Photo: Florent Pécassou · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pau
Relaxed Pyrenean city with a famous mountain view and easy access to the peaks.
Pau is a calm, elegant town at the foot of the Pyrenees, known for its long boulevard with mountain views and its relaxed historic centre. It is easy to see on foot in a day or two, and makes a cheap base for the mountains.
Places to see
Place RoyaleViewpoint · A wide, open square at the edge of the plateau.Free- Palais BeaumontSight · A large early 20th-century building set in a park on the east side of the centre.Free
Ravin du HédasWalk · A steep, narrow ravine of old houses and stepped lanes dropping from the centre toward…Free
Église Saint-MartinChurch · A large church close to the old town, with a tall interior and stained glass.
When to go
- Jan9° / 2°Some rainQuiet
- Feb11° / 2°Some rainQuiet
- Mar14° / 4°Some rainQuiet
- Apr16° / 6°Often wetQuiet
- May20° / 9°Often wetQuiet
- Jun24° / 12°Some rainBusy
- Jul27° / 14°Some rainBusy
- Aug27° / 14°Some rainBusy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Old town and Hédas. Narrow streets below the château, with churches, a small museum and the ravine.
Boulevard and Place Royale. The grand central strip with mountain views, squares and the town hall.
Flying in
Pau Pyrénées Airport (PUF): Bus or shuttle into town, or a short taxi. Check the current timetable, as…, about 20 min, ≈ A$4.
Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport (LDE): Shuttle or bus to Lourdes, then a regional train to Pau. This takes a little…, about 1 h 15 min, ≈ A$21.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Pau; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$2. The centre is compact and easy on foot, with the Boulevard des Pyrénées viewpoint close to the old town and the castle. There is a funicular between the station and the centre, and local buses cover the rest. To reach the mountains you'll…
Tourist tax
French towns usually charge a small per-person, per-night tax that is added to your bill. Pau's rate is likely well under 1 EUR for hostels and budget rooms, and children under 18 are usually…
