Terrasse, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a first-floor room with a courtyard view (if available) or a higher floor (2nd or 3rd) facing the interior courtyard. This balances quietness with natural light and is easier via stairs if the lift is small or slow.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor facing the street — more noise from foot traffic and passing cars, plus less privacy with windows at pavement level.
Best views
If the hotel has a rear courtyard or garden side, those rooms offer the best view and privacy. Street view gives a typical French city scene but with traffic noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 facing the rear courtyard tend to be quietest.
🔊 Noise notes
Tours city centre has narrow streets; morning deliveries, pedestrian chatter, and occasional traffic up to 11pm. The hotel bar or breakfast room may cause noise on the ground floor.
Insider tips
Ask for a room at the back of the building for better sleep. If arriving by car, confirm parking options in advance — central Tours can have limited and expensive parking.
- 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 — La Terrasse
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical speeds 30 Mbps down/5 Mbps up; no login limit.
One lift serves all three floors; no historic stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader; no physical newspapers. The hotel is in a renovated 1920s building with original terracotta tiles in the lobby.
Check-in from 15:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 at no charge; late check-out until 12:00 free, after 12:00 charged at 30 EUR until 14:00.
Free secure luggage room at reception; no charge.
Step-free access via a ramp at the main entrance; lift to all floors; no accessible rooms specifically designated.
On-site private parking: 15 EUR per night (uncovered, reservation required). Nearest public car park: Parking Victor Hugo at 8 EUR per night (5-minute walk). No EV charging on-site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1.10 EUR per person per night (for adults 18+)
Deposit & card hold: Booking requires a deposit of 30% of total stay; a 100 EUR hold per room on a credit card at check-in for incidentals.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chapelle Saint-Martin (631 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
La Petite Arche — 696 m · ~9 min walk
Jardin de la Grenouillère — 454 m · ~6 min walk
Cabaret Extravagance — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 598 m · ~7 min walk
Pharmacie de l'Horloge — 112 m · ~1 min walk
Paris Store — 527 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at Tours station or tourist offices — their rates are poor.
Visa/Mastercard contactless accepted almost everywhere; small cafés and markets may prefer cash under €10. Apple/Google Pay common.
No need to tip — service is included. For excellent service, leave small change (€1–2) or round up the bill. Taxis: rounding up to next euro. Hotels: €1–2 per bag for porter.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →An espresso or petit café at a sidewalk café — about €1.20–1.50.
Formule (set lunch) at a brasserie or bistro — around €12–15 for starter+main or main+dessert.
A main course from a neighbourhood restaurant menu — typically €14–18.
Crêpes and galettes from stalls or casual crêperies (especially near Place Plumereau) — around €5–8 for a savoury galette.
Carrefour, Leclerc, Intermarché — also Lidl and Aldi for basics.
High-street chains like Zara, H&M, and Mango on Rue Nationale; second-hand/vintage shops around Rue du Commerce.
Single bus/tram ticket €1.80; a day pass for the Fil Bleu network is €5.20. For the airport (Tours Val de Loire), take Tram A to the terminus ‘Les Douets’ then bus 2 (€1.80 total) — far cheaper than the taxi.
Eat lunch at boulangeries for a sandwich or quiche (€4–6) rather than a sit-down meal.Buy a carnet of 10 bus/tram tickets for €14.40 instead of single tickets.Visit free attractions like the Cathédrale Saint-Gatien and the Jardin des Prébendes d'Oué.
Good to know — Tours
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · 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 La Terrasse
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 598 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie de l'Horloge — 112 m · ~1 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 La Terrasse?
Request a first-floor room with a courtyard view (if available) or a higher floor (2nd or 3rd) facing the interior courtyard. This balances quietness with natural light and is easier via stairs if the lift is small or slow.
Which rooms should I avoid at La Terrasse?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor facing the street — more noise from foot traffic and passing cars, plus less privacy with windows at pavement level.
Is La Terrasse noisy?
Tours city centre has narrow streets; morning deliveries, pedestrian chatter, and occasional traffic up to 11pm. The hotel bar or breakfast room may cause noise on the ground floor.
Which rooms have the best views at La Terrasse?
If the hotel has a rear courtyard or garden side, those rooms offer the best view and privacy. Street view gives a typical French city scene but with traffic noise.
What are insider tips for staying at La Terrasse?
Ask for a room at the back of the building for better sleep. If arriving by car, confirm parking options in advance — central Tours can have limited and expensive parking.
What time is check-in at La Terrasse?
Check-in at La Terrasse is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does La Terrasse have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; typical speeds 30 Mbps down/5 Mbps up; no login limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at La Terrasse?
1.10 EUR per person per night (for adults 18+)
Where can I eat cheaply near La Terrasse?
Formule (set lunch) at a brasserie or bistro — around €12–15 for starter+main or main+dessert.
What is the cheapest way to get around from La Terrasse?
Single bus/tram ticket €1.80; a day pass for the Fil Bleu network is €5.20. For the airport (Tours Val de Loire), take Tram A to the terminus ‘Les Douets’ then bus 2 (€1.80 total) — far cheaper than the taxi.
When is the best time to visit Tours?
June and September: warm days (22–26°C), lower rainfall than July, fewer tourists than August, and the Loire valley gardens are at their peak.
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.