Château Comtal and a walk on the ramparts of the Cité
2 hAll ages; with a pushchair, a baby carrier is betterAll year
The viscounts' castle and the wall-walk along the ramparts · 2 h · €19 in season · free for under-18s
Entering the CitéFree
Castle and walls€19 from April to September; €13 the rest of the year
From BarcelonaAbout 3 h by train, with a change at Narbonne
Minimum time1 day
What to do
What to do in Carcassonne
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Walking the lists and streets of the Cité
1 h 30 · 3 kmAll agesDog-friendlyAll year; early or at dusk in summer
A full circuit of the citadel along the passage between the two walls, from the Porte Narbonnaise to the Porte d'Aude · 1 h 30 · free
Canal du Midi cruise from the port of Carcassonne
1 h 30All ages; children aged 3 to 12, €8Dog-friendlyApril – October
Panoramic boat with Spanish commentary, two locks and a view of the Cité · 1 h 30 · €10.50 · April–October
From €10
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Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Carcassonne, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Carcassonne
April, May, June, September and October, with temperatures for walking and the canal boats running. In July and August it is hot and the Cité fills up at midday. In winter everything opens, with fewer hours, and there is almost nobody.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Carcassonne your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
From Girona, on the A9, in two and a half hours
Carcassonne is very easy by car from Catalonia: the A9 motorway to Narbonne and the A61 towards Toulouse, both toll roads. The car stays in the car park and the Cité, the Pont Vieux and the Bastide are done on foot; pick it up again for Lastours or Peyrepertuse.
80–160 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayHôtel Le Donjon, inside the…
- Getting aroundPark in P1 or P2…
- Where to eatLe Saint Jean, in the…
- ServicesCarcassonne Tourist Office
Where to stay
- Hôtel Le Donjon, inside the Cité, with the car at the Porte Narbonnaise
- Camping de la Cité, 15 minutes' walk from the ramparts
Getting around
- Park in P1 or P2, free at night
- Lastours 20 km away; Peyrepertuse, 1 h 15
Where to eat
- Le Saint Jean, in the Cité, open on Sundays
- Brasserie à 4 Temps, in the Bastide, every day from 6:30 to 22:30
Services
- Carcassonne Tourist Office
- Car parks at the Cité
A night inside the Cité and a two-star table
Luxury in Carcassonne means sleeping where the groups go home from: inside the Cité or at the foot of the hill, next to Franck Putelat's two-star restaurant.
From €350per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayHôtel Le Parc, five stars…
- Getting aroundOn foot between the Cité…
- Where to eatLa Table de Franck Putelat…
- ServicesCar parks at the Cité…
Where to stay
- Hôtel Le Parc, five stars, seven rooms, some with a private jacuzzi
- Hôtel Le Donjon, four stars inside the walls
Getting around
- On foot between the Cité, the Pont Vieux and the Bastide
- Canal du Midi cruise from the port
Where to eat
- La Table de Franck Putelat, two Michelin stars, Tuesday to Saturday
- Brasserie à 4 Temps, by the same chef, for the other days
Services
- Car parks at the Cité, free at night
Fly to Toulouse and take a train or car to Carcassonne
Toulouse-Blagnac is the airport with the most useful direct flights from Spain for Carcassonne: from Madrid all year round and, depending on the season, from other cities. From there, a good hour on the A61 motorway. From Barcelona the train or car is better than flying.
- Getting thereToulouse-Blagnac (TLS), with direct flights…
- Getting aroundHire car in Toulouse if…
- Where to stayHôtel Le Donjon, inside the…
- ServicesCarcassonne station, next to the…
Getting there
- Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS), with direct flights from Spain
- Carcassonne (CCF), the city's airport, a few minutes from the centre
- Direct train from Toulouse to Carcassonne
Getting around
- Hire car in Toulouse if you are going to see Cathar castles
- Without a car: train to the station, in the Bastide, and everything on foot
Where to stay
- Hôtel Le Donjon, inside the Cité, to arrive and not move the car
Services
- Carcassonne station, next to the Canal du Midi
- Tourist office
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Carcassonne for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Free ramparts for under-18s and a short boat trip
Carcassonne is a fairy-tale castle town and works with children of almost any age: under-18s don't pay for the castle and ramparts, and the lists can be walked for free.
