Essentials
- City
- Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
- Population
- Approximately 77,000
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available, average 200-400 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (€), 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks include Crédit Agricole and BNP Paribas
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and of excellent quality, sourced from Pyrenean springs
- SIM Card
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues, and Free Mobile (Free offers €19.99/mo for 250GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Lydia, and Nickel are popular for easy setup
- Accommodation
- Airbnb for short stays, Le Bon Coin or SeLoger for long-term rentals
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless payments accepted everywhere from bakeries to buses
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com (approx. €800-€1,200/month for a central studio)
- Budget Accommodation
- Hotel Bristol (€65/night) or Appart'Hôtel Victoria Garden
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Quartier du Château and Boulevard des Pyrénées
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Quartier Halles (vibrant market area) or Trespoey (quieter, upscale)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- La Forge (8 Rue de la Fontaine, €200/month) or Le Mix (near the station)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Beanz Café (6 Rue Carnot) - Great Wi-Fi and specialty coffee
- Networking Events
- French Tech Pyrénées meetups and 'Digital Pau' workshops
- Social Events for Expats
- Pau Expats Facebook Group and weekly Language Exchange at The Garage
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber is limited; use 'Allo Taxi Pau' (+33 5 59 02 22 22)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- IDELIS IDEcycle (Self-service bikes, €25 annual subscription)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Biarritz (Grande Plage), approx. 1 hour 15 mins by car or train
- Top Regional Airline
- Air France (Flights to Paris-CDG and Orly)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair/Transavia (Flights to London, Marrakesh, Porto from Pau Airport)
- Highway Access
- A64 (The 'Pyrenean' highway connecting Bayonne to Toulouse)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare de Pau (connects to Bordeaux and Paris via TGV)
- Public Transport Passes
- IDELIS (Bus and Fébus hydrogen bus, €1.30 per ticket or €32 monthly)
- Regional Travel
- TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine trains and regional 'Car Région' buses
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Centre Hospitalier de Pau (4 Boulevard de l'Hauterive)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Aya Yoga (14 rue de la République) and L'Atelier du Yoga
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Keepcool Pau Centre (Rue Samonzet) or Basic-Fit (Route de Bayonne)
- Laundry Services
- Laverie Speed Queen (34 Rue Castetnau)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Deliveroo and UberEats are both very active
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Poule au Pot (King Henry IV's favorite) and Garbure (thick soup)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- La Détente (organic and veggie-friendly) and Maynats
- Best Dessert Spots
- Maison Constanti (Macarons and local pastries on Boulevard des Pyrénées)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Les Halles de Pau (Daily fresh market, Rue de la République)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, and Vinted (for clothing)
- Grocery Delivery
- Carrefour Livré chez vous and Leclerc Drive
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rue des Cordeliers and Place de la Libération
- Local Brewery
- Brasserie Béarnaise (Try the 'Shaman' beer)
- Wine Bars
- Vins de la Hount (3 Place de la Hount) for Jurançon tasting
- Street Food Stalls
- Le Kiosque à Pizzas and local food trucks at Les Halles
- Popular International Cuisine
- O'Quigley's (Irish Pub/Food) and Taj Mahal (Indian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Château de Pau (Birthplace of Henry IV) and Boulevard des Pyrénées
- Museums & Art Venues
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau and Musée Bernadotte
- Historical Sites
- Parlement de Navarre and the Funiculaire de Pau
- Religious Sites
- Église Saint-Martin (Neo-Gothic architecture)
- Annual Events
- Grand Prix de Pau (Street circuit racing) and Hestiv'Òc (Occitan festival)
- Cultural Districts
- Hédas (beautifully restored valley district below the castle)
- Theater Venues
- Théâtre Saint-Louis and Zénith de Pau (large concerts)
- Local Markets
- Marché Bio de Billère (Saturday mornings)
- Music Scene
- La Centrifugeuse (University venue) and Show Case Time
- Street Art
- Murals in the Hédas district and Rue Joffre area
- Cooking Classes
- L'Atelier Cuisine d'Anne-Marie (focus on Béarnese specialties)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie l'Imparfait and various pop-ups in the center
- Historic Buildings
- Villa Saint-Basil's and diverse Belle Époque villas in Trespoey
- Local Heritage
- The 'Béret Béarnais' (Laulhère boutique) and the Occitan language
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Forêt de Bastard and the Gave de Pau riverbanks
- National Parks Nearby
- Parc National des Pyrénées (accessible via Laruns, 45 mins away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Voie Verte des Rives du Gave (long-distance path along the river)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Boulevard des Pyrénées (Panoramic view of the mountain range)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lac du Laroin (short drive from the city)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly regulated; restricted to designated camping sites like Camping Le Soleil
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste (Main office near Place de Verdun) and Mondial Relay points
- Tech Repair Services
- WeFix (inside Centre Commercial Leclerc Tempé) and Dr. IT Pau
- Table Tennis Spots
- Stade Nautique and various public parks (Parc Lawrence)
- Language Classes
- UPPA (University) French for foreigners and Alliance Française
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Médiathèque André-Labarrère (stunning modern library at Les Halles)
- Community Centers
- Centre Social La Pépinière
- Gaming Lounges
- Meltdown Pau (Esports bar and gaming)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino de Pau (Parc Beaumont)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,600 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €78,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €57,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,400 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €120,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €90,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €165,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,700 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €127,500)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard French rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Flat tax 'Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique')
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (plus exceptional tax for high earners)
- VAT
- 20% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict French anti-avoidance regulations
- Property Tax
- Yes, 'Taxe Foncière' (rates set by the municipality)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 7-8% ('Frais de Notaire') for older properties
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Auto-entrepreneur status offers simplified tax around 22% of revenue