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CITYTOUR NANTES

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LE CITYTOUR DE NANTES A CESSÉ SES ACTIVITÉS DEFINITIVEMENT

City Tour Nantes

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City Tour Nantes - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

A first-timer's guide to the quirky French city of Nantes

Jul 16, 2023 • 7 min read

Begin your Nantes tour at the ornamental fountain in the beautiful Place Royal © RossHelen / Shutterstock

When was the last time you rode a three-storey mechanical elephant? Or treated yourself to a deliberately burnt pastry? Nantes, where American ragtime jazz first landed on European shores, is not your usual city. 

Birthplace of Jules Verne, Nantes transformed itself from France’s major slavery port , to a youthful, energetic, art-loving city where tradition, a forward-thinking government, and whimsy, blend together in a multicultural, yet very French, enclave. Poised on the Loire, 30 miles from the Atlantic, the map says it’s in the Loire-Atlantique, but its heart is Breton and the street signs are Breton and French.

Is Nantes good for a city break?

Nantes is an ideal city break: with lots to do but never overwhelming. It is rich in glorious spots to simply watch the world go by, plus it has a powerful history and culinary surprises. Not lacking in grandeur – but with an inbuilt sense of humor and unbridled passion for art. It’s kid friendly and LGBTQIA+ friendly. And while only just over two hours by train from Paris, Nantes remains largely under the tourist radar.

When is a good time to visit?

Nantes enchants year-round, but the best time to visit is May to June when blossoms perfume the warming air and it seems like the Nantais find every excuse for celebration. Easy-going Nantes is a comfortable-shoes town. October to March can be cold so bring layers and a raincoat.

How to save money in Nantes

Many of the best things in Nantes are free. Known as the city of 100 parks, you never have to walk far to a peaceful perch. Fancy picnic lunch in the courtyard of the fairytale Château des ducs de Bretagne ? No charge. 

Most museums are free the first Sunday of every month. On weekends, city trams and buses are free too. Across from the Chateau’s moat bridge, pop into Le Voyage à Nantes for excellent free guidebooks, up-to-the moment tips and a good paper map. 

A 22km green line painted on the sidewalk leads you on an eclectic tour of wacky, inspiring, evocative art, history, and culture, with approximately 100 artworks by different artists.

The Pass Nantes (from €27 for a solo traveler for 24 hrs to €225 for a 7-day family pass) makes life easy with a bounty of worthwhile discounts and free admission to more than 50 museums and activities. 

Local tip: Opening and closing times for many activities vary throughout the year and on holidays. Check before you go.

Where to eat in Nantes

For food, go early to the Talensac covered market. Gather all the farm-fresh, fantastic food you crave for meals and indulgent snacks. Prices are modest unless you go wild. Try regional Breton specialties like crêpes or galettes  and fresh-caught seafood. Also seek out tiny restaurants just off Place du Bouffay for authentic international cuisines. The downloadable Les Tables de Nantes offers a comprehensive and well-assembled guide to Nantes dining at moderate to deluxe prices. Coffee fanatics head to Café Penche .

Where to stay in Nantes

It’s best to try to stay in the historic centre-ville if you can. Hotel prices fluctuate considerably so book ahead. Voyage à Nantes lists intriguing options from family-friendly to artist-designed suites at a range of prices, or maybe you’d like to stay in a four-star hotel in a converted church for €190 to €400.

Getting to – and around – Nantes

It’s a quick hop from the international Nantes Atlantique Airport into the historic centre. Every 20 minutes there’s a direct Navette Aéroport bus to Nantes Gare Sud for €9 (note: it only takes cards, not cash). It's also included in the Pass Nantes.

Within France, SNCF runs roughly 18 trains a day between Paris and Nantes. Book ahead for best value. The journey takes around two hours, but check both departure time and duration.

Nantes is an environmentally-conscious walkers’ city with respectful attention to accessibility needs so a car is unnecessary. The Nantes Pass includes trams and buses. Individual tickets are €2.50 for one hour. Rental bikes are also available.

How much money do I need for Nantes

• Good bottle of the local wine, Muscadet: €9
• Coffee: €2.5-5. Take-away sandwich: €5-10
• Pastry: under €5
• Self-catering apartment: average €75
• Four-star hotel: €120 to €270
• Two- to three-star hotels: €90 to €170
• Camping: from €37  

Top things to do in Nantes on 4 easy mini-itineraries

Steampunk menagerie.

Grab Tram line 1 to Chantiers Navals. Take in the view of this vibrantly reclaimed industrial area as you cross the Loire to a nature-lover’s steampunk paradise called Les Machines de l’Île . It’s family friendly, but you don’t need children to have your mind blown by the imaginative mechanical genius behind the astounding rideable sea creatures of the Carrousel des Mondes Marins. Ride the world’s first “eco-friendly mechanical pachyderm” as it wanders the grounds, spraying passers-by with its trunk. If Leonardo da Vinci were alive today, this is where he’d work. Stroll down Quai des Antilles to the Hangar à Bananes, a tropical fruit warehouse turned waterside hangout with unfussy dining, a joyous playspace, an unusual bookstore and HAB art gallery.