- What works bestThe Château Comtal and the…
- Where to stayCamping de la Cité, with…
- Where to eatLe Saint Jean, children's menu…
- Bear in mindCobbles and stairs: a baby…
What works best
- The Château Comtal and the walk on the ramparts, free up to 18
- The lists, between the two walls, for running about without cars
- The Canal du Midi boat, 1 h 30, children aged 3 to 12 at €8
- Peyrepertuse or Lastours, with children who already walk well
Where to stay
- Camping de la Cité, with a swimming pool, play areas and mobile homes for families
- Hôtel Le Donjon, inside the Cité
Where to eat
- Le Saint Jean, children's menu at €12
- Brasserie à 4 Temps, open all day
Bear in mind
- Cobbles and stairs: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair
- In summer, the castle first thing and the pool in the afternoon
What to do as a family
Château Comtal and a walk on the ramparts of the Cité
Walking the lists and streets of the Cité
Canal du Midi cruise from the port of Carcassonne
Basilica of Saint-Nazaire and its stained glass
From the Pont Vieux to the Bastide Saint-Louis
The four castles of Lastours
Château de Peyrepertuse, in the Corbières
Towers, a boat and a swimming pool
With small children, the Cité is better enjoyed in short spells: a walk along the lists, the canal boat and an afternoon at the campsite pool.
- What works bestThe lists and streets of…
- Where to stayCamping de la Cité, with…
- Where to eatChildren's menu at Le Saint…
- Bear in mindThe stairs on the ramparts…
What works best
- The lists and streets of the Cité, free and car-free
- The Canal du Midi boat, with two locks that pass slowly
- A stroll over the pedestrian Pont Vieux
Where to stay
- Camping de la Cité, with a swimming pool and play area
Where to eat
- Children's menu at Le Saint Jean
- Brasserie à 4 Temps, with no strict hours
Bear in mind
- The stairs on the ramparts are not for pushchairs
- In August, avoid the main street at midday
What to do with young children
Cathar castles high on the rock
To teenagers the Cité can feel like a film set. What hooks them is climbing: the wall-walk along the ramparts and, outside, the Cathar castles perched on the ridges.
- What works bestThe walk on the ramparts…
- Where to stayCamping de la Cité, at…
- Where to eatCassoulet at the Brasserie à…
- Bear in mindIn strong wind, Peyrepertuse is…
What works best
- The walk on the ramparts of the Château Comtal, free up to 18
- Peyrepertuse, with the climb and the Saint Louis staircase
- The four castles of Lastours
Where to stay
- Camping de la Cité, at the foot of the ramparts
Where to eat
- Cassoulet at the Brasserie à 4 Temps
Bear in mind
- In strong wind, Peyrepertuse is dangerous
- Wear shoes that grip for the castles
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingin styleif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hôtel Le Parc
Why we like it: Five-star hotel with seven rooms 800 m from the Cité, next to Franck Putelat's two-star restaurant, with suites with private jacuzzis.
Camping de la Cité
Why we like it: Campsite 15 minutes' walk from the ramparts, with 80 m² pitches, mobile homes, cabins for cyclists and a motorhome area open all year; dogs welcome.
Hôtel Le Donjon
Why we like it: Four-star hotel with 43 rooms inside the medieval Cité, in stone houses with interior gardens, a bar and its own brasserie, Chez Christine.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Carcassonne
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Le Saint Jean
What to order: The cassoulet, if you come for a meal; for a snack, the tapas on the terrace.
Chez Fred
What to order: The cassoulet, with its Académie Universelle du Cassoulet label, and the house foie gras.
Brasserie à 4 Temps
What to order: The Carcassonne cassoulet; for dessert, the omelette norvégienne.
La Table de Franck Putelat
What to order: The lunch menu is the most affordable way to try the house.
Nearby
Near Carcassonne
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Enter early or at the end of the afternoon
From eleven to five, in summer, the groups fill the main street of the Cité. First thing you have it almost to yourself.
- 2Do the castle at opening time
The first hour of the castle and the wall walk is the quietest, and in summer the one when the stone is least hot.
- 3Go down by the Porte d'Aude
It is the exit that leads to the Pont Vieux and the best view of the Cité from the river.
- 4Order cassoulet in the Bastide
It is the dish of the Aude: white beans with duck confit and sausage, baked in an earthenware pot. It is hearty: order it for lunch, not dinner.
Local tip
Cross the Pont Vieux at night. With the Cité lit up on the other side of the river you see the whole silhouette, and it is free.
The main street of the Cité at midday in August
Between the Porte Narbonnaise and the castle square you walk in single file, among shops selling plastic swords. Go before ten or after six.
What are the Cité and the Bastide?
