Pau, a charming city nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees in southwestern France, offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. With its stunning views, quaint streets, and delicious food, it’s a destination that deserves attention. As a solo traveler, I found the city to be welcoming and easy to navigate. That said, having the right tools on your smartphone can significantly enhance your travel experience. In this post, I’m sharing the apps I found most helpful during my time in Pau, from planning and navigating the city to finding hidden gems off the beaten path.
1. Google Maps: Your Go-To Navigation Tool
When you arrive in a new city, knowing where you’re going is half the battle. While Pau is a relatively small city, having a reliable navigation app is still crucial. Google Maps is essential for navigating the streets and figuring out how to get from one place to another, especially if you’re not familiar with the area or if your French isn’t fluent yet.
I used Google Maps throughout my time in Pau to find public transportation routes, get walking directions to various tourist spots, and even check opening hours for local businesses. One of the best features is the ability to download offline maps. This became especially useful when I was exploring parts of the city where I didn’t have access to Wi-Fi.
2. Citymapper: The Best Public Transport Companion
If you’re planning to take the bus or tram in Pau, Citymapper is a must-have. This app covers all public transportation in the city and helps you find the most efficient routes to your destination. I found it especially helpful when I ventured outside of the city center to visit nearby attractions like the Château de Pau or the Boulevard des Pyrénées.
Citymapper’s real-time tracking and notifications about any service disruptions are invaluable when relying on public transport. It also gives you the option to view travel times, transfer points, and alternative routes in case you miss your bus or tram.
3. TripAdvisor: Discover Local Attractions and Reviews
TripAdvisor has long been a go-to resource for travelers, and it didn’t disappoint in Pau. During my trip, I used it to research the best places to eat, visit, and stay in Pau. The app offers reviews from other travelers, which helped me discover hidden gems in the city that I wouldn’t have found otherwise.
For example, I stumbled upon a small family-owned bistro, La Table d’Aranda, after reading glowing reviews on TripAdvisor. The food was delicious, and the staff made me feel right at home. I also used TripAdvisor to plan visits to the Château de Pau, the Palais Beaumont, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
One feature I particularly appreciated was the “Nearby” function, which suggested things to do based on my current location. This helped me discover interesting spots during spontaneous walks through the city.
4. Booking.com: Find and Book Accommodations on the Go
Booking.com has always been my preferred app for finding accommodations, and Pau was no exception. The app lets you filter hotels, hostels, and vacation rentals based on your preferences, from budget options to more luxurious stays.
During my time in Pau, I booked a charming little guesthouse near the city center using Booking.com. The app offers great flexibility with booking cancellation policies and provides honest reviews that helped me choose the right place to stay. Plus, it shows photos and provides a list of nearby attractions, which was handy for planning daily excursions.
Booking.com’s map view was particularly useful when I was choosing accommodations, as it allowed me to see how far each option was from the places I wanted to visit, like the Pau train station and the Château.
5. Yelp: Dining Out in Pau
Yelp has become an indispensable part of my travel experience, and in Pau, it helped me discover a variety of delicious eateries. From cozy cafés to fine dining, Yelp provides a wealth of local recommendations with detailed reviews and ratings.
I used Yelp to find lunch spots near the Palais Beaumont and stumbled upon a little patisserie serving the best pastries I’ve ever had. The reviews also helped me find a great restaurant, L’Atelier de Jean-Luc, which served fantastic French cuisine in a beautiful setting. Yelp was also helpful for checking business hours and ensuring I didn’t waste time waiting for a place to open.
6. Uber: Convenient Transport Options
Although Pau isn’t a massive city, there were times when I didn’t feel like walking or using public transportation, especially when traveling late at night. Uber turned out to be an excellent solution for these moments. The app is available in Pau, and I found it to be a great way to get to and from places quickly, especially when I was carrying shopping bags or tired after a day of sightseeing.
Whether it was a quick ride to the train station or a trip back from dinner, Uber made getting around Pau effortless. The app also showed fare estimates before confirming the ride, so there were no surprises at the end of the journey.
7. TheFork: Make Restaurant Reservations with Ease
TheFork is a great app if you want to secure a table at some of Pau’s best restaurants. Many popular spots in Pau get busy, especially during weekends and holidays, so making a reservation in advance is always a good idea.
I used TheFork to book a table at one of Pau’s renowned gourmet restaurants, Le Bilby, where I had one of the best dining experiences of my trip. The app gives detailed information about the restaurant, including the menu, customer reviews, and available time slots. It also offers discounts at some locations, which can be a nice bonus.
8. Offline Maps & Navigation by Maps.me: For the Adventurer in You
Maps.me is perfect for anyone who prefers to explore off the beaten path. It allows you to download detailed maps of cities and countries to use offline, which was especially useful when I ventured into the surrounding natural areas near Pau, such as the Pyrenees National Park.
I used Maps.me to explore hiking trails, find hidden viewpoints, and even locate local parks and picnic areas. Unlike Google Maps, which primarily focuses on city navigation, Maps.me is more tailored for nature lovers and those interested in outdoor activities.
9. LeBonCoin: Shop Local, Explore Unique Finds
LeBonCoin is France’s equivalent of Craigslist, and it’s an interesting app to browse if you’re looking for unique local experiences or items. Whether it’s antique shops, second-hand markets, or finding local artisans selling their wares, LeBonCoin allows you to discover a different side of Pau. I used it to find a small market where local artists were selling their handcrafted jewelry and pottery, which made for perfect souvenirs to bring home.
You can also use LeBonCoin to look for local events or even explore classified ads for experiences like renting a bicycle or booking a local guide.
10. XE Currency: Keep Track of Your Spending
As a traveler, it’s essential to keep track of your expenses, and XE Currency is a great app for managing currency conversion. While the Euro is the official currency in Pau, if you’re coming from outside the Eurozone, it’s helpful to know how much things cost in your own currency. XE Currency gives real-time conversion rates and allows you to track your spending throughout the day.
I used XE Currency to compare prices at local shops and markets, ensuring that I wasn’t overpaying for souvenirs or meals. It also helped me plan my budget better by tracking daily expenses in real-time.
11. Duolingo: Learning the Basics of French
While most people in Pau speak English, learning a few French phrases goes a long way in making your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Duolingo, a fun and interactive language learning app, helped me pick up some essential phrases and expressions to use during my trip. From ordering food in a café to asking for directions, Duolingo made it easier for me to navigate the city while respecting local culture.
The app allows you to practice speaking, listening, and reading, making it a helpful tool for anyone visiting Pau or any French-speaking city.
Pau is a beautiful city with much to offer, and with the help of these apps, you can navigate the city with ease and discover all it has to offer. Whether you’re looking for transportation, food recommendations, or local experiences, these tools will make your trip much more enjoyable and hassle-free. Happy travels!