Talensac Market and a Japanese Versailles

Stop at Talensac Market early, nab some piquant pink and white radishes, and try the cheeses! Do not neglect your pastry cravings: local delights include Gateau Nantais and Far Breton. And airy burnt-top Tourteau Fromagé (a traditional wedding treat in Poitou-Charentes) is heavenly at Le Banc Bleu. In season, Damien Rio offers more strawberry varieties than you ever knew existed plus prize-winning jam. On weekends, cheap, chic fashions cost 20% less than the same thing in Paris. Head along the nearby Erdre River to Île de Versailles and wander the paths of a serene Japanese garden. You can also rent a little boat to noodle around on the water.

Jardin des Plantes: Nantes Botanic Gardens and beyond

Where else can you stumble out of a train station into one of the most distinguished botanical gardens in France? With waterfalls, ponds, rolling lawns, 10,000 international plant species, a playground and an outdoor cafe, the Jardin des Plantes (created in 1807) is a refuge from stress.

On nearby Rue Clemenceau, the elegant Musée d’Arts de Nantes will surprise you with brilliant artists you haven’t heard of as well as household names. Affordable Café du Musee is “orchestrated” by a Michelin-starred chef. 

Pass archaeological remnants of the 3rd to 15th century Nantes at Porte Saint-Pierre to the Cathedrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul. Begun in 1434, it was ravaged by fire in 2020 and is temporarily closed but still majestic. Walk down cobbled Rue Mathelin Rodier toward the Chateau. Vegetarians adore Terra Vega  (moving to a new location shortly). Next door, everyone loves to gape at the swords in the window of Comptoir du Chateau .

Cross the drawbridge over the moat to the 15th century Château des ducs de Bretagne , once home to the beloved Duchess Anne. It now houses the abundant collections of the Nantes history museum . The museum is unflinching about Nantes’ role in the slave trade, lighthearted about local LU biscuits, and compelling as it reveals Nantes’ multi-faceted WWII experience. The panoramic rampart views, courtyard, and grassy moat area are all free.

From mid-May, pamper your tastebuds with local fresh strawberry sorbet at La Fraiseraie across from Galeries Lafayette on Rue de la Marne. Cafe culture is at its lazy best at Place du Bouffay. Notice Philippe Ramette’s relatable statue of the guy in the suit balancing halfway over the edge of his plinth. 

Heading back toward the Gare, detour at the arty hot-spot Le lieu Unique , an architectural confection that looks like a pastel chess piece.

Glamourous Graslin

Between Place Royale and Graslin, spot L’Univers Café Speakeasy where, in February 1918, the 369th Infantry’s Harlem Hellfighters Band wowed the Nantais with the first jazz concert in Europe.

Grandiose 19th century Passage Pommeraye is a deliriously-ornamented shrine to shopping that’s worth ogling even if you hate to shop.

The Opera House is glorious, with welcoming steps to sit on in true Nantes style. Across the plaza, lusciously-tiled art-nouveau brasserie La Cigale was a hangout for surrealists and cinema types. Around back, stroll between mansions along the mid-19th century Cours Cambronne.

On Rue Voltaire, find the Museum of Natural History , which is old-fashioned in the best sense with a quirky, welcoming park out front.  

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Loire Lovers

To awaken your senses in the Loire Valley - Claire & Manu's Blog

Visit Nantes in 3 days: our itineraries (photos + tips)

by Emmanuel ROBINSON , Region Lovers | February 23, 2024 | no intrusive ads, no sponsored content, just some affiliate links - if you use them, we get a small commission (read more)

Visiting Nantes in 3 days means having time to discover the city's main museums, gardens, activities, hotels and restaurants. But it is also a way to feel the soul of this city with a rich port past that has reinvented itself to face this new millennium.

In this article, we offer you a detailed itinerary that will allow you to discover the city under its different facets: cultural, creative or gourmet.

But first of all, we give you some practical advice to avoid unnecessary inconveniences during your stay.

This guide is completely independent , based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.

Practical advice to visit Nantes in 3 days

1. getting around in nantes: prefer public transport.

Having some experience in this field, we can assure you that the city of Nantes is a nightmare to drive in . This is due to the growth of the city in recent years and to the Loire and its tributaries, the crossing of which is always a headache, the number of bridges being necessarily limited.

But Nantes is one of the French cities with the best public transport facilities. It was one of the first to reinstate the tramway , in 1984, and already offers 3 lines, 83 stations and 44 km of tracks. 3 other lines will be created by 2026.

It was also a pioneer in the development of the "Busway " or exclusive right-of-way bus system, with buses running on lanes that are exclusively reserved for them and with appropriate signage.

Finally, it has deployed a self-service bicycle solution with more than 120 stations and 1,000 bicycles available.

2. Opt for the city-pass

The city of Nantes provides city passes , called Pass Nantes, which exist in a 3-day package.

It will give you access to the public transportation network we just mentioned (including the airport shuttle), to the main museums and sites of the city (Dukes of Brittany castle, Art Museum, Elephant of Nantes...) and even to dedicated tours (Voyage à Nantes, Petit Train, CityTour bus)

We strongly recommend that you buy it in advance to avoid wasting time on site and waiting in line. See the conditions and book your City pass.

