🇫🇷 Tours,
France
#2931
Nomad Score
6.7
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47.3900474, 0.6889268
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ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France |
| 👥 Population | Approximately 137,000 (Metropolitan area: 495,000) |
| 💻 Internet Speed | High-speed Fiber (FTTH) widely available, average 150-300 Mbps; 5G coverage 95% across city center |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Drinkable and high quality (Eau de Tours) |
| 🔌 Power | 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets |
| 📶 SIM Card | Free Mobile (5G Plan €19.99/mo), Orange (L'essentiel €16.99/mo), SFR, Bouygues |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Revolut and N26 are popular; local options include Boursorama or Hello Bank |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Studapart for medium-term; Airbnb; local agencies like Foncia for long-term rentals |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Yes, contactless payment (CB) is standard even for small amounts at bakeries |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb (Avg €75/night), Booking.com (The People Hostel), and Leboncoin |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | The People Hostel - Tours (€28-35/night for dorms), Hôtel du Cygne (€65/night) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Vieux-Tours (Place Plumereau) for nightlife and historic timber-framed houses |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Quartier des Halles for markets and local vibe, or Velpeau for a quieter community feel near the station |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | HQ Tours (Rue de la Sellerie) - €25/day; W'iN Tours (Quartier Gare) - €200/month |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | L'Atelier du Café (Rue du Commerce) - Excellent Wi-Fi and specialty coffee; Craft Coffee Shop |
| 💼 Networking Events | French Tech Loire Valley meetups; MAME (Cité de la Création et de l'Innovation) workshops |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Internations Tours group; 'Expats in Tours' Facebook Group; Polyglot Club meetings at Pale Ale bar |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Uber (active but limited), Heetch, or GIE Taxis de Tours (+33 2 47 20 30 40) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Indigo Weel (Dockless bikes), Pony (Scooters), and Véliti long-term rentals (€40/year) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Tours-sur-Loire (seasonal river beach/guinguette), or La Rochelle (2.5 hours by train) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Ryanair (Tours Val de Loire Airport - TUF) flies to London, Porto, Dublin |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Air France via TGV connection to Paris CDG (1h 40m direct train) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | A10 (Paris-Bordeaux), A85 (Nantes-Lyon), A28 (Le Mans-Rouen) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Gare de Tours (Central) and Gare de Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (TGV Hub) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | Fil Bleu: €1.60 single, €45.00 monthly for unlimited tram and bus |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | TER Centre-Val de Loire trains to Amboise (€6), Blois (€12), and Orléans (€20) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | CHRU de Tours - Hôpital Bretonneau (Public University Hospital) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Yoga Shala Tours (Rue de la Scellerie); O'Studio (Pilates and Yoga) |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Basic-Fit (Rue Nationale) - €24.99/mo; Central Form - €45/mo |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Laverie Speed Queen (Avenue de la Tranchée); Lav'Club (Rue Colbert) |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | Deliveroo, UberEats, and Sacré Armand (local alternative) |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Rillettes de Tours IGP (Pork spread) and Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine (Goat cheese) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | The Sycomore (Plant-based cuisine); Le Potager de Grand-Mère (Veg-friendly) |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Pâtisserie Nicolas Léger (Macarons and chocolates); Maison Beucher |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Marché des Halles (Daily covered market); Lidl (Avenue de Grammont) |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, Veepee |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Carrefour Livré chez vous; Monoprix.fr; Houra |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Place Plumereau (voted most beautiful square in France for an apéro); Rue Colbert |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Microbrasserie de Tours; Brasserie de l'Aurore (La Turone) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Le Tour au Verre (Rue du Change); Les Belles Caves |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Le Casse-Cailloux (High-end sandwiches); Halles Centrales food stalls |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Newlita (US Burgers); Nobuki (Japanese Gastronomy); Le Shaker (Fusion) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Saint-Gatien Cathedral; Place Plumereau; Château de Tours |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Musée des Beaux-Arts; CCCOD (Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | Basilica of Saint Martin; Tour Charlemagne; Prieuré de Saint-Cosme |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Cathédrale Saint-Gatien; Abbaye de Marmoutier |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Vitiloire (Wine festival in May); Paris-Tours cycling race (October) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Vieux-Tours (Historic Medieval Quarter); Quartier des Arts |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | Opéra de Tours (Grand Théâtre); Le Petit Faucheux (Jazz) |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Marché aux Fleurs (Sundays); Marché Velpeau (Sundays) |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Le Temps Machine (Concert venue); La Guinguette de Tours (Outdoor music May-Sept) |
| 🎨 Street Art | Murals around MAME and the University district (Quartier des Deux-Lions) |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Tours à Table (Professional and amateur workshops) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Galerie Olivier Rousseau; Galerie Veyssière |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | Hôtel de Ville (City Hall); Palais de Justice |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | Touraine region known as 'The Garden of France' and the purity of its French accent |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Jardin Botanique de Tours; Parc de la Gloriette; Île Simon |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Parc Naturel Régional Loire-Anjou-Touraine |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | La Loire à Vélo (800km dedicated cycle route passing through Tours) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Pont Wilson (Sunset over the Loire); Terrace of the Musée des Beaux-Arts |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Lac de la Bergeonnerie; Sandbanks of the Loire River |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Strictly regulated; designated areas at Parc de la Gloriette for DIY picnics |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | La Poste (Main office Rue Nationale); Mondial Relay (various pickup points) |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | WeFix (FNAC Tours); Docteur IT (Rue Nationale) |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | 4S Tours Table Tennis (Professional club); Parc de la Gloriette (Outdoor tables) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Institut de Touraine (Famous French language school for foreigners) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Bibliothèque Municipale Paul-Carlat; BU (Bibliothèque Universitaire) des Deux-Lions |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Le Bateau Ivre (Cooperative cultural space); Centre de Vie du Sanitas |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Power Up (Gaming bar/lounge); L'Atelier du Jeu |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Casino Partouche de Tours (South Tours/Quartier des Deux-Lions) |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €4,100 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €123,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,900 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €87,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €190,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,600 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €130,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €262,500) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,400 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €180,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 25% standard rate in France |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 30% 'Flat Tax' (includes social contributions) |
| 🏦 Tax System | Resident-based taxation on worldwide income |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 45% for income over €177,106 |
| 🧾 VAT | 20% standard; 5.5% or 10% for certain goods/food |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, applicable to French residents with significant stakes in low-tax entities |
| 🏠 Property Tax | Taxe Foncière (Owners only) and Taxe d'Habitation (largely abolished for primary residences) |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | Approx. 7-8% for existing properties (Notaire fees) |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | Auto-entrepreneur scheme (Micro-entreprise) offers simplified accounting and lower initial rates |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING TOURS