The gare SNCF and the bus station are both on avenue Garibaldi. The tourist office (May–Sept Mon–Sat 8.30am–6.30pm, Sun 9am–5pm; Oct–April Mon–Sat 9am–noon & 2–5.30pm, Sun 10am–1pm; tel 03.29.86.14.18, www.verdun-tourisme.com) lies just across the River Meuse from the Porte Chaussée opposite the end of the bridge. Staff at the tourist office run daily four-hour minibus tours of the battlefield (in French only: 2pm May–Sept; €24.50) – not exactly cheap, but the guides are interesting and the experience is not one that you're likely to repeat. Call ahead to try and arrange an English-speaking guide if your French is not up to it.As for accommodation, there's much more to choose from in Metz or Nancy. However, if you do need to spend the night in Verdun, head for the very friendly Hôtel St-Paul, 12 place St-Paul (tel & fax 03.29.86.02.16; €30–40; closed Dec 7–Jan 7), close to the Rodin memorial. Decent and inexpensive alternatives are Hôtel Montaulbain, 4 rue de la Vieille-Prison (tel 03.29.86.00.47; under €30), and the Auberge de Jeunesse (tel 03.29.86.28.28, fax 03.29.86.28.82; closed Jan), located between the cathedral and Centre Mondial, with a fantastic view over the town and its surroundings. You shouldn't have trouble finding somewhere to eat: there are plenty of brasseries and crêperies along the river, and Hôtel St-Paul has a good traditional restaurant with menus from €14. For drinking, L'Estaminet, on rue des Rouyers, has a great selection of beers and a pleasant terrace open from 2pm to 3am.
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