3. Weather: be prepared

During the 3 days in Nantes, it is more than likely that you will discover the joys of the Nantes weather! The city is indeed subject to the winds and rains that arrive from the Atlantic and that can in a few minutes transform a beautiful day into an intense shower.

On average, it rains 168 days a year for 89 days of sunshine, but in lesser amounts than in many French cities. It is common to say that in Nantes, the weather is nice several times a day!

In any case, bring something to protect yourself from bad weather . We don't recommend umbrellas, which can easily be turned over if the wind picks up!

OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire

• Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
• Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
• Think about full insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
• There is a lot of demand, book it early .

As you can see, there is no lack of beautiful addresses in Nantes and you should not hesitate to change hotels from one night to the next, if you have the courage to discover these beautiful places full of hope. Luggage storage facilities are available at these hotels so that you don't have to carry your luggage around with you during the day.

In any case, we strongly advise you to choose a hotel in the center , to avoid wasting time in traffic jams during office hours.

• Discover our list of the 12 best hotels and our advice on where to sleep in Nantes .

5. Make choices

You will see in this article, there is no lack of visits in Nantes, with a beautiful diversity and sites that require a minimum of time to visit .

We are really in favor of "less is more " so as not to overload your 2 days in Nantes and soak up the special atmosphere of the city.

6. The map of the main monuments and visits of Nantes

Finally, we offer you a simplified map of the main places to visit in the city, as well as the names of the districts that make up the city center.

Essentials of Nantes in 3 days - our itinerary

3 days may seem like a lot, but when you see all the things to do in Nantes, the days will be quite full. We have taken care to optimize travel time, which can be done either on foot (distances are reasonable) or by streetcar (when tired).

Are you ready? Let's go and discover the many treasures of Nantes .

Day 1 - 9h-11h: The Elephant of Nantes and the machines of the island

Your journey begins on the island of Nantes, in the heart of the city, between two arms of the Loire.

In less than 10 years, the Elephant of Nantes has become the emblem of the city . From an industrial and port city, it is becoming a creative and cultural city, without turning its back on its roots, its know-how and its history.

Located on the site of the former shipyards, this site immerses visitors in the fantastic world of the Nantes-based author Jules Verne , with its bizarre metal and wood machines, including the gigantic 12-meter-high Elephant (a 4-storey building).

The visit takes place in 3 stages:

• The Elephant's walk : several times a day, the Elephant goes out on the esplanade of the old building sites for a long stroll. It carries 52 visitors for each half-hour trip. If you want to go on board, we advise you to make a reservation or to try your luck when you arrive on site, as some tickets are only sold on site.

• The gallery of machines : a surprising visit in the bestiary of Jules Verne between heron, hummingbird and other monarch butterflies, but also a discovery of the know-how of the designers of these fantastic animals.
• The carousel of the marine worlds : find your childlike soul for a ride on the ingenious carousel that will take you 20,000 places under the sea.
• All our advice and many photos to prepare your visit to the Elephant of Nantes and the machines of the island .

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Day 1 - 11h-11h45: The Museum of Men and Technology

Installed in the historic building of the Ateliers et Chantiers de Nantes, this museum perpetuates the memory of the "shipbuilders " who settled on the island of Nantes for over 200 years.

More than 120 objects illustrate the know-how of the 7600 workers, technicians and engineers who worked on the site at its peak in 1954.

11:45-12:15 Buren's rings

A little after the Museum of Men and Techniques, at the tip of the island, is the lively Quai des Antilles with its many restaurants, its Voyage à Nantes canteen, and its theaters.

The French artist Daniel Buren , who made French cultural history by installing his 260 "columns" in the main courtyard of the Palais-royal garden in Paris, needs no introduction.

In Nantes, the artist invites you to see the city from a new angle in each of the 18 rings that punctuate the quay.

Each ring bears his visual and artistic signature , an alternating white and colored band 8.7 centimeters wide, which he has been carrying around the world since 1965.

Day 1 - 12h30-14h: lunch at the restaurant Le 1

We remain on the island of Nantes for the lunch, with the excellent restaurant Le 1.

For several years, it has symbolized the gastronomic revival of the city. It always offers a modern and creative cuisine that attempts to merge the 4 continents.

On sunny days, you can eat on the banks of the Loire for a magical moment.

Day 1 - 2:30-3:30 pm: Jules Verne Museum

We cross the Loire to discover the rebellious district of Chantenay. The family of the famous writer Jules Verne from Nantes owned a house in which he forged memories that would populate his work.

It is undeniable that Jules Verne's numbers are directly inspired by his youth in Nantes and continue to irrigate the city even today, like The Elephant of Nantes and The Machines of the Island.

The museum offers you a journey to the center of Jules Verne's work , from the sources of inspiration (railroads, travels...) to the publication of the novels (role of the publisher of the illustrated books Pierre-Jules Hetzel). This tour is proposed through manuscripts, illustrations or objects that belonged to the writer.

Day 2 - 3:30-4:00 pm: The Lookout Walk

Starting from the museum, discover the walk of the 7 belvederes which give you a beautiful view on the Loire and the city, as well as on the extraordinary garden for some of them. We particularly like the belvedere of the Hermitage designed by the Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata, with its wooden overhang above the void.

