Visiting Nantes? Take the opportunity to explore the city on foot! The city is full of treasures. On lively walks, you'll discover museums, gardens, architecture and restaurants. Cultural, fun, romantic or guided, the walks in Nantes seduced us with their diversity!
In this article you'll find all our tips, ideas and advice on how to visit Nantes on foot and have a wonderful time!
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Walks in Nantes: cultural and historical escapes
A major city in western France, Nantes is a great place to get around! With a dynamic cultural life and an exceptional historical and artistic heritage, the conurbation has won us over with its hiking opportunities! As you wander along the narrow streets and riverbanks, you'll come across monuments from different eras, fascinating museums and stunning outdoor artworks! Let yourself be tempted by Nantes and its walks.
Like us, opt for the City Pass, which gives you access to all the city's cultural sites, as well as to the public transport network (in case you're tired!).
WHERE TO STAY IN Nantes
Downtown
Would you like to sleep in the heart of Nantes and enjoy its invigorating vitality? We liked it:
- Blu Radisson Hotel - see our article - see photos prices and availability
- L'Oceania - hotel de France - see our article - see photos prices and availability
Near the station
A train to catch at dawn, there's a truly magical address just 2 steps from Nantes train station:
- Le Sozo Hotel - see our article - see photos, prices and availability
On the banks of the Erdre
Looking for a bit of peace and quiet, without straying too far from the city of Nantes? 2 addresses on the banks of the Erdre river:
- La Rivière House - see photos, prices and availability
- Le Best Western Plus Hôtel de la Régate - view photos, prices and availability
1. Le Voyage à Nantes and the Green Line route
A unique cultural concept
Set up by the Office de Tourisme, the Voyage à Nantes is a concept that aims to make your visit to the city a truly fun and original experience. That's why we came across a green line on the ground as we wandered through the narrow streets of the town center. She guided us through the treasures of Nantes! The idea is to discover the city's exceptional architectural, cultural and artistic heritage in a whole new way. It's easy to explore the city on foot!
An unforgettable tour
Covering the whole city, the green line took us to discover all there is to see in Nantes! With almost 50 stages, this thread is a fabulous tour through history and culture. Along the way, we stopped to admire the many museums and monuments, as well as the city's architectural heritage and the works of art scattered from street to street. Plan to spend at least a day walking this strange line. Here are our ideas for multi-day itineraries! More information on the official Voyage à Nantes website here.
Some of our favorite stages:
- The Nantes elephant: now a symbol of the city's renewal, this extraordinary machine transported us into the surprising world of Jules Verne, the city's writer.
- The Château de Nantes (Dukes of Brittany): you'll travel back in time to the history of France and the grandeur for which the Loire castles are famous.
- The Passage Pommeraye: this sumptuous gallery took us back to the rich shopping days of the 19th century. The art deco decor and magnificent glassware are well worth a look!
With the City Pass, you'll have access to all these places, as well as to the public transport network! Book it now!
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 aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
2. Escape games in Nantes
Dive into fantastic worlds
Full of surprises, Nantes plunged us into a fantastic, dreamlike universe, thanks to its rich cultural offering and the many escape games organized in the city. A fun way to continue exploring the city on foot!
- Discover Nantes by taking up Jules Verne's challenge! Immerse yourself in the writer's imagination, and enjoy a fun tour of the city, full of pitfalls, riddles and surprises.
- Slip into the shoes of a detective and set off in search of the alchemist's elixir in Nantes' beautiful Jardin des Plantes!
- More ideas for escape games and treasure hunts here!
Adventures for kids
Let's not forget the kids! Adventures and trails are also available, a fun way to introduce them to the city and its cultural attractions. Let yourself be tempted by these family games:
- To save the Marsupilami, that funny imaginary animal out of a comic strip, roam a part of the city solving riddles and completing perilous missions!
- What better way to explore a city thanon a treasure hunt? Let yourself be carried away by Peter Pan, the famous flying child, and set off in search of treasures!
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3. Guided city tours
Private tours with local guides
Take advantage of the experience of locals and local guides to discover Nantes and its secrets! A private walking tour is an excellent way to learn more about this multi-faceted city. Here is our selection:
- Opt for a personalized city tour! History, emblematic places, anecdotes and tips on the best places to go.
- Follow a local expert guide who will immerse you in the history of Nantes.
- Let a local guide show you all there is to know about Nantes and its cultural and artistic life!
Self-guided exploration
Prefer to explore the city on your own, but still want to learn more about its history? Choose a self-guided tour that lets you visit Nantes at your own pace. Get inspired by our selection:
- Why not opt for a guided walking tour, where you'll discover fascinating facts about the city, its monuments and highlights?
- Turn your exploration of the city on foot into an adventure by choosing this app-based walking treasure hunt that will reveal all the sights and secrets!
