Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Carcassonne?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Carcassonne?

Many visitors spend one to two days in Carcassonne during their trip. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because your journey calls for making the most of every moment. The town offers the chance to spend time at the museums, dine out at amazing restaurants, browse around the old town, and wander through the small town.

Carcassonne is a medieval town that sits beautifully on the top of a hill in Southern France. The town is filled with walled fortifications and a well-preserved castle. It has a fairytale quality that is enhanced by the fact that cars are not allowed in the walled city. Many people visit Carcassonne as a day trip.

Do you have one or two days to visit Carcassonne? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Carcassonne?

Carcassonne is a small town that is quite popular with tourists. One day is probably not enough time here. You might feel rushed to see the main attractions of Carcassonne such as the famous sights and museums, the food, the historic old town, and the small town charm. To thoroughly enjoy all that the town has to offer, you'll probably want more time. Most travelers schedule one to two days to fully experience the medieval town. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit.

How to spend a day in Carcassonne

Don't miss La Cité de Carcassonne during your trip to Carcassonne, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this town, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. There are a number of local restaurants that serve regional specialties such as cassoulet. You can spend a few hours exploring the castle and then grab a delicious bite to eat.

A few tour suggestions include:

Wine Discovery Tasting In Carcassonne ($66)

Carcassonne is a very walkable city. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. Cars aren't allowed in the medieval city so it's best to explore on foot.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Carcassonne?

For many visitors, a weekend in Carcassonne would be just the right amount of time. In fact, lots of tourists spend roughly one to two days in the medieval town to check out the amazing museums and landmarks and terrific food. Below we have some suggestions on how to spend your time here.

Carcassone, France

How to spend 2 days in Carcassonne

If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Carcassonne, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the town has to offer.

Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Carcassonne a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

Carcassonne is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The town is filled with history and well preserved medieval sights.

A few tour suggestions include:

Private 2-hour Walking Tour of Carcassone with official tour guide ($241)
Cité de Carcassonne Guided Walking tour. Private tour. ($170)
Carcassonne: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour ($202)

Public transit in Carcassonne is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the town quite easily. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Carcassonne, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.