Pau
Gateway to the Pyrenees and home of the Tour de France mountain tradition since 1930.
Overview
Cycling in Pau
Pau has hosted the Tour de France more than almost any city, and for good reason: the Col d'Aubisque, Tourmalet, Marie-Blanque and Aspin are all within a day's ride. The town sits on the plain with the full wall of the Pyrenees on the horizon, perfect for building into the big cols.
Why it works as a base
Pau sits on the edge of the plain, the Pyrenees filling the southern horizon, none of the climbing starting at your door. Riding out of town means rolling road first — the coteaux above the Gave de Pau, hedged lanes, short pitches that never settle into a rhythm — then a valley road that tips up gradually until the real gradient arrives. It suits riders who like a long, honest approach and don't mind banking an hour of flat-to-rolling kilometres before the day's climb begins.
What people actually come for is the Col d'Aubisque, reached through the Vallée d'Ossau, with the Col du Soulor and Hautacam over on the Argelès-Gazost side and the Col de Marie-Blanque tucked into the Vallée d'Aspe, nearest of the lot. Bike hire exists in town, so arriving without a bike is a perfectly workable plan. Cycling cafés out in the valleys make a mid-ride coffee a normal part of the day rather than a detour.
Cycling in Pau at a glance
| Nearest airport | Pau Pyrénées Airport (PUF), 10 km |
|---|---|
| Climbs within 50 km | 12 |
| Signature climb | Col d'Aubisque — 16.4 km, 7.1%, +1168 m |
| HC / Cat-1 climbs | 9 |
| Rental shops in town | 4 — ranking |
| Cycling cafés in reach | 4 — ranking |
| Best season | May–October |
| Main event | Cyclosportive La Matthieu Ladagnous — usually in July (FFC Label d'Or sportive from Asson near Pau over the Aubisque, Soulor and Spandelles, created by ex-pro Matthieu Ladagnous) |
Climbs
The best cycling climbs near Pau
Iconic ascents within riding distance.
Col de Marie-Blanque
14.6 km · 5.2% · +753 m
Pyrenees · 27.3 km away · 2 approaches
Col de Spandelles
10.1 km · 8.2% · +831 m
Pyrenees · 33.9 km away · 2 approaches
Col d'Aubisque
16.4 km · 7.1% · +1168 m
Pyrenees · 35.5 km away · 2 approaches
Col d'Ichère
5.2 km · 5.7% · +297 m
Pyrenees · 35.5 km away · 2 approaches
Col du Soulor
20.3 km · 5.1% · +1037 m
Pyrenees · 38.2 km away
Col des Bordères
3.9 km · 7% · +274 m
Pyrenees · 40.6 km away · 2 approaches
Col de Labays
11.8 km · 7.6% · +899 m
Pyrenees · 43.7 km away · 2 approaches
Col de Suscousse
15.0 km · 5.8% · +871 m
Pyrenees · 45.3 km away
Hautacam
13.7 km · 7.7% · +1060 m
Pyrenees · 46.2 km away
Col du Soudet
18.8 km · 6.2% · +1169 m
Pyrenees · 46.4 km away · 2 approaches
Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin
24.4 km · 5.8% · +1425 m
Pyrenees · 48.6 km away · 2 approaches
Cambasque
4.5 km · 8% · +358 m
Pyrenees · 49.4 km away
The Col d'Aubisque from Laruns is why the town fills up in summer: 16.4 km at 7.1% average, 1168 m of gain to a 1709 m summit, maximum 13.4%. It is a category 1 that stays honestly steep for most of its length rather than saving everything for one wall, and the average is a fair description of what you actually pedal. The Col du Soulor from Argelès-Gazost is its natural companion: 20.3 km at 5.1% for 1037 m to 1474 m, longer and shallower, though the 12.6% maximum means it does bite in places.
Rentals
Bike rental in Pau — ranking and prices
Top-rated local shops that rent to visiting cyclists.
Riders rate it 5.0/5 across 41 Google reviews. Also offers an on-site workshop.
Pignon Club
Runner-upRiders rate it 5.0/5 across 54 Google reviews.
4.4/5 from 78 Google reviews puts it among the area's most trusted.
Cafés
Cycling cafés in Pau — where riders stop
Strictly cyclists' cafés — genuine meeting points, not just good coffee.
Rated 4.7/5 by 4475 Google reviewers. For riders: secure bike storage, a workshop, route advice and GPX files, club rides. There is a workshop on site.
Rated 4.9/5 by 93 Google reviewers. For riders: a workshop.
Scapavelo
Third placeRated 5.0/5 by 25 Google reviewers. For riders: club rides, walls of cycling memorabilia, route advice and GPX files. Typical bill 1 €–30 €.
