Would you like to visit Tours in winter? It's an excellent idea, as the pretty town is elegantly dressed in its winter coat. If you're looking for authenticity and peace and quiet, you'll love discovering Vieux-Tours away from the crowds, visiting its heritage treasures and strolling along the Loire despite the cold!
In this article, we'll give you all our tips for discovering this city in winter: activities, weather, temperatures... And also some information for spending Christmas or New Year's Eve here.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Visiting Tours in winter: is it worth it?
Our review
The answer is yes! Visiting Tours in winter is well worth the effort. As well as keeping the various heritage sites open, the city comes alive for the festive season! Streets and stores light up, and Christmas markets display tasty local produce and beautiful works of art. Find unique gifts for your family! Finally, Tours is centrally located in the Loire Valley, making it easy to organize a visit to the surrounding Châteaux de la Loire.
Benefits
- Museums, galleries and historic sites all remain open.
- Hotels are less expensive outside Christmas and New Year's Day.
- New events take place this season.
- The atmosphere is festive, all lights and decorations.
- The region's winter cuisine is full of flavour!
Disadvantages
- The weather is less clement: risk of rain and wind.
- Reduced opening hours for tourist attractions.
- Strolls through the city's gardens and surrounding villages are less bucolic without the flowering vegetation.
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
Weather, temperatures and conditions
In winter, the average temperature in Tours is around 6°C. Bring warm clothes and a good coat. It can rain intermittently, but you can also have beautiful sunny days. As the days are shorter, it's a good idea to take a morning stroll and visit sites where architecture is important!
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.
Things to do in Tours in winter
Discover cultural sites in a new light
There are so many monuments to visit in Tours in winter! Among other things, you can:
- Admire the magnificent stained glass windows of the Cathédrale Saint-Gatien,
- Contemplate the diverse works of art in the Musée des Beaux-Arts,
- Detail the contemporary photographs exhibited at the Château de Tours,
- Bubble in the library and café of the Centre Olivier Debré CCC OD.
Find out more about the city's treasures in our article Things to do in Tours!
And don't forget that tourist attractions in Tours organize a wide range of activities for children during the winter vacations:
- The Musée du compagnonnage: offers a playful tour of its permanent collections, and organizes themed tours (around the coat of arms or travel for 7-10 year olds) or storytelling tours (linked to trades and crafts (for 3-6 year olds).
- Le Prieuré Saint-Cosme: offers a wide range of events and workshops, from candle-making to storytelling. See our dedicated article here.
And if your children like immersive visits, they'll be delighted with the Natural History Museum, the Aquarium of Touraine or the Royal Fortress of Chinon, where you can visit using a Histopad to recreate the settings of yesteryear.
Marvel at the magic of Christmas in the Châteaux of the Loire Valley
The city of Tours is perfectly situated for a tour of the Loire Valley castles. Especially since Christmas is an ideal time for lovers of enchantment. Many castles are lit up with twinkling garlands and festive decorations to create an enchanting atmosphere. We particularly recommend
- The Château de Villandry for its plant decorations in the salons, which complement the design of the terraced gardens, designed to be magnificent even in winter!
- The Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, which each year invites a different artist to magically set the scene.
- The Château d'Ussé, where the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty comes to life all year round! The estate is also celebrating Halloween with large pumpkins in the garden and a candy hunt!
To find out more about Operation Christmas in castle country, click here.
Would you like to see two of the Loire Valley's most iconic châteaux in all their glory? Book a combined tour of Chambord and Chenonceau: See prices and availability.
Enjoy a gourmet winter
There's nothing like a comforting meal to take your mind off the winter chill! You're sure to find what you're looking for among Tours' many friendly restaurants. Look out for our article on the best restaurants in Tours very soon. Don't forget to visit Les Halles (website here). In addition to a host of enthusiastic retailers, you'll find exhibitions, discovery workshops and tastings.
Wine lovers will not be outdone in Tours, which boasts several fine wine cellars.
Looking for an original wine experience ? Château de Valmer is offering an "open cellar" weekend in December, with tours, tastings and Christmas market stalls.
You can also choose to visit Saumur, where oenology takes center stage, even in winter.
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
How do I get to Tours?
Even if Tours is accessible by train(see available timetables and book your train tickets now), we recommend that you drive there in winter! Traffic is less congested, parking is easier and you'll be able to explore the various castles more freely. Tours is well served by a number of freeways: the A10 (between Paris and Bordeaux), the A28 (between Rouen and Tours) and the A85 (between Nantes and Bourges).
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Christmas in Tours
From November 25, Tours will be decked out in lights! Streets, churches and shops are decked out in lights. The city is also alive with Christmas markets! You'll find local and artisanal products, and plenty of gift ideas. Find out more here.
New Year's Eve in Tours
With its reputation for dynamism and conviviality, Tours is a great place to celebrate New Year's Eve. The festive atmosphere will be in evidence in the various restaurants, which will treat you to a special menu with tastings of fine wines to celebrate the occasion.
For more party inspiration, check out the official website here.
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
HE MADE THE TRIP Manu
