Vlog 7 - How To Use Local Bus System in Perpignan - South of France

In this video I give a high-level explanation as to how to use the local bus system in Perpignan, France. I have also used the bus system in Narbonne and it is similar - different company running the buses but similar user experience.

While a fairly extensive bus network within the city (and a few surrounding villages), it is relatively simple to get the hang of once you have taken the bus a few times. Just like in the US, buses may not take the same exact path in both directions, so you do need to pay attention as to where you are going and what stop to use (just like anywhere else). There are many one-way streets in Perpignan, obviously buses cannot go in both directions there so you will have to acclimate yourself to where to go to head back from where you started (if that is your goal). Google Maps can help as well.

Also, if you decide to ride the bus to the terminus point expect to exit the bus at that time. They do not allow people to stay on the bus during the driver's break (usually 10-15 minutes). You can locate the return bus stop and just wait there for the bus to start up again and come around to pick you up. Very few, if any, of the bus drivers I have met speak English.

I downloaded the Sankéo app for my phone, but just an FYI that it can have its 'moments'. But it works well most of the time. But you do not need the app to ride the buses, it just helps in figuring out a good option for getting you to where you want to go: but Google Maps may also suffice in most instances.

BIG NOTE #1: The bus schedules change twice a year, with buses running longer during the summer months (July - September). One thing that is not so great is the buses generally stop running around 7:30pm during the non-Summer schedule. The "rub" being that restaurants in the city generally open for dinner at 7pm...so if you usually take a bus back to your apartment or Airbnb keep in mind that you may need to walk or get an Uber or taxi to take you back home.

BIG NOTE #2: Pay attention to the Bus Line stickers on the bus stops. If you do not see the Bus Line sticker of the bus you are looking to take, there may be a second location for that bus stop that you need to head over to. One instance of that in Perpignan is the Vauban bus stop. There are 2 locations roughly a block apart on the same side of the street, but if you choose to stand at the wrong one and see the bus pull up to the other stop you may not have enough time to run and catch it.

Perpignan does have regional bus service that goes out to several of the nearby villages, but that will be covered in a different video.

This video is longer than my other videos, but I included quite a bit of video while riding the buses around...so you can skip to other sections if you are not interested in seeing the city from the bus (but it was a beautiful day).

Thank you for watching and please leave any questions in the comment section and I will do my best to respond or use it for another video topic.

00:00 Intro
01:02 Walk to Bus Stop
01:52 Explain Bus Map and Schedule
03:55 Explain "In School" version "School Vacation" Schedules
06:36 Yellow Zig Zag Lines
07:21 Bus Footage
08:49 Location of Main Sankéo Office in Perpignan
10:53 Information Inside Sankéo Office
12:37 Gare TGV Bus Stop (Train Station) Walk to Conflent Bus Stop
31:00 Additional Bus Map Explanation
35:11 Outro