Have you decided to visit Tours in 1 day? The capital of Touraine is sure to please! With a rich heritage ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day, Tours is a city of charm, with its majestic Gothic cathedral, half-timbered houses and elegant townhouses. The city also offers some wonderful interludes in its museums, gardens and along its landscaped quays.
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 1 day
What can you see in Tours in 1 day? Is it long enough?
One day is all it takes to discover the highlights of Tours, from Cathédrale Saint-Gatien to Basilique Saint-Martin, not forgetting a stroll through Vieux-Tours or along the Loire. However, we strongly advise you to spend the night to fully appreciate the atmosphere, especially as the town is an ideal starting point for exploring the famous Châteaux of the Loire Valley.
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: 1 day in Tours
9h-10h30: Discover Saint-Gatien Cathedral
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. Listed as a Monument Historique, it is the only cloister still preserved of all the cathedrals in the Centre-Val de Loire region! And every year, it stages a temporary exhibition. Consult the agenda here.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Stroll through Vieux Tours and discover the town houses
From the cathedral, it's a 15-minute walk to 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!
12:30-2pm: Gourmet lunch
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!
2pm-4pm: Relaxation on the banks of the Loire
After your feast, we suggest a little digestive stroll along the banks of the Loire, where the many facilities have been designed to encourage strolling.
4-6pm: Cultural immersion at the Musée des Beaux-Arts
End your day in style 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 contemporary art.
Don't miss a stroll through the museum's garden, a haven of peace in the heart of the city, where you can admire open-air sculptures and enjoy breathtaking views of the cathedral.
7:30-9pm: Dinner around Place Plumereau
Retrace your steps back to Place Plumereau, arguably Tours' most famous landmark!
With its colorful half-timbered houses, inviting terraces and friendly atmosphere, it's the beating heart of Tours. It would be a shame not to have a drink before dinner in one of the city's bistronomic restaurants!
Last but not least, don't miss out on a tour of the city by night! The city boasts a lively atmosphere, and many of its buildings are illuminated, allowing you to rediscover Tours with new eyes.
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.
Alternative 1: Visiting Tours with the family
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...
Alternative 2: 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
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: Bucolic Tours
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. Region Lovers is our favorite!
Continue your day by discovering the Loire from another angle!
Your choice of river discovery:
- By bike: 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.
- Or by boat: aboard a traditional ship or a gabarre, you can admire the Tours facades from the river, discover the Loire islands and maybe even catch a glimpse of the local wildlife. Find out more on the Tours tourist office website here.
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Excursions around Tours
Why not choose the city of Tours as a base from which to expand into the region? The town enjoys a privileged location in the heart of the Loire Valley!
Discover the Châteaux of the Loire
Tours has the advantage of being at the crossroads of several emblematic Loire castles, such as the Château de Villandry (30min to the east) and its breathtaking gardens, or the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau (30min to the west), which we consider one of the most romantic in the Loire Valley! Read our article on Châteaux around Tours.
And don't miss Amboise and its 3 castles.
Follow the itinerary in our article Amboise en 1 jour!
Opt for a wine tour
Located in the Loire Valley, Tours is also proud of its reputation as a wine-growing town. You'll find a varied choice of nectars to accompany your dishes on the restaurant menu. 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.
Explore the surrounding villages
If you're in the mood for a picturesque getaway, you're well advised to choose Tours as your base, as the town is on the doorstep of several listed 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.
What you need to know for your stay 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
HE MADE THE TRIP Manu
