A city of art and history in the heart of the Loire Valley, Tours invites you to discover its rich architectural heritage, lively picturesque streets and art of living.
In this article, we propose a 3-day itinerary for Tours, combining the must-sees of the historic center, nature stops along the Loire and a getaway to the surrounding vineyards or châteaux. Three days to enjoy the gentle Touraine way of life.
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 tips for visiting Tours in 3 days
What can you see in Tours in 3 days? Is it long enough?
In 3 days, you can explore the main sights of Tours: the majestic Cathédrale Saint-Gatien, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the medieval streets of Vieux-Tours and the mythical Place Plumereau, not forgetting a stroll along the Loire.
You'll also have time to plan an excursion to one of the Loire Châteaux!
Maps of must-see attractions
To help you find your way around our itinerary below, here's our map of the main tourist attractions in Tours:
Getting around Tours
If you're on foot, you'll be absolutely delighted to move around Vieux-Tours, which offers a serene flow of traffic (flat terrain, but cobbled streets), as well as along the Loire River, with its perfect facilities for strolling.
Note also that the city is calm thanks to its excellent public transport network (official website here), including its tramway which serves the city's outlying areas.
As the city is designed with pedestrians and cyclists in mind, you may find it more difficult to find parking spaces for your car in the city center. We therefore advise you to choose fully-equipped hotels.
Where to stay in Tours
WHERE TO STAY IN Tours
In the city center
Enjoy the city, its restaurants and beautiful architecture.
- Hotel Ferdinand - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hôtel du Cygne - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel L'Adresse - check prices, pictures and availability
Near the station and around the city center
An early train? Or just a little more peace and quiet? Here are our recommendations:
- Hotel Les Trésorières - 5 stars - check prices, pictures and availability
- Aparthotel Central Parc Tours - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Oceania L'Univers Tours - check prices, pictures and availability
In the countryside around
Looking for a bit of peace and quiet, without straying too far from the city of Tours? Here's our suggestion:
- Hotel Domaine de la Tortinière - 20 min away - check prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Troglododo - unusual 25min away - check prices, pictures and availability
Our ideal itinerary: 3 days in Tours
Day 1 - Immerse yourself in the historic atmosphere of Tours
For this first day, we invite you to discover the architectural wealth of the city through its iconic monuments!
Morning: Discovering religious heritage
Start your day with a visit to the majestic Cathedral of Saint-Gatiena jewel of Gothic art with facades adorned with delicate sculptures. You'll see it from afar with its magnificent Gothic facade, but what will really win you over is its collection of dazzling stained glass windows.
After the cathedral, don't miss the peaceful Cloître de la Psalette. With its pretty garden, spiral staircase and gargoyles, it's the ideal place for a timeless stopover in the heart of the city. Then discover the 19th-century Basilique Saint-Martin and the Tour Charlemagne, which offers an exceptional panoramic view of Tours and the surrounding area!
Lunch around Place Plumereau
No doubt this first morning will whet your appetite!
Good news: Tours is an epicurean's delight, with a wide range of restaurants from intimate bistros to Michelin-starred establishments.
Find our best addresses in our dedicated article!
Before or after lunch, stop off at Place Plumereau! With its colorful half-timbered houses, inviting terraces and friendly atmosphere, it's the beating heart of Tours.
Afternoon: Stroll through Vieux Tours and discover the town houses
After lunch, take a leisurely stroll through Vieux Tours.
This medieval district is sure to charm you with its half-timbered houses, charming little squares and craft stores. If you look hard enough, you'll find no fewer than 18 listed private mansions in the city of Tours. We particularly liked the Hôtel Goüin, the Hôtel Torterue and, of course, theHôtel de Ville!
Dinner in a bistronomic restaurant
If you want to spend a real Touraine evening and immerse yourself in the French art of living, there's nothing better than a bistronomic restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Restaurant La Deuvalière. You're sure to love this restaurant's delicious, lively cuisine. As for the setting, it only confirms that you've come to the right place for a wonderful evening!
Find our best addresses in our dedicated article!
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.
Day 2 - Excursion to Château de Villandry and the banks of the Loire River
Morning: discover the Château de Villandry
Just 30 minutes from Tours, Le Château de Villandry represents the apogee of French garden design. This 16th-century Renaissance château was particularly attractive for its remarkable geometric gardens, reconstructed in the 20th century according to the original plans. The love beds, intricately patterned decorative vegetable garden and ornamental gardens create an exceptional visual spectacle.
