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Choosing where to stay in Carcassonne wasn’t as easy as I expected. We wanted to be close to the medieval city so we could explore on foot, but we were travelling by car and needed to factor in parking. I also found quite a few accommodation options that didn’t seem to offer good value for money. We eventually stayed just outside the city walls at Sowell Collection Hôtel du Roi. It worked really well for our short visit, but there are a few things I’d recommend checking before booking accommodation in Carcassonne.
Accommodation inside the medieval city or outside the city walls: what’s best?
The main decision is whether to stay inside the medieval city or just outside the walls. Both have advantages, but your budget, transport and luggage can make a difference.
Staying inside the medieval city
Staying inside the medieval city is a lovely option if you want to experience its atmosphere after the day visitors have left. You can wander through the streets in the evening and enjoy being right in the heart of the historic centre.
However, accommodation inside the walls can be expensive, and the more affordable options often seem to compromise on comfort or soundproofing. Remember that the medieval city is pedestrian-only, so you’ll need to leave your car outside the walls. Unless your accommodation offers a shuttle or valet service, you could have to walk up to 15 minutes with your luggage. The cobbled streets aren’t ideal if you’re travelling with a wheeled suitcase!
Some properties also occupy older buildings, which can mean narrow staircases, small rooms and no lift. Check these details before booking if you have large suitcases or reduced mobility.
Staying just outside the city walls
For us, staying just outside the medieval city offered better value for money and made things much easier with the car.
I’d recommend looking at accommodation near Pont Vieux or around the foot of the ramparts if you want to be within easy walking distance of the medieval city. We stayed near Pont Vieux and reached the medieval city in less than 15 minutes. We didn’t feel we missed out by not staying inside the walls. It was just a slightly longer walk back to the hotel after dinner and we enjoyed some beautiful views along the way.
Things to check before booking accommodation in Carcassonne
A few details made a real difference when comparing accommodation options. Here are the things I’d pay particular attention to.
Check the parking arrangements and extra costs
This was one of the trickiest parts of our research. Some properties had private parking, others relied on public car parks, and some had parking available a short walk away. The information wasn’t always clear when comparing prices or reading the overview description.
My main advice is to compare the total cost rather than just the room rate. Parking can cost up to €30 per day, so make sure you factor it into your budget. However, it’s not just about cost. A slightly more expensive hotel with convenient parking might end up being a much better option for your stay.
Public parking wouldn’t have been an issue for us during the off-season, when Carcassonne was relatively quiet. However, I don’t particularly like having to think about extending a parking payment if we end up staying out longer than planned. Having a dedicated car park at the hotel was a big plus for us.
You can also check the official Carcassonne tourism website for parking information.
Check the room size and if there’s a lift
Some accommodation inside the medieval city is in older buildings, so don’t assume all rooms will be spacious or that there’s a lift.
If room size is important to you, check the square metres listed on booking websites. This can help you work out whether there’s enough space to move around comfortably and open your suitcase – it’s not always the case according to the reviews!
Also, if you have mobility issues, check if the property has a lift.
A tip if you’re travelling by car: We packed a small overnight bag for our stay in Carcassonne and left our large suitcase in the car. This saved us from having to squeeze all our luggage into the room for just one night. However, make sure your luggage is out of sight and never leave valuables in the car, as there’s always a risk of theft.
Check exactly which room has the view
Some properties advertise views of the medieval city, but this doesn’t mean every room has one. The view may only be available from selected rooms, balconies or shared terraces. Make sure the room type you book explicitly mentions the view if it’s important to you. Otherwise, you could end up disappointed!
Read recent reviews carefully
I found quite a few properties that looked lovely in photos but had mixed or poor reviews. Some didn’t seem worth the price, so I wouldn’t book based on photos and location alone. Pay particular attention to recent comments about cleanliness, noise, room condition and service. Also check if the reviews refer to the same room type you’re considering.
Where we stayed: Sowell Collection Hôtel du Roi
We chose Sowell Collection Hôtel du Roi because it offered good value for money, a convenient location and the views we were looking for. We also found a good deal when booking directly through the hotel, which included breakfast at a very affordable price.