16h-17h30: Exploration of the Extraordinary Garden

Installed in a former quarry in the rebellious district of Chantenay, this garden is an evocation of the dreamlike universe of the writer Jules Verne, populated by numerous animals and unusual plants.

The program includes a waterfall , cliffs of 25 meters high, tree ferns , banana trees or papyrus and lotus that enjoy the omnipresent water!

A change of scenery guaranteed...

Day 1 - 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Memorial of the Abolition of Slavery

On your way back to the city center, by foot or by streetcar, visit the discreet memorial of the abolition of slavery.

A long gallery of rough concrete, under the riverside of the Loire , takes you into the memory of slavery, but also to the discovery of the enlightened minds that led to its abolition.

A solemn and necessary place , in the heart of one of the main former French slave ports of the not so distant 18 th century. Admission is free.

Day 1 - 7-8:30 pm: dinner at imagine restaurant

Because creativity does not stop at the restaurant door, we invite you to taste the cuisine of the young chef Anne Lise GENOUËL who opened, at 28 years old, her restaurant Imagine 2 steps from Place Graslin in 2018.

In addition to the warm atmosphere, we liked this combination of incredible flavors where the spices come to divert our palates for our greatest pleasure.

Proof of the creativity of the chef, the menu changes every week at lunchtime and at least once a month in the evening!

• Discover our review and many pictures after our lunch at Imagine restaurant .

Day 1 - Your night, choose your hotel in Nantes

We have a full article with our selection of the 12 best hotels in Nantes , but we offer our top 4 options in relation to this itinerary:

• Sozo Hotel : 2 steps from the Jardin des Plantes, sleep in an authentic 19th century church converted into a 4 star hotel with a strong design. See our detailed article on the night we spent at the Sozo Hotel / see prices, photos and availability.

• Blu Radisson Nantes : housed in the former courthouse, an incredible neoclassical building, the Blu Radisson condemns you to a quiet night. See our detailed article on the night we spent at the Blu Radisson Nantes / see prices, photos and availability.

• Hôtel de France Océnia : The former mansion of Jean Joseph Graslin, modern builder of Nantes, became a mythical hotel of Nantes in the twentieth century and has been completely updated in 2014. See our detailed article on the night we spent at the France Oceania hotel / see prices, photos and availability.

A LITTLE MORE patience

All the photos, maps, information, good addresses to make your stay in the Loire Valley a success, will soon be gathered in a single ebook!

If you wish to be informed of the publication of our guide on the Loire , register:

Day 2 - 9h-11h: Nantes Castle (Dukes of Brittany)

To start this second day, we went to the impressive castle of Nantes and the Dukes of Brittany . Built from the 13th century, it enters the history of France at the end of the 15th century, under the impulse of Anne of Brittany. Through her successive marriages to 2 kings of France (Henry VIII and Louis XII), she ensured the attachment of Brittany to France.

The castle can only be visited from the outside, but there is much to see:

• The defensive structures (towers, bastion, old keep ( XIIIth century), châtelet and enclosures) to be admired first from the moat and then by walking the covered way.
• From the courtyard, the royal dwelling with its tower of the golden crown and its beautiful loggias very richly sculpted, at the crossroads of Gothic and Renaissance styles.

• The great Government built by Louis XIV in a neoclassical style to replace part of the house destroyed by fire in the 17 th century.
• The other buildings of the castle: the conciergerie, the small government and the harnessing building.
• All our advices and many pictures to visit the castle of Nantes (Dukes of Brittany) .

Day 2 - 11am-12:30pm: Nantes History Museum

Located in the castle of Nantes, the Museum of the History of Nantes traces the history of the city, from prehistory to the most contemporary periods. No less than 1150 objects are presented in the 32 rooms (+1 dedicated to families) of the Museum.

The museum quality is really exceptional, with a lot of interactivity, beautiful settings, a comprehensible division...

Day 2 - 12:30 - 2:00 pm Lunch at the restaurant l'Amenité

After this very dense visit, we propose you to have lunch at the restaurant l'Amenité . Located in the Bouffay district, not far from the castle, it is for us one of the best restaurants in Nantes.

In the kitchen, the truculent Richard Cornet , also a London trader and psychotherapist, who had the happy idea to reconvert to cooking.

They offer a market cuisine with multiple flavors and a perfect mastery of cooking and textures, all for an unbeatable quality/price ratio in Nantes, in our opinion.

• Discover our opinion and many photos on the restaurant l'Aménité

Day 2 - 2pm-3pm Parc de l'île de Versailles

To digest your good meal, we suggest you to discover the small park of the island of Versailles which is surrounded by the river Erdre. On former swamps, a beautiful small Japanese garden , with traditional tea room, rockery composition and mini waterfalls.

The Maison de l'Erdre offers exhibitions on the ecosystem of this river which crosses Nantes before flowing into the Loire via the Saint-Félix canal.

Day 2 - 3:00-3:45 pm: Feydeau Island and Place Royale

On the way to your next visit, take the time to admire 2 surprising places in the city:

• The Royal Square : one of the largest squares in the city, with its Haussmannian and neoclassical quarter-circle buildings

• The Feydeau district : formerly an island, it has only been attached to the right bank since 1938 and has an impressive 18th century architectural heritage that we owe to the city's rich shipowners and merchants.

