//
Prefecture and commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Photo: MainMa, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Poitiers is a city in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of western France.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Has a small square called "La Place d'Armes" in front of the Town Hall, which is surrounded by cafes, where you can sit down with a glass of wine or coffee or get something to eat. It is being refurbished; the whole area is now a pedestrian only zone. It gets packed on weekends, especially during summer. Other parts of the town may give you an impression of a ghost town, especially during lunchtime, when the shops are closed.
One of the oldest Christian buildings in Europe, dating back to 4th century. Inside, you can see the baptismal pool on the floor.
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers
Has organ performances.
Église Notre-Dame la Grande, Poitiers
Virgin Mary is the Patron Saint of France, so every town will have a church named Notre Dame (Our Lady). Poitiers' Notre Dame dates from the medieval times and is of Romanesque architecture. On some evenings after dark, light shows are projected on its façade to illustrate how colourful it used to be.
Multimedia theme park 15 km north of the town.
La Patinoire
Le PLB
A chill pub/bistrot to hang out with many students there. The music inside is nice and diverse, darts and table soccer can be found there.
Best if you want to relax with friends!
Le Wallab
A nightpub right in the center of Poitiers. During the evening it is a very chill place to hang out as it is quite calm but as soon as the night comes, music starts playing and people start dancing. If you're there to party try going on Thursday or Friday nights, people usually come at around midnight. Very safe and welcoming place, many people go there before heading to nightclubs in the city. Although entry is free you must pay for at least one drink.
One of the most visited bars in the city center. Very busy at night especially at the end of the week (Thursday to Saturday). Because of its location and its popularity, it is considered to be a safe and welcoming place to hang out a night.
One of Poitiers' main clubs, generally plays urban music. Bouncers can sometimes be a pain, so try to avoid wearing shorts or dirty sneakers.
By car
Halfway between Paris and Bordeaux on the motorway A10, Poitiers can be a nice place to stay for a couple of days on a trip to other destinations in the South West region of France.
By train
The journey from Paris (Montparnasse station) to Poitiers takes 90 min on the TGV high speed train. Upon arrival, the city centre is straight ahead out of the station, on the top of the hill.
By plane
By bus
Given the small size of the city centre, walking is the best way to get around. All the main attractions, apart from Futuroscope, are within reasonable walking distance of each other.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Poitiers/Biard · Regional · PIS
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Poitiers and France.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsSpot and avoid common tourist scams in Paris, including Montmartre string bracelets, petition clipboards, fake airport taxis, and metro fare traps.
9 min read
ItinerariesPlan the best day trips from Paris by train. Discover travel times, stations, fares, and tips for Versailles, Giverny, Reims, and Mont-Saint-Michel.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.