Season
When to cycle in Pau — season month by month
From May to October the days sit between 20.3°C and 26.6°C, comfortable for the long valley approaches these rides demand, and September at 23.6°C is about as good as it gets. July and August peak at 26.3°C and 26.6°C — warm rather than punishing, though an early start pays if you are out for six hours. January and February, 10.5°C and 12.9°C by day and close to freezing at night, are too cold to enjoy a full day out; March and April are usable with proper layers rather than genuinely pleasant. November is the wettest month of the year here, for what it's worth.
| Month | Day | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10.5 °C | 2.3 °C |
| Feb | 12.9 °C | 3.2 °C |
| Mar | 14.8 °C | 5.0 °C |
| Apr | 17.5 °C | 7.1 °C |
| May | 20.4 °C | 10.6 °C |
| Jun | 24.2 °C | 14.4 °C |
| Jul | 26.3 °C | 16.5 °C |
| Aug | 26.6 °C | 16.4 °C |
| Sep | 23.6 °C | 13.7 °C |
| Oct | 20.3 °C | 10.5 °C |
| Nov | 14.7 °C | 6.1 °C |
| Dec | 12.9 °C | 4.0 °C |
Travel
Getting to Pau with a bike — airports, trains, transfers
No airport close enough to be useful.
Flying with your bike? Most airlines charge €50-150 for bike boxes. Check baggage policies before booking. See verified fees for every carrier →
TRAVEL TIPS
- Flying with a bike? Most airlines charge €50-150 for bike boxes. Book bike transport when you book your ticket.
- Train travel: Many European trains accept bikes with advance reservation. Check Trainline or DB for bike-friendly routes.
Pau Pyrénées Airport (PUF) is 10 km from town, so the transfer is short — a taxi or a pre-booked pickup has you at your accommodation in minutes, and you can be riding the same afternoon. With hire available in town, flying with your own bike becomes a choice rather than a requirement: if you would rather not wrestle a bike box on a short trip, arrive with shoes, pedals and a helmet and sort the bike locally. Worth contacting a hire outfit ahead of a summer visit so the sizing conversation happens before you land.
Explore
Things to Do in Pau
Top-rated activities and experiences for your rest days.
We found no activities in this town — these are in places nearby.
Half-day sailing on the Gave de Pau
Private guided tours of Lourdes / Walking tour
Private Guided History tour of Lourdes
The Story of Lourdes Walking Tour IN ENGLISH
Gastronomic tour in Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes, guided tour, on foot, of the sanctuary.
FAQ
Cycling in Pau — frequently asked questions
How many climbs are there around Pau?
There are 12 catalogued climbs within 50 km of Pau, including 9 rated HC or Category 1. The signature ascent is Col d'Aubisque.
When is the best time to ride in Pau?
May, June, July offer the best riding temperatures. Around 12 months a year are warm enough to ride (ERA5 normals, 2015–2024).
Can you ride in Pau in winter?
January averages only 10 °C daily highs — Pau is a season destination, not a winter one.
Where can I rent a bike in Pau?
4 shops within 12 km of Pau have verified bike rental, rated 4.5/5 on average. Our ranking lists them with prices and fleets where the shops publish them.
What is the nearest airport to Pau?
Pau Pyrénées Airport (PUF), 10 km away; the nearest major hub is TLS at 145 km.
Are there cycling cafés in Pau?
4 verified cycling cafés operate within riding distance of Pau — places with proof of bike racks, workshops or club rides, not just a name.
How do I get my bike to Pau?
By rail with SNCF: bike €10 (bike space) / free bagged. Budget airlines take boxed bikes for 45–80 € per flight — our bike-transport table lists every carrier with verified fees.
What is the Col d'Aubisque climb like?
Col d'Aubisque runs 16.4 km at 7.1% for 1168 m of ascent, topping out at 1709 m, with a maximum of 13.4%. It is the climb riders travel to Pau for — the climb page carries the profile and every approach we have measured.
Which climb near Pau is the hardest?
Col d'Aubisque — 16.4 km at 7.1%, category 1, 1168 m of ascent. Category comes from our own scoring (average gradient squared × length), so it is comparable across every climb on the site.
Which climbs should I prioritise from Pau?
Put Col d'Aubisque first, then Hautacam, then Col du Soulor and Col de Marie-Blanque. Aubisque from Laruns is why most riders choose Pau as a base: 16.4 km at 7.1% to a high, open summit at 1709 m. Hautacam is the steeper, more punishing test at 7.7% average, Soulor the long steady one, Marie-Blanque the short-but-vicious outlier. With an extra half-day, Cambasque above Cauterets is a sharp 4.5 km finish.
Is Pau a good place for a beginner's first mountain trip?
Yes, Pau works well for a first mountain trip, mainly because the valleys give you somewhere to ride on the days you are not climbing. Spend a morning on flat, quiet lanes along the gaves, then choose a pass when you feel ready — Col du Soulor from Argelès-Gazost, at 5.1% average, is the kindest introduction to a long Pyrenean ascent. Save Hautacam and Marie-Blanque until you know how your legs behave after an hour of climbing.
How many days do you need in Pau?
Plan four to five riding days in Pau to do the area justice. That gives one day each for Col d'Aubisque, Hautacam and Col de Marie-Blanque, a lighter valley day with a café stop between them, and a spare day for Col du Soulor or weather. A long weekend still works if you accept that you will ride Aubisque and little else.
Can I come to Pau without a bike?
Yes — arriving in Pau without a bike works perfectly well, since hire is available in town. Pau Pyrénées Airport sits about 10 km away, so you can land, collect a machine and be riding towards the foothills the same afternoon. Ask for lower gearing when you book: the same hire fleet serves riders heading for gradients well into double figures.
Explore Pau
Download routes, book accommodation, and start your cycling adventure.