Day 2 - 16h-17h: Museum of Printing and Graphic Arts

Just a stone's throw from the Passage Pommeraye, discover the very surprising and enchanting Museum of Printing and Bookmaking . You can discover the machines that preceded our digital presses.

Far from being a dusty museum, the machines are still in working order and make art prints before your eyes! Numerous training courses allow to perpetuate the memory and the know-how of the printing trades: master printer, typesetter...

The icing on the cake is a small exhibition of printed works to conclude the visit. We were lucky enough to come across an exhibition of printed drawings by the talented Doctor Paper who reinterprets the world (almost the same passion as ours!).

Day 2 - 17h-17h30: Cours Cambronne

Formerly the seat of the Capuchin religious congregation, the Cours Cambronne was entirely redesigned under the impetus of the influential Joseph Graslin , who transformed the entire district of Nantes at the end of the 18th century.

A landmark of middle-class life in Nantes in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is bordered by 16 listed neoclassical buildings , and the park is home to rare Magnolia species , of which the city of Nantes preserves the national reference collection.

Day 2 - 5:30-6:30pm: Discover the Passage Pommeraye

Leaving La Cigale, go down the luxurious and commercial street Crébillon to reach the high entrance of the passage Pommeraye on rue de Santueil.

This magnificent covered shopping mall built between 1840 and 1843, is a jewel of neoclassical art that symbolizes the gentrification of the city of Nantes carried by its flourishing port activity in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Inspired by the many Parisian passages, it is unique in Europe because of its sloping plan, with a difference in level of more than 9 meters between its high and low points, which was to be easily climbed by the elegant ladies.

In addition to the magnificent decorations which borrow from the renaissance style but also baroque, we invite you to enjoy the incredible light which reigns in this place. We owe it to the impressive glass roofs and to the lighting, first gas, now led, which illuminate the passage advantageously.

• Our anecdotes and tips for not missing anything from the Passage Pommeraye

Day 2 - 7:30-9:00 pm: Dinner at La Cigale - Place Graslin

After this beautiful and dense 2nd day, let's go to a Nantes institution for your dinner, the brasserie La Cigale located on the beautiful Place Graslin .

On this square, a sign stands out, that of the chic brasserie La Cigale . Inaugurated in 1895, it is a real Nantes institution, as much appreciated for a tea with a small pastry in the middle of a shopping day, as for a dinner after a weekend by the sea.

But, even if its cuisine is of high quality, what makes it really unique is its art nouveau décor entirely created by Nantes artists and which humorously depicts the bourgeois mores of Nantes society at the end of the 19th century. You will notice that the cicada is a bit sulky, wearing a tutu and carrying a mandolin.

• Our opinion and many photos on the restaurant La Cigale in Nantes

Day 3 - 9:30am-12pm: Parc Floral de la Beaujoire in Nantes

For this third and last day, we suggest you to take the tramway, to get out of the city center and discover the magnificent floral park of Beaujoire .

On more than 14 hectares, they present 16000 varieties of roses (flowering mainly in May-June), but also 400 species of magnolias (flowering from the beginning of March to June) and a beautiful iris garden (flowering March-April).

This garden was created in 1971 to host one of the most important events for ornamental plants, the Floralies .

Day 3 - 12:30-14:30: Lunch at the Manoir de la Régate

Before returning to the center of Nantes, we suggest you prolong this moment of nature, by lunching at the excellent Manoir de la Régate . In a protected setting on the banks of the Erdre, this starred restaurant has been in the hands of the Pérou family since 1995.

It is the new generation, barely thirty years old, which offers you a gustatory and gastronomic journey just incredible , between beet bread, pike-perch of the Loire stewed in clay and Bottereau nantais with kiwi and mint!

The chef, Matthieu Pérou, flavors his dishes with wild flowers and herbs picked along the Erdre River. Another way to do botany!

• Back in photos on this exceptional dinner at the Manoir de la Régate in Nantes .

Day 3 - 3-6pm: Museum of Art

We hope you are not tired and that you are ready to fall under the spell of the incredible Nantes Museum of Art .

Created in 1801 and completely reinvented in 2017, it offers one of the most beautiful collections of paintings in France, in a setting that is just exceptional , both architecturally, but also in the quality of the hanging.

The ancient art , carried by the Italian painters and the religious painting, rubs shoulders with the treasures of the modern art , with in particular a very beautiful collection Kandinsky, without forgetting the emblematic painters of the XIXth century (Courbet, Monet, Delacroix).

A great moment for us, it was difficult to leave

Day 3 - 6pm-7pm: Lieu Unique

We suggest you finish your stay by discovering the Lieu Unique , which symbolizes the transition underway in Nantes. During your stay, you must have seen this art deco tower that seems to serve as a lighthouse in the old port city.

Today converted into a cultural place, the unique place was the headquarters of the famous cookie factory LU which closed its doors in 1986. There used to be 2 towers of 38 meters high , but only one survived the bombings of the 2nd World War.

In addition to the visit of the tower which will allow you to better know the history of the place, do not hesitate to take the time to visit one of the current exhibitions, the programming is of very good quality.

