Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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