Region
Dordogne
Base in Sarlat-la-Canéda (or Bergerac) for 3–4 nights; drive ≤2 h to each village, castle or cave for day trips.
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Key facts · France
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €)
- Language
- French
- Plugs
- C · E · 230 V
- Time zone
- CET, UTC+1
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine ↗Most long-distance autoroutes are tolled (péage); the A10, A20, A62, A63, A64, A65 and A89 are the main routes.
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine ↗TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional trains cover most town-to-town travel; TGV and Intercités cover the longer runs.
Dordogne’s historic towns and caves are spread 30–90 km apart. Staying in Sarlat‑la‑Canéda (or Bergerac) lets you reach most sights within a 2‑hour drive, avoiding costly daily hotel changes.
Where to sleep
- Sarlat‑la‑CanédaGuide: planned
Medieval market town, central for day‑trips to castles and caves.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- BergeracCity guide
Wine town with train station; good for visitors preferring rail connections.
Best May–Jun, Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Sarlat‑la‑Canéda base, day‑trips to nearby villages and caves.
- 4 nights
- Bergerac base, day‑trips to the south‑east (Lascaux II, Rocamadour) and west (Beynac, Domme).
- Public transport is sparse outside the main towns; rely on a car for most day‑trips.
- Peak summer weekends can cause traffic congestion on the A20/A89 corridors.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beynac‑et‑Cazenac | Sarlat‑la‑Canéda | 45 min | check | Cliff‑top château, short walk from parking. |
| Monpazier | Sarlat‑la‑Canéda | 55 min | check | Well‑preserved bastide, 10‑minute walk in town centre. |
| Lascaux II | Bergerac | 70 min | check | Replica cave near Montignac, drive includes short walk from parking. |
| Rocamadour | Bergerac | 90 min | check | Pilgrimage site on a cliff; allow extra time for ascent. |
Bags between cities
Luggage forwarding between Sarlat‑la‑Canéda and Bergerac is available via local courier services; arrange at hotel reception, typically next‑day delivery.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergerac | ok | ok | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok | go | ok | ok | ok |
| Nouvelle-Aquitaine (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | ok | – | – | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| anywhere | Take A20 then A89 to Périgueux, continue north‑east to Dordogne | ~3 h from Bordeaux, ~5 h from Paris | Motorway tolls apply. | |
| Paris | Paris – Bergerac (TGV, ~2 h 30) then regional train to Sarlat (~1 h) | ~4 h total door‑to‑door | Scenic, check SNCF schedules. |
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Pommes Sarladaises | Sarlat | potatoes fried in duck fat with garlic and parsley |
| Confit de canard | throughout Dordogne | slow‑cooked duck leg, often served with beans |
| Foie gras | local restaurants | duck or goose liver pâté, served as terrine or mousse |
| Black truffle of Périgord | seasonal markets | late Nov–Feb, shaved over dishes |
Go next
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids1 partIn numbers
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 2 bases
- Day trips
- 4, 45 min to 1 h 30
- Nights suggested
- 3–4 nights
- Ways in
- 2 listed
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
- officialDordogne official website
- officialWikidata – Dordogne
- secondaryWikivoyage: Dordogne, revision 5019035 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Dordogne
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