We invite you to have a drink or a coffee at the bar of the unique place , in the hall with the indus decoration or in the terrace. You will surely come across those who keep the cultural and bohemian life of Nantes alive.

A nice way to end these 3 days of visit in our company!

Option 1 - add tours

As there is not only one way to visit Nantes, we propose you below some original ideas to discover the city differently.

Follow the green line

The green line runs over 24 kilometers of sidewalks, stairs and other narrow streets in the city of Nantes.

Every summer since 2012, as part of the voyage to Nantes, she offers tourists an artistic stroll through the city. On the program, about forty places and monuments presenting a particular cultural interest or reinterpreted by artists.

Very innovative when it was launched, the green line is in the middle of an institutionalization phase, which makes it lose some of its vitality . Nevertheless, it remains a nice alternative for those who want to see the urban space through the eyes of artists.

Original tricks

• Private visit according to your expectations with a passionate Nantais - See prices and availability .
• Visit the highlights of the city by Segway : a mode of transport now well known in tourist cities and quite adapted to travel in Nantes, outside the hyper center - See prices and availability .
• Even if the traffic is not easy in Nantes, you can opt for a discovery of the city in a 2CV Citroën , the mythical French deuche - See prices and availability .
• Guided tour of the city with an audioguide directly accessible on your smartphone, to learn all about the history of the city - See the price of the audioguide of Nantes .
• Need to motivate your children to discover the city, opt for an outdoor escape game with the city as a playground - See price and conditions .

Option 2 - alternatives with children to spend 3 days in Nantes

If you can motivate your children for 3 days, you are very strong! But because we are realistic, we have provided you with some alternatives that might interest them and some ideas to motivate them:

Kid-friendly restaurants in Nantes

Even if your children are welcome in all the restaurants we have selected, we suggest 3 alternatives, easier for young palates, but in which we eat healthy.

Sugar Blu Restaurant

Our favorite canteen in Nantes, where everything is ultra-fresh and the atmosphere is definitely friendly , reminding us of the brown cafés in Amsterdam.

No doubt you'll find something to satisfy their sometimes fussy stomachs, and to please yourself as well! Quiches, salads, burrito... for the main course and a nice collection of desserts , each one more delicious than the other (guaranteed success): brownie, scone, carrot cake...

Restaurant "Le coin des crêpes

A sure value with children (and which does not displease the parents), a good creperie . Even if we are not quite in Brittany, we know how to make beautiful pancakes in Nantes and to marry the pancakes with the greedy tradition of the city (the cookie factories BN and LU testify it...).

So that they don't feel too cramped, we recommend "Le coin des crêpes ", Cours des 50 otages, not far from the Passage Pommeraye, where we enjoyed ourselves.

Restaurant Coq Monsieur

Another great classic of the kitchen for our children: the croque-monsieur ! At Coq Monsieur, it is available in 10 gourmet recipes and served with French fries (and salad).

Installed in one of the small pedestrian streets of Bouffay, it will satisfy everyone and in a good mood!

Where to have a snack break with your children in Nantes

For the snack break , you have a lot of choices. Our 2 favorites (of which Eugenie knows the map by heart):

• Near the castle, Chez Dinette , a very cosy tea room, with a brocante atmosphere, where you can taste home-made pastries: crumble (that we love...), carrot cake, banana caramel pie.

• We really like the tea-time proposal from the brasserie La Cigale, which we told you about earlier. You will have to face a formidable choice: gourmet ice creams (special mention for the nutcracker: caramel and hazelnut ice creams with cookie chips) or the terrible home-made pastries, including the famous Nantes cake.

Other places to visit with children in Nantes

The water mirror.

The water mirror is a must-see in any large French city and is located at the foot of the castle. They can either admire the beautiful reflections or refresh themselves while exercising.

Natural History Museum

The natural history museum is a sure bet with children and the one in Nantes is in the process of updating itself to continue to captivate them with its very rich collections.

Adventurers, ship owners and other naturalists have contributed over the last two centuries to make the Natural History Museum of Nantes one of the most important in France .

Between stuffed vertebrate animal specimens, vivarium with friendly live snakes and collection of minerals and rocks , they will not know where to turn!

Option 3 - alternatives for garden and botanical enthusiasts

As you are in Nantes for 3 days, take advantage of this time to discover some of the most beautiful gardens of the city of 100 parks (actually 101, according to the official count of the City Hall).

In addition to the Extraordinary Garden and the Garden of the Island of Versaille already included in our 3-day itinerary, we offer 2 alternatives depending on your botanical interests.

Garden of plants of Nantes

On 7 hectares , the plant garden, one of the largest in France, presents more than 10,000 living species , some of which are preserved in beautiful greenhouses, which can be visited with a city gardener.

You will also come across playful works of art , which we owe to the author and illustrator for young people, Claude Ponti, but also a funny greenhouse designed by the machines of the island.

Note that if you have not succumbed to the Fraiseraie you can opt for a gourmet break at the orangery .

Grand Blottereau Park

With 22 hectares, the Grand Blottereau park is the largest in Nantes and also one of the most amazing. Its exotic vocation , inherited from its first patron, the wealthy Nantes merchant Hyppolite Durand-Gasselin, and its pedagogical orientation (headquarters of the horticultural high school of Nantes), make it a place of experimentation and learning about plants in life size .

