Coach Rental Across France

Carcassonne Coach Hire with a Driver

At Carcassonne the coach never enters the Cité. What changes is where it drops the group, and that depends on the month.

Two drop-off rules, by season

Outside July and August, the drop is the short-stop bay at the Porte Narbonnaise, and the coach then parks at P1. In July and August that bay is closed to drop-offs. The coach drives straight to P1, and the group walks up or rides the free shuttle, which runs from P1 between July and September.

P1, on chemin de Montlegun, is a short walk from the Cité and has 17 coach spaces. Limited extra space is listed on boulevard de Varsovie, on the Bastide side, and at the Place Général de Gaulle car park.

Setra high-capacity coach, exterior
Setra high-capacity coach, exterior

Gates and timed entry

Vehicles use the Porte Narbonnaise, on the east side. The Porte d'Aude, on the west, is for pedestrians, with a steep cobbled climb up to it. With older travellers, plan to arrive and leave by the Porte Narbonnaise.

Walking into the Cité costs nothing. The Château comtal and ramparts work on online booking, compulsory from 10 adults. Turn up unbooked, or miss the slot, and the group is refused. Work the drop-off time back from the slot.

Airports for groups arriving in Carcassonne

Stadiums and arenas a coach can serve

  • Théâtre Jean-Deschamps and the Château comtal (in the Cité) — Main stages of the Festival de Carcassonne in July and August

Coach day trips from Carcassonne

  • Lagrasse — about 36 km, about 40 min
  • Minerve — about 46 km, about 55 min
  • Mirepoix — about 52 km, about 45 min
  • Narbonne — about 61 km, about 50 min
  • Château de Peyrepertuse (Cathar castle) — about 86 km, about 1 h 40 min
  • Toulouse — about 93 km, about 1 h 10 min
  • Collioure — about 149 km, about 1 h 40 min
  • Montpellier — about 151 km, about 1 h 45 min

Rules for coaches in Carcassonne

  • Aéroport de Carcassonne (CCF) is about 5 km by road from the Bastide (about 10 min) and about 7 km from the Cité. Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) is about 104 km (about 1 h 20 min) and Montpellier-Méditerranée (MPL) about 157 km (about 1 h 45 min).
  • Trains arrive at Gare de Carcassonne, boulevard Maréchal Joffre, in the Bastide opposite the Canal du Midi port. The Cité is about 2 km away; city bus line 3 stops about 150 m from the Porte Narbonnaise, and from June to September a small tourist train runs from the Bastide to the Cité.
  • The tourist office lists three coach parks, all with limited space: P1 on chemin de Montlegun, a short walk from the Cité (17 coach spaces); spaces on boulevard de Varsovie at the edge of the Bastide; and the Place Général de Gaulle car park.
  • Group drop-off at the Cité: from September to June groups can be dropped off and picked up at the short-stop area in front of the Porte Narbonnaise, then the coach parks at P1. In July and August drop-off there is not allowed and coaches go straight to P1. A free shuttle runs from P1 from July to September.
  • The Porte Narbonnaise (east) is the vehicle gate of the Cité; the Porte d'Aude (west) is for pedestrians only and is reached by a steep cobbled street.
  • Carcassonne is on the A61 (Autoroute des Deux Mers), a toll motorway (autoroute à péage) between Toulouse and Narbonne; for the Cité take exit 24 (Carcassonne Est) and follow "Cité Médiévale".
  • On 14 July (the Embrasement de la Cité) and during the Festival de Carcassonne, roads around the Cité are very busy; the city advises arriving by late morning or early afternoon on 14 July.
  • The Cathar castles (Peyrepertuse, Quéribus) are reached by narrow mountain roads with a walk to the castle; check coach access before booking.

Roads, rail and air

Carcassonne is on the A61, the Autoroute des Deux Mers, tolled from Toulouse to Narbonne. Leave at exit 24 (Carcassonne Est) for the Cité, then follow the Cité Médiévale signs. Toulouse-Blagnac is about 104 km away, about 1 h 20 by car; Carcassonne's own airport is about 7 km from the Cité.

The station is in the Bastide, opposite the Canal du Midi port, about 2 km from the Cité. A coach transfer saves splitting the group between bus line 3 and the summer tourist train.

Busy dates and Cathar castles

Fireworks over the Cité, the Embrasement, go up at 22:30 each 14 July, and traffic near the walls is heavy all day. Aim to be in place by late morning, or early afternoon at the latest: that is the city's advice. The Festival de Carcassonne in July and August also fills the area.

Peyrepertuse and Quéribus are reached by narrow mountain roads, then a walk. Check coach access before booking; a midi coach may suit better. Peyrepertuse is about 1 h 40 by car, and booking is compulsory there from 20 people.

Organisers ask

Can the coach drive into the Cité?

No. From September to June it drops you at the Porte Narbonnaise; in July and August it heads straight to P1.

Do we need to book to enter the Cité?

Not the Cité itself: entry is free. The Château comtal and ramparts need an online booking for adult groups of 10 or more.

Is the P1 shuttle free?

Yes. It runs from July to September between P1 and the Cité.

Other group trips we book

Vehicles with a driver