Tours has the advantage of being at the crossroads of several emblematic Loire castles. Read our article on other Châteaux around Tours!
Picnic lunch
Before you set off on your excursions, stock up on good produce at Les Halles de Tours!
You'll be able to buy specialties such as rillette de Tours IGP, andouillette au Vouvray, nougat de Tours and other delicacies for a delicious picnic between two visits.
Afternoon: return to Tours and stroll along the quayside
The banks of the Loire in Tours offer a soothing view of the royal river, and are an ideal place to stroll after a visit to the château. The landscaped quays, with their benches and green spaces, invite you to relax. We particularly appreciated the view of the Tours facades from the opposite bank, revealing the architectural harmony of the city.
After your stroll along the Loire, why not prolong the pleasure by enjoying a meal at the Guinguette de Tours, at the foot of the Pont Wilson? Since the 18th century, guinguettes have been popular cafés where you can eat and dance. Yet this old-fashioned term is very much in vogue in Touraine, where in fine weather you'll find a host of ephemeral places to soak up the sun along the Loire.
Day 3 - A journey between culture and nature
Morning at the Musée des Beaux-Arts
Start your third day with a visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours, housed in the former archbishop's palace. This remarkable museum houses exceptional collections ranging from ancient paintings to modern art, and boasts a lovely garden. Would you like to discover other museums in Tours? Read our article on the subject!
Poetic afternoon at the Prieuré Saint-Cosme
If you're looking for a visit off the beaten track, we recommend Saint-Cosme Prioryjust 25 minutes from Tours by public transport. A veritable heritage treasure, the estate boasts an incredible collection of soothing gardens and a trail centered on the poetry of 16th-century poet Ronsard. We love Region Lovers!
DISCOVER Tours
- Things to do in Tours
- Where to sleep in Tours: best hotels
- Where to eat in Tours: best restaurants - coming soon
- Rent a car in Tours
- Best castles around Tours
- Visit the Tours Museum of Fine Arts - coming soon
- Visit the Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours - coming soon
- Visit the Botanical Garden of Tours - coming soon
- Visit Saint-Gatien Cathedral
- Visit the Companionship Museum - coming soon
Alternative 1: Family Tours
Tours is an ideal family destination! All the museums in Tours can be visited with your children, with a preference for the fun stuff. Musée du Compagnonnage which will captivate the youngest visitors with its demonstrations and interactive workshops, or the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle (more info here), whose stuffed animals are always fascinating!
The Botanical Garden also offers a wide range of family activities...
With 3 days to spare, you can also get out of Tours and discover places specially designed for children, such as..:
- Aquarium de Touraine (30min away): exhibits a wide variety of species, not forgetting the educational aspect. There are a number of ways to understand marine ecosystems and conservation issues.
- Montbazon Fortress (30min away): This castral site offers activities to discover the art of ironwork, leatherwork and catapult shooting.
- Château d'Ussé (40min from Tours): The estate is well worth a visit for its dazzling gardens and lavish interiors, but above all because it conjures up the imaginary world of fairy tales! At the top of the dungeon, your children will be delighted to discover wax dolls recreating scenes from the fairytale "Sleeping Beauty".
- The Musée de la Préhistoire du Grand-Pressigny (1h drive) offers a fascinating immersion in prehistory through a remarkable collection of tools and artifacts. Find out more on the website here.
Alternative 2: Bucolic Tours
Discover the banks of the Loire by bike
The banks of the Loire in Tours offer magnificent walks with views of the royal river and its islands. Treat yourself to an unforgettable cycling adventure on the famous Loire à vélo itinerary.
We recommend this itinerary, which includes a guided bike tour of Tours, followed by a visit to the Valley of the Kings: see prices and availability.
Take a boat trip on the Loire
Here's an original idea for discovering Tours from a different angle! Aboard a traditional boat or a gabarre, you can admire the facades of Tours from the river, discover the Loire islands and maybe even spot some local wildlife. Find out more on the Tours tourist office website here.