Carcassonne is two cities. On the hill is the Cité, the medieval citadel: two circuits of walls, 52 towers, the count's castle and the basilica of Saint-Nazaire. Viollet-le-Duc restored it in the 19th century, with pointed slate roofs that don't belong here, and it has been a World Heritage Site since 1997. On the other side of the River Aude, on the plain, is the Bastide Saint-Louis, the 13th-century lower town, with streets in a grid, place Carnot and the shops and bars where people live. They are joined by the Pont Vieux, a stone bridge that can only be crossed on foot.
You can see both in a day. So that the Cité is not just a stage set with souvenir shops, sleep a night: first thing and at dusk, when the groups leave, the streets are empty.
Do you have to pay to enter?
No. The Cité is a neighbourhood with residents, and its streets, the lists between the two walls and the basilica of Saint-Nazaire can be toured free. You enter on foot through the Porte Narbonnaise, to the east, or through the Porte d'Aude, up a cobbled slope that climbs from the river.
What you pay for is the count's castle and the walk along the top of the walls, run by the Centre des monuments nationaux. Admission costs €19 from April to September and €13 from October to March. It is free for under-18s and for EU citizens aged 18 to 25, with a document. Allow about two hours. It is open from 10:00 to 18:30 in season and from 9:30 to 17:00 in winter, with last admission 45 minutes before closing. It is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. On the first Sunday of January, February and March admission is free.
What can you see on foot?
A route that works: enter through the Porte Narbonnaise, go round the Cité along the lists, which is the corridor between the two circuits, and go up to the castle. Then pass the basilica of Saint-Nazaire, with its stained glass from the 13th and 14th centuries, and leave by the Porte d'Aude. Go down to the Pont Vieux, cross the river and carry straight on to the Bastide. In place Carnot, with its Neptune fountain, you have your coffee. From there, in ten minutes you reach the port of the Canal du Midi, next to the railway station.
Is the Canal du Midi worth it?
Yes, for an hour and a half. The canal that links Toulouse with the Mediterranean, from the 17th century, is also a World Heritage Site. From the port of Carcassonne sail panoramic boats, the Lou Gabaret and the Hélios, with commentated trips of 1 h 30 to almost 3 h that pass locks such as Ladouce. According to the Aude tourist office, the adult ticket costs from €10.50 and the child's from €8. There are three departures a day in spring and autumn and eight in July and August. Along the towpath, on foot or by bike, it is flat and in the shade of plane trees.
And the Cathar castles?
If you have a car and one more day, go south, to the Corbières. Peyrepertuse is an elongated fortress on a rocky ridge. The adult ticket costs from €8 in 2026, and from the car park you climb on foot along a path of about twenty minutes: wear shoes with grip and don't try it in strong wind. Nearby is Quéribus, at the top of a crag. Closer to Carcassonne, to the north, the four castles of Lastours and the abbey of Lagrasse, in a village with a medieval bridge.
How do you get there from Spain?
By car, from La Jonquera on the A9 motorway to Narbonne and then the A61 towards Toulouse. Both are toll roads. By train, from Barcelona there is a TGV to Narbonne and there you change to an Intercités or a regional train to Carcassonne: the whole journey takes about three hours. The station is in the Bastide, about twenty minutes' walk from the Cité.
Where do you park?
At the foot of the Cité are the car parks P0, P1 and P2, next to the Narbonnaise and Aude gates: they cost €1 per 15 minutes for the first two hours and then €0.50 per 45 minutes. P1 and P2 are free at night. In the Bastide, the underground car parks give 30 minutes free and then cost €1 an hour. Motorhomes can spend the night in P1, from €20 for 24 hours, or at the Camping de la Cité, with 38 pitches, water and emptying, from €15.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much time do I need to see Carcassonne?
A full day for the Cité, the castle, the Pont Vieux and the Bastide. With two days you add the Canal du Midi and a Cathar castle.
How much does it cost to enter the castle and walls?
€19 from April to September and €13 from October to March. Under-18s and EU citizens aged 18 to 25 enter free.
Can I drive into the Cité?
No. You park in the paid car parks next to the Porte Narbonnaise or the Porte d'Aude and go in on foot.
Can I go by train from Barcelona?
Yes, with a change at Narbonne. The journey takes about three hours, and from Carcassonne station you reach the Cité on foot in about twenty minutes.
Is it worth sleeping in the Cité?
Yes, if you can. At night and at dawn the streets empty and it is another city. The Bastide is cheaper and next to the station.
Can I go with children?
Yes. They like the walk along the walls, under-18s don't pay and the canal boat is short. With a pushchair, the cobbles and the steps on the walls are hard going: a carrier is better.