Please find below some practical information on how to get to Tours using the various means of transport. We hope that this will help you to plan for your arrival on campus, and ensure that you are there in time for all the events which take place at the beginning of the academic year.
ARRIVING IN PARIS BY PLANE
Wherever you’re coming from, most of you will start your expatriation in France by arriving in Paris by plane. Paris has two major international airports, Orly and Roissy Charles de Gaulle, from where there are shuttle services to the heart of the capital.
From either airport, you will need to get to Gare Montparnasse mainline station from which you can take a direct train to Tours.
If your flight lands at Orly, we suggest you to take the Orly Bus to Place Denfert Rochereau which is in the 14th district of Paris. From there, take Metro Line 6 (in the direction of Charles de Gaulle Etoile) and get off at Edgar Quinet. You will then need to walk for about 5 minutes to Gare Montparnasse mainline station – follow the signs to Grandes Lignes (mainline services).
If your flight lands at Roissy Charles de Gaulle, we suggest you take RER B.
You have 2 possibilities:
- Take RER B to Châtelet Les Halles*, from here connect to Metro Line 4 (in the direction of Mairie de Montrouge) – get off at Montparnasse
- Take RER B to Denfert Rochereau, from here connect to Metro Line 6 (in the direction of Charles de Gaulle Etoile) – get off at Edgar Quinet
From either of these Metro stations (Montparnasse or Edgar Quinet), you will then need to walk for about 5 minutes to Gare Montparnasse mainline station – follow the signs to Grandes Lignes (mainline services).
* Be aware that Châtelet Les Halles is the central hub for many Metro lines and is therefore VERY busy at all times!
Click here for a map of the Paris Metro
PARIS TO TOURS BY TRAIN
Located in the south of Paris in the city’s 15th district, Gare Montparnasse mainline station has high-speed trains (known as TGV – Train à Grande Vitesse) to the city of Tours, with some 17 services per day. The journey time to Tours is between 1 hour and 1 hour 20 mins.
For tickets at the best price, make sure you book in advance on the website OUI.sncf.
ARRIVING IN TOURS BY PLANE
Located to the north of the city, Tours Val de Loire airport welcomes flights from several European cities including London, Dublin, Porto and Marrakesh.
Flight information and to book tickets
From the airport, there are different ways to get to the city centre:
- Taxi
- Tram Line A
- Bus Line 2
TO TOURS BY CAR
If you have your own car and prefer to drive to Tours, be aware of the speed limits in France:
- Motorways: the speed limit is 130 km/h
The majority of motorways are toll roads – you will have to pay when joining or leaving. Various services are available at the designated rest areas (fuel, restaurants, toilets, hotels, etc.). Prepare your motorway journey
- Dual carriageways: the speed limit is 110 km/h
These roads are free… there are no tolls to be paid!
- Main roads, known as Nationales (they start with an ‘N’): the speed limit is 80 km/h or 90 km/h (depending on the French Department and quality of the road)
- In towns and villages: the speed limit is 50 km/h or even 30 km/h!
View a road map of France and plan your route
You can drive in France with a foreign driving licence provided it was issued in a European country. For a driving licence issued by a non-European country, conditions vary.
TO TOURS USING CAR SHARING
For those who don’t own a car and prefer car sharing, sign up on BlaBlaCar for a wide choice of journeys at economical prices! Download the mobile application.
FROM TOURS STATION TO EXCELIA CAMPUS
When you arrive at Tours station, the last stage of your journey is to get to Excelia!
- Take Line 3b in the direction Grand Sud (Chambray-lès-Tours)
- Get off at bus stop Ecole Commerce
- Walk along the pavement in same direction as the bus, take first right, Avenue Beethoven, then first right again onto Rue Léo Delibes…. Excelia is at no. 8, on the left!
You’ve arrived!