Explore the pretty surrounding villages
If you're in the mood for a picturesque getaway, you're well advised to choose Tours as your base, as it lies at the gateway to several villages classified as France's Most Beautiful Villages, including Montrésor or Candes-Saint-Martin.
If you're having trouble choosing between these pretty hidden spots, don't hesitate to read our article dedicated to the most beautiful villages in the Loire Valley here.
And, if you're in the mood for a bit of sport, you can check out the GR3 itineraries here , which link villages and various Châteaux de la Loire.
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:
Alternative 3: Tours in contemporary mode
Tours reveals a dynamic artistic face through its contemporary cultural institutions. Here you can discover..:
- Château de Tours: In the setting of an ancient medieval castle, you'll have the pleasure of discovering world-renowned photographic works thanks to a partnership with the famous Jeu de Paume museum in Paris.
- The Centre d'art contemporain Olivier Debré CCC OD, which offers a unique platform for discovering the young contemporary art scene. More info on the website here.
- L'hôtel Goüin: If this monument is already worth a visit for its incredible Rennaissance architecture, sculpted around 1510, the venue also offers high-quality, eclectic temporary exhibitions. (more info here)
Finally, you'll be delighted to discover these contemporary sculptures in the city:
- Daniel Buren's sun catcher on Place Choiseul
- Xavier Veilhan's Monster, located in the middle of the Place du Grand Marché
Other ideas for activities in Tours
Here are some other ideas for visits in and around Tours: there's something for everyone!
For literature lovers
The Balzac Museum is only 30 minutes' drive from Tours. Set in the bucolic surroundings of the Château de Saché, the museum offers a fascinating insight into the life and work of the famous 19th-century French writer and leader of the realist novel. On the program: Balzac's manuscripts, personal objects and themed exhibitions on his immense literary legacy. Find out more here.
The writer, born in Tours in 1799, is also celebrated in the city through a walking tour. The Tourist Office also offers themed guided tours, which you can find here.
For epicureans
In addition to its varied and delightful range of restaurants, the city of Tours, voted the capital of gastronomy, is home to the Villa Rabelais, Maison des Cultures Gastronomiques, an exciting cultural and scientific center! On the program: fun exhibitions, tasting workshops and meetings with local producers. More info on their official website here.
And there's no shortage of good wineries in the city!
And if you want to go further, discover the excursions to the surrounding vineyards to work on your palate: more info here.
For lovers of religious heritage
In addition to the cathedral and basilica, you may also like to visit:
- Église Saint-Grégoire des Minimes: Built in 1627 by the Minimes brothers to replace their first convent, this church is worth a visit for the decoration of its façade and, inside, the woodwork executed in 1670 by two brothers from the monastery.
- Remains of the Couvent des Cordeliers: Take a look at the west facade, which retains the last vestige of the chapel, dating from 1224, a door under a pointed arch. Fascinating!
- Saint Julien Church (photo below): The former abbey church of the Abbey founded by Grégoire de Tours around 575, it's worth a visit for its Gothic architecture and stained glass windows. We particularly liked the bedside table!
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What you need to know for your weekend in Tours
The weather in Tours
When the weather is fine, we recommend that you come and enjoy the city of Tours and its famous guingiettes on the banks of the Loire! However, the climate remains mild all year round and very pleasant throughout the Loire Valley, so come whenever you like!
The city is also bustling in winter, so we recommend a visit then! Read our article Visiting Tours in winter!
Affluence in Tours
The towns of the Loire Valley are popular destinations the world over. As mentioned above, the summer season is very busy with tourists, so the number of visitors can be quite high. Also note that Tours hosts its Foire and a fête forraine in May, and that numerous music festivals are scheduled (see here) in the surrounding area between June and September.
If you're not particularly interested and prefer to avoid the crowds both on foot and by car, we'd advise you to discover Tours out of season.
Adapt your itinerary when it rains
If it rains during your stay in Tours, you'll have plenty to keep you busy! You can choose from a wide range of museums! See our top 5 in our article!
You can also take a look at the Central Library (photo below). It's impossible to miss this imposing building with its pyramidal roof!
Nicknamed "The Lady in the Green Hat" by the people of Tours, it was built between 1954 and 1957 by the famous Art Deco architect Pierre Patout.
We're sure you'll find what you're looking for among the thousands of books, newspapers and CDs on offer for a quiet moment of reading. Find out more here.
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
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