Albi Cathedral Day, Audio Guides

Albi's brick cathedral and the hilltop lanes of Cordes-sur-Ciel sit an easy coach ride from Toulouse.

Overview

This is a coach day trip from Toulouse to two stops, Albi and Cordes-sur-Ciel, with free time at each rather than a guide walking you around. The coach leaves from a bus stop on allée Jean Jaurès, by place d'Arménie, at 09:30, and returns to the same point at the end of the day. Instead of a live guide, you get an audio guide app in French, English or Spanish that you download to your phone before or during the trip.

The split of the day is roughly two hours in Cordes-sur-Ciel and four hours in Albi, with admission to both towns free. In Albi you have time for the Sainte-Cécile cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum, though the museum itself is not included in the price.

Who it suits: travellers who want the logistics handled without the cost of a fully guided tour. One reviewer noted a train as an alternative but pointed out that stations may not be close to where you want to be. It does not suit anyone who expects a guide on the bus or who cannot manage hills.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at allée Jean JaurèsThe coach picks up at the bus stop at 29 allée Jean Jaurès, by place d'Arménie, with a 09:30 start.
2. Drive to Cordes-sur-CielCoach transfer out of Toulouse.
3. Cordes-sur-Ciel, 2 hoursFree time in the medieval hilltop town, admission free. The climb to the old town is uphill.
4. Transfer to AlbiCoach transfer on to Albi.
5. Albi, 4 hoursFree time for the cathedral, the Toulouse-Lautrec museum (entry not included), and lunch, which is also not included.
6. Return to ToulouseThe coach drops everyone back at the original meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in reviews of this trip.

• Download the app early. The audio guide is an app you download to your smartphone. Loading it before you leave avoids relying on mobile data on the road. Bring earbuds or headphones.
• Bring a charging cord. One reviewer noted there is no USB charging on the coach, so a charging cable or a power bank is a sensible precaution.
• It is transport only. There is no guide on the bus. Reviewers describe it as transportation with free time at each stop. If you want a live guide, book something else.
• Cordes is uphill. The walk up through the medieval streets to the top of Cordes-sur-Ciel is a climb. Reviewers describe cute medieval streets on the way up to the town centre.
• Plan the museum timing. The Toulouse-Lautrec museum closes for some hours in the middle of the day, so one reviewer recommends doing it first in Albi. Entry is not included in the tour price.
• Mind the season. Set expectations accordingly.

Common issues. The trip needs a minimum number of travellers to run; if it is cancelled for that reason, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The group can be large, with up to 59 travellers on board, and reviewers described buses ranging from comfortable with air conditioning to basic, with no reclining seats and no USB ports. One reviewer reported no air conditioning on a hot day. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and infants must sit on laps.

Common Questions