Sarlat-la-Canéda
Sarlat-la-Canéda is a medieval town of golden limestone houses in the Périgord Noir, visited for its Saturday market and as a base for the Dordogne valley.
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Sarlat-la-Canéda is a medieval town in the Périgord Noir, the southern part of the Dordogne department in southwestern France. The old center is built from golden limestone, with narrow lanes, townhouses and Renaissance facades. The Saturday market fills the streets with local produce, and the region is known for duck, walnuts, truffles and foie gras.
Stay in the old town if you want to walk to the market square and most restaurants. Two nights are enough to see the old town at a walking pace. A longer stay leaves room for day trips to the cliff villages of La Roque-Gageac and Beynac, which lie a short drive away along the valley. Rural buses are limited, so a car makes the valley much easier to reach. Spring and early autumn are the easiest months for walking, while summer is the busiest.
Sarlat-la-Canéda in five
- Rent a car for the valleysSarlat is walkable, but castles, caves and villages in the Dordogne and Vézère valleys are best reached by car. Pick up at Bordeaux, Bergerac or Brive.Dordogne, Limousin & the Lot
- Go on market daySarlat's markets are among the region's best, and the biggest is usually Saturday morning. Check the tourist office for days and arrive early.
- Book prehistoric caves aheadLascaux IV and other cave sites run timed visits that can sell out in summer. Check each official site before building your day.
- Skip midday in July and AugustThe town is crowded and parking sits outside the center. Walk early or in the evening, and keep the heat hours for a river or a shady castle.
Things to do in Sarlat-la-Canéda
See all attractions in Sarlat-la-Canéda
Need to know
- Airport
- Bergerac, Brive or Bordeaux; no direct rail from Paris
- Getting there
- Train via Bordeaux or Périgueux with a change, or drive
- Getting around
- Walk in town; car for castles and valleys
- Best base
- The medieval center or just outside it
- Time needed
- 2 days; 4 with the valleys
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Cool, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Mild, springMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Spring greenAprilRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring green
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°WarmMayRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Hot, busyJuneRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- JulyClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low16°Hot, packedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, packed
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh29°Low16°Hot, packedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, packed
- SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Warm, harvestSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, harvest
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Fall colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Cool, wetNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cold, marketsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, markets
Average daily high and low in Sarlat, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Sarlat-la-Canéda
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 54%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Sarlat-la-Canéda
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°2°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue11°2°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed11°-3°31%Wednesday: Rain. High 11°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Thu14°3°28%Thursday: Fog. High 14°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Fri13°1°26%Friday: Fog. High 13°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 26%.
- Sat13°-1°4%Saturday: Fog. High 13°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun16°5°41%Sunday: Rain. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 41%.
Updated 06:41 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to Sarlat-la-Canéda
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Rules for Sarlat-la-Canéda, checked
- Non-EU visitors should check short-stay entry rules on the official France-Visas site (france-visas.gouv.fr) before booking flights.
- Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
- Declare meat, dairy and plants you bring from outside the EU at customs; check the French customs site (douane.gouv.fr) for current limits.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or ambulance anywhere in France.
Plan around Sarlat-la-Canéda
Region guide to castles, caves and villages
Read the guideSt-Émilion travel guideA wine village on the way to Bordeaux
Read the guideBordeaux travel guideThe nearest big city with an airport
Read the guideLimoges travel guidePorcelain and the Limousin hills
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, trains, entry rules and money for a France trip
Read the guideSarlat-la-Canéda FAQ
Is Sarlat worth visiting?
Yes, for its medieval center and the food markets. It is crowded in July and August, so go in spring or fall if you can.
How many days do you need in Sarlat?
Two days for the town and a market morning. Three or four days if you want castles, caves and canoeing in the valleys.
Can you visit Sarlat without a car?
You can see the town on foot, but the valleys are hard without wheels. Some tours and taxis exist; check them before you book.
Where is the best market in the Dordogne?
Sarlat's big morning market is the best known. Other villages hold midweek markets, so ask the tourist office for the list.
What is the best time to visit Sarlat?
May, June and September are warm with fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy; winter is quiet and many places shut.