The short version
- There is no direct train from Paris. The fastest trip takes 5 hours 24 minutes, with one or two changes in Toulouse, Narbonne or Montpellier, and fares start at €37.
- Carcassonne airport has no Paris flights. Fly to Toulouse, then take the train, which is 40 minutes to an hour.
- The Cité, the walled town, is free to walk day and night. You pay only for the château and ramparts, the museums and some tours.
- The château and ramparts cost €19 from April to September and €13 from October to March, free under 18. A TGV INOUI or Intercités ticket less than five days old gets you a lower price.
- The station is a 30-minute walk from the Cité, across the Pont Vieux, or take bus 4 to the foot of the walls.
- Sleep in or near the Cité and walk the walls early in the morning and in the evening, before and after the day visitors.
What to see
The Cité has 52 towers and 3 kilometers of double walls. Walk in through the Porte Narbonnaise and wander; the streets inside are free. Most of what you see was restored by Viollet-le-Duc between 1852 and 1879.
The Château Comtal and the rampart walk take about two hours. Book online, since places are limited. Last entry is 17:45 from April to September and 16:15 from October to March, and the audioguide is €5.
Step into the Basilique Saint-Nazaire inside the walls for its Gothic stained glass. From November 2 to December 18, 2026, it is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Cross the Pont Vieux to the lower town, the Bastide Saint-Louis, laid out in a grid in the 13th century. Place Carnot has a market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts is free.
Take a boat on the Canal du Midi from the port by the station: 1 hour 45 minutes or 2 hours 30 minutes, from €10.50. Bring cash.
Getting there and around
Trains leave Paris Montparnasse for the route through Toulouse, and Paris Gare de Lyon for the route through Narbonne or Montpellier. There are about 17 trips a day, all with at least one change.
If you fly, land at Toulouse-Blagnac. The airport shuttle bus runs to Toulouse Matabiau station for €9, and from there trains reach Carcassonne in 40 minutes to an hour.
In town, you walk. Bus 4 runs from near the station to the foot of the Cité, and in summer a free electric shuttle loops the lower town.
When to go
May, June and September are the best months: warm, and quieter inside the walls.
July and August are hot and busy. Fireworks light up the Cité on July 14, the Festival de Carcassonne runs through July, and knights’ tournaments are held from mid-July to the end of August.
In winter the château closes at 17:00 and the streets are quiet. In December the lower town puts up an ice rink and a Christmas market on Place Carnot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from Paris to Carcassonne?
By train, with one or two changes: the fastest trip is 5 hours 24 minutes, from Montparnasse via Toulouse or from Gare de Lyon via Narbonne. Or fly to Toulouse and take the train from there, 40 minutes to an hour. There are no flights from Paris to Carcassonne.
Is it free to enter the Cité of Carcassonne?
Yes. The walled town and its streets are free and open day and night. You pay for the Château Comtal and the rampart walk, €13 to €19 depending on the season, and for the museums and tours inside.
How long do you need in Carcassonne?
Half a day covers the Cité and the château. Stay one night so you can walk the walls in the early morning and the evening, and see the lower town and the canal.
Can you stay inside the walls?
Yes. There are hotels inside the Cité. The streets are cobbled and uphill from the station, so take the bus or a taxi with your bags.
Is there a tour I can combine with Carcassonne?
Yes, in Provence. Our Three Days in Provence meets at Avignon TGV station: the Popes’ Palace on the first day, Gordes, Roussillon, the Pont du Gard and Les Baux on the second, and a morning of wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape on the third.
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