Nantes

Art, History and River Surprises

Nantes stands as a major city in western France along the Loire River. It has a history shaped by trade, industry and culture. The city features historic architecture alongside modern design, with landmarks like the medieval castle and contemporary art spaces. Nantes is known for its riverfront promenades where locals gather to walk or cycle. Public transport connects neighborhoods efficiently, making it easy to explore markets, museums and green parks. The mix of heritage sites and creative energy gives visitors a clear sense of place without relying on tourist clichés.

Add to list Map view

City in France

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.4

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	10

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, museums, and tourist spots, but less so in small shops or with older locals. A few French basics help, but you’ll get by in main areas.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Nantes Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Excellent for creative culture and historic heritage. Visit unique art installations, explore castles and museums and enjoy lively riverside districts.

Place score

7.7

Best at:

Walkable

Rivers

Spotless

Museums

Architecture

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

France – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type E Type C: Type E: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in cities and tourist areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is optional but appreciated in restaurants (5-10%) and for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, but restrictions apply in some cities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces but common in outdoor cafes.

Bastille Day (July)	Parades and fireworks occur nationwide.
Easter (March/April)	Cultural celebrations and closures.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 112 (EU emergency), 15 (Ambulance), 17 (Police), 18 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Heetch
Other:	France offers diverse experiences, from art and culture to nature and cuisine. Be cautious in crowded areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Nantes, France

🌥️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

☀️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌥️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Le Voyage à Nantes art trail runs July to early September, with installations across the city

Don't miss

🐘 Ride the colossal mechanical elephant at Les Machines de l'Île
🏰 Explore the medieval Château des Ducs de Bretagne and museum
🌷 Stroll through the vibrant Jardin des Plantes botanical garden
🖼️ Visit the Musée d'Arts de Nantes for diverse art collections
🛍️ Walk along the historic Passage Pommeraye shopping arcade
🕊️ Reflect at the Mémorial de l’Abolition de l’Esclavage monument

You've been here?

Why travel to Nantes?

Nantes is a city that knows how to reinvent itself. Wander the medieval heart around the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, then follow the famous green line of Le Voyage à Nantes, an urban art trail that weaves past historic landmarks, contemporary sculptures and riverside surprises. The city’s museums are top-notch, from the fine arts to natural history and the Machines of the Isle – a wild blend of art and engineering – will delight all ages. Foodies will love the seafood, cheeses and Muscadet wines, while the café terraces are perfect for people-watching. Nantes is generally safe and welcoming, but as in any city, keep an eye on your belongings – especially in crowded areas or at night. Some neighborhoods can feel deserted after dark and pickpocketing does occur. The weather can be changeable: summers are warm and lively, but winters are chilly and damp, with short days and frequent rain. Some museums and attractions close early in the off-season, so check hours ahead.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Passage Pommeraye
2 Museum of Fine Art of Nantes
3 Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle
4 Château des Ducs de Bretagne
5 Les Batignolles cathedral of metallurgy and centre of Nantes workers' struggles
6 Tour Bretagne

🎡Places for activities

1 Les Machines de l’Île
2 Musée d'arts de Nantes
3 Jardin des Plantes
4 Brain L'Escape Game - Clisson

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Jardin des Plantes
2 Erdre
3 Esplanade Rosa Parks
4 La Sèvre Nantaise

🛍️Shopping

1 Galeries Lafayette

🎈Events

Le Voyage à Nantes (summer art festival)
Royal de Luxe street theater
Scopitone digital arts festival
La Folle Journée classical music festival
Nantes Carnival
Christmas Markets
Jazz à l’Ouest festival
Festival des 3 Continents (film)
Nantes Digital Week
Wine and Gastronomy Fair

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Book Machines de l’Île tickets early, especially weekends.
Walk the château ramparts for free views; museum entry is separate and worthwhile.
Explore Bouffay for bars and food, but expect lively evenings and noise nearby.
Use the Nantes Pass if doing multiple museums; it can quickly beat single-entry prices.

How to travel to Nantes

Nantes is well-connected by high-speed train (TGV) from Paris (about 2 hours) and Nantes Atlantique Airport offers flights across Europe. The city’s main train station is close to the center, with trams and buses for onward travel. Regional trains and buses link Nantes to Brittany and the Atlantic coast.

Access summary

From Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE): Airport shuttle or bus, about 20–25 minutes.
From Paris: Direct TGV trains from Montparnasse to Nantes, roughly 2–2.5 hours.
From Rennes or Angers: Frequent regional trains to Nantes, usually 1–1.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Nantes

Nantes offers everything from boutique hotels in historic buildings to modern chains and cozy B&Bs. Stay near the Bouffay quarter for nightlife and history or on Île de Nantes for a creative vibe. Book ahead for summer and festival periods.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Seven Urban Suites Nantes Centre

9.1

Westotel Nantes Atlantique

8.4

Appart'City Confort Nantes Centre

8.2

OKKO Hotels Nantes Centre Ville

9.1

Campanile Nantes Centre

8.3

Oceania l'Hotel de France Nantes

9.2

Appart'City Confort Nantes Cité Des Congrès

8.1

Hotel La Perouse

8.4

Zenitude Hôtel-Résidences Nantes Metropole

8.0

Adagio Nantes Centre Aparthotel

8.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Nantes

Nantes is easy to explore on foot or by bike, especially in the city center. The tram network is efficient and connects major attractions, while buses and river shuttles cover farther districts. Driving is possible but parking can be tricky downtown – public transport is usually easier.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-5 %

Daily expenses in Nantes are around 5% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£63	£132	£343
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£56	£113
🍝 Food per day	£29	£67	£203
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£9	£28

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£13
🍟 Fast food combo	£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£2.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£6

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£22
🤧 Cold medication	£9
💇 Basic haircut	£12

Safety information overview

General safety

Nantes is generally safe, but use standard city precautions: watch for pickpockets in crowded places, avoid deserted areas at night and keep valuables secure. Police patrols are active and emergency services are reliable.

Health & Medical

Healthcare is excellent, with clinics and pharmacies throughout the city. No special health risks, but bring any personal medication. Pharmacies are easy to find and emergency care is accessible.

Accessibility

Most attractions and public transport are accessible, but some old town streets have cobblestones and uneven ground. Check ahead for step-free access at historic sites or smaller museums.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and good-tasting throughout Nantes. Public fountains are available in parks and squares, but not everywhere — carry a refillable bottle for city walks.