Throughout your journey, you will discover landscapes of different continents reconstituted, from the American bayou, to the hill of Suncheon (Korea) without forgetting the Mediterranean rock garden.

You can also discover the rich collection of exotic species in the dry greenhouse (jojoba, baobab and other kapok) and in the one reproducing a humid climate (ebony, mahogany, banana trees, cocoa trees...)

The best things to do in Nantes in video

And finally, a short video to inspire you!

PLAN YOUR STAY IN Nantes

Itineraries

• 5 thematic itineraries to visit Nantes in 1 day
• Our advice to visit Nantes in 2 days , or in 3 days

• 15 best things to do in Nantes
• 8 best museums to do in Nantes
• Our tips for the elephant and the machines
• Visit the castle of Nantes
• All about the village of Trentemoult

• 12 best hotels to stay in Nantes
• 15 best restaurants to eat in Nantes
• How to rent a car at Nantes airport

HE MADE THE TRIP AND WROTE THE ARTICLE Manu

The 10 commitments of region lovers.

• Visit all the places we tell you about.
• For each city, sleep in at least one hotel, visit the ones we recommend.
• For each city, eat in at least one restaurant, visit the ones we select.
• Pay all our bills in full, refuse any partnership or sponsorship.
• Update our articles periodically, with the help of our readers.
• Enrich our articles with our on-site experiences.
• Use 99% of our own photos
• Have a reasoned and transparent use of the AI tool, which we feed with our locally verified information.
• Inform about the traveler/writer pairing that gave birth to the article.
• Tell you what we do, and do what we tell you!

Claire and Manu

Learn more about the team and our history.

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THE BEST Nantes City Tours

City tours in nantes.

• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Multi-day Tours
• Walking Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Private Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Photography Tours
• Literary, Art & Music Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Explore the Instaworthy Spots of Nantes with a Local

2. Nantes Like a Local: Customized Private Tour

3. All Inclusive Food Tour of Nantes Old Town with Local Guide

4. Classic Roadtrip

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Children's escape game in the city of Angers Marsupilami

Discover Angers while playing! Escape game - The Walter case

Discover Angers while escaping the zombies! Escape room

Discover Rennes while escaping the zombies! Escape room

Aux Sables d'Olonne Bike rental, e-bike, all-terrain scooter

Visit to the castles of Chenonceau and Chambord

Urban escape game in Angers - Crazytopia

Urban Escape Game for EVG EVJF in Angers

Children's escape game in the city of Angers - Peter Pan

From Angers - Anjou Vineyards in Minivan

• Nantes Like a Local: Customized Private Tour
• Explore the Instaworthy Spots of Nantes with a Local
• All Inclusive Food Tour of Nantes Old Town with Local Guide
• Foxie Nantes | Balades ludiques, jeux de piste et activités touristiques
• City Game Nantes
• Bike'N Tour
• Segway Mobilboard Nantes
• Free Walking Tour Nantes

• Hop-on hop-off

Hop-on hop-off in Nantes

Popular experiences in nantes.

Nantes - Nantes City Card

If you're spending a week end in Nantes, get the city card to enjoy free access to public transport, free admission to major highights, visits, tours bike rental and cruises! Available for 1, 2, 3 or 7 days!

Nantes - The best of Nantes private walking tour

Discover Nantes with an expert guide on this 2-hour private tour. Walk through the city's main areas and learn more about the history and legends!

Nantes - Romantic walking tour in Nantes

Discover the most romantic areas of Nantes with a local guide. On this private walking tour, you'll hear the love stories hidden in each corner of the city.

Nantes - Family walking tour in Nantes

Discover Nantes with a family-friendly guide! on this 2-hour private tour, you'll visit the main cultural and architectural sites in a fun and easy way.

Nantes - Discover Nantes in 60 Minutes with a Local

See Nantes through a local's eyes, uncovering the city's true essence during a small group tour with a maximum of 6 travelers.

Nantes city pass : a tip for visiting Nantes

Pass nantes.

From a weekend to 7 days, Nantes offers many proposals, the 7 days Pass is the best card to enjoy it and and make life easier.

Free access: all museums and their exhibitions, the Carrousel des Mondes Marins and the Gallery of the Machines de l’île, public transport, cruises, visits…

Enjoy access to 50 attractions Unlimited transport

See all services on one map

Any questions ? Read the FAQs

50 free attractions in all passes. Only with the 7-day pass: the Nantes Saint-Nazaire Estuaire cruise. A range of rates for families, children, students, tribes… Click on the duration of your choice and enjoy day trips from Nantes.

Example of a 48h stay : 48-hour Naolib ticket (12,80 €), castle of the dukes of Brittany museum with audioguide (11 €), Galerie des Machines de l’Ile (9,50 €), Carrousel des Mondes Marins (9 €), cruise on the Erdre river (16.50 €), visit of Nantes with audioguide (8,50 €) for a total of 67,30 € All these services are included in the 48-hour Pass Nantes for 37 €.

Getting around

Culture and museums.

Please note that the Elephant ride is not included in the Pass.