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:
4. Unusual tours of Nantes
A culinary tour of the city
Nantes can also be visited in an unusual way! The city's monuments and cultural attractions are well worth a visit, but so is its gastronomy. Discover this great city through its cuisine! What could be better than a guided culinary tour to discover Nantes from a different angle? Let yourself be tempted by a gustatory escape on foot through historic or trendy restaurants and sample the city's emblematic dishes and beverages!
You can also let yourself be guided by your desires and draw inspiration from our tasty selection of good restaurants in Nantes. Gourmet, traditional or contemporary cuisine on the menu!
Romantic getaway
Nantes has plenty of charm and lends itself to romantic strolls! You can stroll through the city center and enjoy the magic of the historic alleyways, or opt for a romantic guided tour. You'll be captivated by the river's banks at sunset and by the romance of the night over the city!
Extend your romance and crown your stay with glamour in a romantic hotel! Treat her to a night at the Hôtelde France Océania, a favorite hotel for stars shooting in Nantes, for example, or sleep at theHôtel Sozo, a former chapel that's ideal for a marriage proposal?
Walks around Nantes
From villages to beaches
Venture to the outskirts of Nantes for more fascinating walks. The town is surrounded by charming villages and towns well worth a visit. Thanks to its proximity to the Atlantic coast, the town is also close to beaches that are perfect for a stroll!
For example, we loved..:
- Trentemoult: 10 minutes by navibus (the Nantes sea bus), this former fishing village has all the charms of a riverside village. We enjoyed wandering through its colorful alleys with a patina of age!
- Pornic: Less than 1 hour's drive away, come and discover this seaside resort, created in the 19th century and the first beach where we spent our vacations when we arrived in the Loire Valley. The little port has a lot of charm and the town is surrounded by small sandy beaches that contrast with the black rock. The walk along the coastal path is well worth it!
Touring the castles around Nantes
Located on the western edge of the Loire Valley, Nantes is not so far from the famous Loire castles. If you're willing to do a bit of driving, you'll be able to survey some superb mansions and explore their estates! Read our article on the 10 most beautiful châteaux around Nantes for inspiration.
In the meantime, here are our suggestions for walks around the castle:
- The Château de Goulaine, located 15km from Nantes, is an early Renaissance dwelling that will win you over with its architecture and French garden!
- The Château d'Oudon impressed us with its fortified enclosure and its park dotted with works of art. Walk in the footsteps of the defenders of the royal river as you survey the walls!
- Just a 40-minute drive away, the Château de Clisson stands proudly in the heart of the pretty town of Clisson. We were charmed by this medieval fortress, which is a delight to stroll through.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN Nantes
Itineraries
Visits
Frequently asked questions
How to get to Nantes
To get to Nantes, you've got a choice! You can get there by car. Our car rental tips here.
- Driving time from Tours: 2h
- Driving time from Angers: 1h10
- Driving time from Blois: 2h50
- Driving time from Orleans: 3h30
However, in the city center, we strongly advise you to use the public transport network, as it's a real nightmare to get around! Take the City Pass, which gives you access to all public transport! It also provides access to museums. An excellent deal!
You can also fly to Nantes. Its international airport is close to the city center. Click here to find out which lines serve the airport. You can also book private transport from Nantes airport.
The town also has a TGV station, with many daily return services to Paris. The average journey time is 2h10. Allow 40min from Angers to Nantes and 2h to Tours. Book your train now.
Which districts to visit in Nantes?
Nantes is a large city with many lively neighborhoods. Small villages within the city, each with its own unique identity and worthwhile attractions.
Here are our must-haves:
- The downtown area is very lively! We loved wandering through its pretty streets filled with history. It's home to a rich heritage that you can discover by following a surprising green line traced on the ground, which will take you to all the essential places. We talk about it earlier in the article!
- The Bouffay district is also worth a visit. Close to the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, the narrow, lively streets, where it's great to get lost, reminded us of the town's medieval past!
- Let's meet on the Île de Nantes, where we were captivated by the Machines de l'Ile, these extraordinary mechanical installations that echo the fantastic works of Jules Verne, the city's great writer. Venture on the back of the giant elephant or plunge into an astonishing aquatic world with the Carrousel des Mondes Marins!
More ideas in ourNantes itinerary suggestions. Here's also a map of the main sights to help you find your way around the different districts.
Where to stay in Nantes?
Are you right in the center of Nantes? So much the better, as it's full of pleasant hotels. Read our article on the subject. Some of our suggestions:
- Treat yourself to a sumptuous room at the Hôtel de France, the hotel preferred by stars filming in Nantes. French celebrities Jean Marais, Mireille Darc and Jacques Demy have stayed here. Make your reservation now.
- In the mood for cocooning and feeling at home? In the heart of the city, the Hotel Maison du Monde is for you. See photos and availability.
- Looking for the unusual? Experience Hotel Sozo, a former 19th-century chapel transformed into a luxury hotel! Check prices and availability here.
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
HE MADE THE TRIP Manu