We got a Deluxe Room with a terrace overlooking the medieval city. The view was lovely from the private room terrace, but you actually couldn’t see the castle from inside the room. The room was comfortable and had enough space. I particularly liked the second door separating the entrance from the bedroom, which helped reduce noise from the corridor. One thing to consider is that the room terrace is above the restaurant’s outdoor smoking area. We didn’t notice any smoke inside with the window closed but it wasn’t pleasant if staying on the balcony.
The location was another big advantage. The hotel is right next to Pont Vieux, making it easy to walk to the medieval city while straighaway enjoying beautiful views.
Parking was straightforward. It’s possible to stop directly in front of the hotel to check in and unload luggage. The concierge then explained where to find the car park and gave us the access code. It was only a short walk away and we found it easy to locate. We left the car there for the rest of our stay and explored Carcassonne on foot.
Breakfast was another highlight. The buffet had plenty of good-quality options to suit different tastes and we enjoyed views of the medieval city from the restaurant. We don’t usually book breakfast with our accommodation, but the deal plus the views made it worthwhile.
The restaurant was already full for dinner when we arrived, so book a table in advance if you’d like to eat at the hotel. We had planned to explore the city at night, so it wasn’t a problem for us. The concierge was also very kind and took the time to find restaurants open on a Sunday night and recommend a few options: Le Saint Jean, Au Four Saint Louis, Adélaide and la Table d’Alaïs (our pick for dinner). Outside the medieval city, La Brasserie à 4 Temps could also be a good option for a late dinner.
Overall, we were happy with our choice. It was good value for money, especially considering the range of facilities we didn’t even get to use, including the gym, swimming pool and paid spa services. Most of all, it was a convenient base for our short stay.
Other accommodation options we considered
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, these are a few other properties that caught our attention during our research. We haven’t stayed in them, so I can’t give you a personal review so the comments below are based on comments from other travellers.
Hôtel de la Cité Carcassonne – MGallery Collection
This was our number one choice if we had a bigger budget! It’s a beautiful historic hotel inside the medieval city, with gardens, an outdoor pool and a spa. Some rooms have views of the gardens and ramparts and the hotel also has a terrace with panoramic views. This is where you’ll find La Barbacane, a gastronomic restaurant by a Michelin-starred chef.
Its location and historic atmosphere are big attractions, described as “a 19th-century neo-Gothic marvel, cradled within the medieval fortress”. However, it’s a luxury option and parking isn’t included in the room rate. But their shuttle service and valet service make it convenient!
La Demeure de la Cité by Jean Bacou
This guesthouse is in a renovated historic building inside the medieval city. It caught our attention during our research because of its affordable price considering its excellent location. We also liked the idea of a more intimate atmosphere compared with the larger hotels. However, after reading the reviews, we realised that this actually meant very little interaction with staff and a rather anonymous experience. That might suit some people, but it has its pros and cons.
It’s also not the most convenient option if you’re travelling by car. From what we understood, you’ll need to find somewhere to park first, walk into the medieval city to collect the parking fob, return to your car to park it, and then walk back again with your luggage. We knew we were arriving late and didn’t want to waste time. The spiral staircase could also be an issue for some guests.
This hotel caught our attention because of its location at the foot of the medieval city and the views of the ramparts from the rooftop terrace and some rooms. On-site parking is available (subject to availability). There is no lift and the spiral staircase can be a bit difficult with luggage. We ended up finding a better deal at Sowell Collection Hôtel du Roi.
Les chambres de la cité de Carcassonne
This smaller accommodation option, with only two rooms, caught our attention because of its location and attractive interior with local touches. It’s inside the medieval city, so you’ll need to walk from the private car park to your room with your luggage. Some reviews mentioned noise from the bar downstairs and early-morning restaurant deliveries, so we decided to look elsewhere. The lack of privacy for the shower could be an issue for some guests.
Where did you stay in Carcassonne? Share your experience in the comments below!