On foot or by train…

April to october

Have a drink

April to September

In the vineyard

Culture and tasting

Estuaire Nantes Saint-Nazaire

Benefits and discounts.

Discount, reduced rate or gift on presentation of the Nantes Pass

Accessibility

Further information.

The Pass is valid for the first time it is used. For example, a 48h Pass that starts on 01/02/2024 at 10am is valid until 03/02/2024 at 9.59am. The Pass is not a queue-breaker. Please take note of the conditions for visiting or entering each site (opening days, booking conditions or special clauses). Find the entire Pass offer by downloading the free “Pass Nantes” application from Apple Store or Playstore.

Cheap bus tickets from Tours to Nantes

Comfort on board, health and safety, satisfied customers, the green choice, on this page, bus stations and stops in tours, tours (bus stop on "parking les peupliers").

View this address on Google Maps

Bus stations and stops in Nantes

Nantes (bus stop on "route de paris"), discover all destinations.

Choose from over 80 travel destinations in 11 states and growing!

Frequently asked questions

You can buy your bus ticket from Tours to Nantes choosing your preferred payment method among card, Paypal, Google Pay, and more!

The quickest bus trip from Tours to Nantes takes 2 hours 45 minutes.

You can track your bus location on our Real-Time Bus Tracker . Just select the relevant bus stop and check the time of arrival. Find out where your bus is and check if there are delays on the route.

The bus route from Tours to Nantes covers 132 miles. FlixBus can bring you from Tours to Nantes in 2 hours 45 minutes.

You can get from Tours to Nantes for as little as $7.99. On average, tickets for this connection cost $9.99.

There are 3 rides daily from Tours to Nantes. The fastest bus on this connection has 2 stop(s).

Find the cheapest buses from Tours to Nantes

Looking for cheap tickets from Tours to Nantes? FlixBus has you covered. The distance between Tours and Nantes is 132 miles , which takes a minimum of 2 hours 45 minutes . FlixBus has a large nationwide network, so you can travel onwards with us once you reach Nantes. Tickets for this connection cost $9.99 on average, but you can book a trip for as little as $7.99 .The lowest price for this connection is $7.99 , but prices might be higher during high season and when the bus gets full. So how to find the best ticket prices? Be sure to book in advance on our website or via our FlixBus App . When booking through the App, your ticket will be stored directly, making bus travel even more green and convenient!

Traveling from Tours to Nantes

With 3 rides per day , it's easy to fit a trip to Nantes into your schedule. The bus takes a minimum of 2 hours 45 minutes and you can expect 2 stops on your journey.

Traveling with FlixBus isn't just quick, it's cheap too . If you book in advance online or using the app, you can expect to pay as little as $7.99 for a ticket between Tours and Nantes, , but prices might go up in high season or if buses are full, getting to an average of $9.99 . That's a great saving compared to traveling by train, car or plane! What's more, bus travel is a more sustainable mode of transport . We're working towards making our entire FlixBus fleet 100% carbon neutral, and every customer can offset their carbon footprint by making a donation when they purchase their ticket.

Taking the bus from Tours

Tours is well-connected on the FlixBus network with 114 connections departing every day from 1 stations, making it very easy to travel across the country.

Arriving in Nantes

With 1 bus station(s) , Tours is well-connected. Traveling with FlixBus around the country is very cheap and easy, as to get to Nantes you can pick one of the 75 routes arriving daily.

What to expect onboard the FlixBus bus from Tours to Nantes

Once you've booked your bus tickets through the FlixBus App using one of our secure payment methods, you just need to bring your phone to use as your ticket - and your luggage, of course. Don't worry about packing light as you can bring one piece of carry-on luggage and one piece of hold luggage for your journey. Want to be guaranteed the best seat in the house? You can choose yours when you book your ticket. Opt for a classic seat, a table seat, a panorama seat for a great view, or reserve the free seat beside you for extra space. Once you've stowed your luggage away and settled in, sit back and enjoy the journey with the onboard services on your FlixBus bus including free Wi-Fi onboard, FLIXtainment - out entertainment portal, toilets and plug socket.Whether you need to fire off some emails during your trip, or you want to relax and enjoy the ride, we've got you covered.

Discover more popular bus connections

• Tours - Paris
• Paris - Tours
• Tours - Paris Orly Airport
• Paris Orly Airport - Tours
• Tours - Lyon
• Nantes - Tours
• Lyon - Tours
• Tours - Nantes
• Tours - Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport
• Bordeaux - Tours
• Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport - Tours
• Tours - Grenoble
• Tours - Bordeaux
• Tours - Brussels
• Brussels - Tours
• Tours - Lille
• Grenoble - Tours
• Lille - Tours
• Metz - Tours
• Blois - Tours
• Nantes - Paris
• Paris - Nantes
• Bordeaux - Nantes
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• Rennes - Nantes
• Nantes - Toulouse
• Toulouse - Nantes
• Nantes - Rennes
• Nantes - Lyon
• Nantes - Angers
• Angers - Nantes
• Lyon - Nantes
• Nantes - Lille
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• Lorient - Nantes
• Lille - Nantes
• Nantes - Lorient
• Brest - Nantes
• Nantes - Barcelona
• Nantes - Vannes

Onboard services are subject to availability