This paper presents an experimental study of the laminar, transitional and turbulent flows in a cylindrical pipe facility (5.5 m length and 30 mm inner diameter). Three fluids are used: a yield stress fluid (aqueous solution of 0.2 % Carbopol), a shear thinning fluid (aqueous solution of 2 % CMC) without yield stress and a Newtonian fluid (glucose syrup) as a reference fluid. Detailed rheological properties (simple shear viscosity and first normal stress difference) are presented. The flow is monitored using pressure and (laser Doppler) axial velocity measurements. The critical Reynolds numbers from which the experimental results depart from the laminar solution are determined and compared with phenomenological criteria. The results show that the yield stress contribute to stabilize the flow. Concerning the transition for a yield stress fluid it has been observed an increase of the root mean square (rms) of the axial velocity outside a region around the axis while it remains at a laminar level inside this region. Then, with increasing the Reynolds number, the fluctuations increase in the whole section because of the apparition of turbulent spots. The time trace of the turbulent spots are presented and compared for the different fluids. Finally, a description of the turbulent flow is presented and shows that the rms axial velocity profile for the Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids are similar except in the vicinity of the wall where the turbulence intensity is larger for the non-Newtonian fluids. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.