Without a car, Le Mont-Dore is most easily accessible by train from Clermont. The train and bus stations are at the entrance to the town. A ten-minute walk down avenue Michelet takes you to the centre, where the tourist office sits in the park on avenue de la Libération (July & Aug Mon–Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 10am–noon & 2–6pm; Sept–June Mon–Sat 9am–12.30pm & 2–6.30pm, Sun 10am–noon & 4–6pm; tel 04.73.65.20.21, www.mont-dore.com); the helpful staff will advise about other walking and cycling possibilities (VTT rental), as well as day bus excursions to some otherwise rather inaccessible places round about.Accommodation is not hard to come by, as the town is brimming with hotels. Close to the baths, at 8 rue Favart, Hôtel aux Champs d'Auvergne (tel 04.73.65.00.37; closed Nov to mid-Dec; under €30; restaurant from €9) is very welcoming and serves copious breakfasts, while the elegant Hôtel de la Paix, nearby on rue Rigny (tel 04.73.65.00.17, fax 04.73.65.00.31; €30–40), has comfortable, clean rooms and an excellent restaurant (menus from €13.75–28). One of the best deals, with mod cons at bargain price, is the Beau Site at 17 rue des Déportés (tel 04.73.65.05.51, fax 04.73.65.26.88; under €30; closed Oct 20–Dec 29 & Mar 20–April 30; restaurant from €11.60), beside the main baths. There's an efficient modern hostel on the Puy de Sancy road, with a stunning view of the mountains (tel 04.73.65.03.53, fax 04.73.65.26.39), and a gîte d'étape (tel 04.73.65.25.65, fax 04.73.65.03.94), on Chemin des Vergnes, not far from the municipal campsite, Les Crouzets (tel & fax 04.73.65.21.60; closed mid-Oct to mid-Dec), opposite the station. The other municipal campsite is L'Esquiladou (tel 04.73.65.23.74; closed Nov–April), off to the right on the road to La Bourboule. As far as eating is concerned, there are large numbers of brasseries and cafés in the centre offering plats for €6.50–8. A particularly pleasant place is rustic Le Bougnat, 23 av Clemenceau, which serves various Auvergnat traditional dishes, as well as raclette and fondue (tel 04.73.65.28.19; closed Mon; menus from €12.20). A great place for a drink is atmospheric, 1940s-style Café de Paris, rue Jean Moulin.
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