Travel by air or train to southern France
Less discovered than its neighbors, the Aude rewards travelers willing to go a little further off the beaten path — the fortified city of Carcassonne, the Cathar castles perched above the Corbières vineyards, and a stretch of Mediterranean coastline that still feels uncrowded. Here is everything you need to plan a smooth trip.
How to Get There
The Aude spans quite a distance between Toulouse and the coast, and the right gateway depends on which part of the department you’re heading to.
For Carcassonne and the western Aude
Fly into Toulouse–Blagnac Airport, about 50 minutes by car from Carcassonne, with a direct regional train also available between the two. A rental car is the natural next step from there — the western Aude’s sites are spread out and only loosely connected by public transport.
For Narbonne, the Corbières and the coast
Narbonne has its own direct TGV connection from Gare de Lyon, Paris — around 4h20, no change required. It is a comfortable, straightforward way to reach the eastern side of the department, and Narbonne itself makes a good base for exploring the Corbières and the coast.
Plan ahead and book your French train tickets at sncf-connect.com — prices can skyrocket the closer you get to your travel date!
Getting to Carcassonne by train
Carcassonne is well connected by regional train from both gateways — about an hour from Toulouse, or a shorter hop from Narbonne — making it easy to combine with either arrival point.
Best Time to Visit
April to June brings mild temperatures (65–75°F / 18–24°C), green landscapes, and the Cité de Carcassonne without the peak-summer crowds.
September and October offer similarly comfortable conditions, golden light over the vineyards, and the Corbières grape harvest — a good season to combine Carcassonne with the wine roads further south.
July and August bring heat (often 90–95°F / 32–35°C) and the highest visitor numbers at the Cité de Carcassonne. The Aude is also known for the tramontane, a strong, dry wind that can pick up at any time of year — worth factoring into outdoor plans, particularly along the coast and in the Corbières.
November to March is quiet, with some village restaurants and smaller sites reducing their hours.
Where to Stay
Carcassonne is the natural base — either within the medieval Cité itself for atmosphere, or in the Bastide (the lower town) for a quieter, more local feel with easier parking.
Narbonne works well as a base for the coast and the Corbières vineyards, with good access to both.
For a slower pace, Lagrasse, a small village built around a medieval abbey in the Corbières, or Limoux, known for its Blanquette sparkling wine, offer more intimate alternatives.
Tours & Activities
You can either rent a car or join guided tours for day trips — at sites like the Cathar castles of Peyrepertuse and Quéribus, the Canal du Midi or the Corbières vineyards, local knowledge can make a real difference, especially on winding mountain roads with little signage.
In Carcassonne, a guided walking tour of the medieval Cité is worth it to make sense of the ramparts and the restoration history behind them, and a boat trip on the Canal du Midi is an easy, scenic way to see the city from the water. Skip-the-line tickets for the Château Comtal and ramparts are also worth booking ahead in peak season.
In Narbonne, the Roman Horreum (underground galleries) and the Palais des Archevêques are best visited with a guide to bring the city’s Roman and medieval layers to life. From Narbonne, day tours also run out to the Corbières vineyards and the Cathar castles further inland.
GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of guided tours and activities in the Aude, including Cité de Carcassonne walking tours and Canal du Midi boat trips, Narbonne’s Roman heritage sites, wine tastings at Corbières and Limoux domaines, and excursions to the Cathar castles.
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