Stay near castles, in the countryside, in a barrel, or by the river? There's plenty to choose from around the Loire castles for an unforgettable stay.
Discover our selection of the best places to discover the Loire Valley (according to your criteria) and some of our favorite hotels.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Map and quick answers - where to stay in the Loire Valley
If you don't want to read the whole article, here are our quick answers.
In the remainder of this article, we detail each destination, including hotel options.
Best areas according to your criteria
Here are the cities we recommend according to your criteria, and below you'll find our descriptions of these cities and the hotels we recommend.
Where to go to see the most famous castles (Chambord and Chenonceau):
Blois - see top rated accommodations
Amboise - see best rated accommodations
The most central city for visiting as many castles as possible:
Tours - see top rated accommodations
Where to go for a great variety of activities including castles:
Saumur - see top rated accommodations
Angers - see top rated accommodations
Where to go with the family:
Amboise (with château) - see top rated accommodations
or Nantes (without castles) - see top-rated accommodations
Where to go for peace and quiet:
Azay-le-Rideau or all the beautiful hotels in the countryside.
Where to go for a romantic break in the Loire Valley:
Saumur - see top rated accommodations
Amboise - see best rated accommodations
Azay-le-Rideau - see best rated accommodations
Map of the best towns to go to in the Loire Valley
To help you find your way around, here's a map showing the towns and some of the castles.
For journey times:
- Nantes to Angers = 1h10 drive
- Angers to saumur = 1h drive
- Saumur to Tours = 1h drive
- Tours to Amboise = 30 min drive
- Amboise to Blois = 35 min drive
- Blois to Orléans = 1h drive
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.
Where to stay to see the Loire castles? Best hotels
Here are some of our favorite hotels.
Luxury hotels
- Fleur de Loire Hotel, Blois
With a superb view of the city
See prices, pictures and availability - Hôtel Les Trésorières, Tours
5 stars with a soothing ambience
See prices, pictures and availability - Hôtel Le Manoir des Minimes, Amboise
5-star 18th-century residence overlooking the royal castle
See prices, pictures and availability
Sleeping in a castle
- Château de Chissay, near Chenonceau
We loved the atmosphere!
See prices, pictures and availability - Château du Rivau, between Saumur and Tours
A real trip back in time
See prices, pictures and availability
See our article on sleeping in a château in the Loire Valley.
Charming hotels
- Hôtel Saint Pierre, Saumur
A historic stay, full of charm
See prices, pictures and availability - Hotel Le Manoir Saint Thomas, Amboise
Boutique-hotel surrounded by beautiful parkland
See prices, pictures and availability
Unusual hotels
- Hôtel L'Oisellerie, Angers
A historic and atypical stay. A unique experience
See prices, pictures and availability - Hotel Troglododo, in Azay-le-Rideau
Rooms carved out of the rock
See prices, pictures and availability - Domaine "Les Joly Foudres", near Saumur
To sleep in a barrel!
See prices, pictures and availability
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
Destination 1: Amboise
Why stay in Amboise
Amboise concentrates no less than 3 castles in its downtown area! The royal castle overlooking the city, the Clos Lucé, where the Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life, but also the surprising Château Gaillard and its citrus collection.
The city, although tourist, is not limited to an open-air museum. You will find beautiful tables, nice tea rooms and food shops (cheese factory, coffee roaster, local products...) that will allow you to enrich your pallet!
Attractions in the city
- The banks of the Loire
- The old town and the clock tower
- The Royal Château of Amboise
- Le Clos Lucé (château museum of Leonardo da Vinci)
- Miniature castle park
- The Chanteloup pagoda
- Wine cellars
See all the best attractions in Amboise (coming soon).
Nearby castles
Less than 1 hour's drive away, you'll find, among others:
- Château de Chenonceau - Book yourticket
- Castle of Valençay
- Château de Chambord - Book your guided tour ticket
- Castle of Blois
- Chaumont-sur-Loire Castle
- Castle of Cheverny
See our selection of all the best castles around Amboise.
Where to stay in Amboise
We recommend..:
Hôtel Au Charme Rabelaisien: overlooking the royal chateau of Amboise, in a tastefully decorated and truly soothing setting.
See prices, pictures and availability
Hôtel Le Manoir Saint Thomas: boutique hotel surrounded by beautiful parkland
See prices, pictures and availability
Hôtel Le Manoir des Minimes: 5-star 18th-century residence overlooking the royal castle
See prices, pictures and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Amboise.
Destination 2: Saumur
Why stay in Saumur
For us, it's the most traditional of Loire-side towns. Under the benevolent protection of its castle, it lets the royal river flow majestically through its heart, licking the buildings of the cavalry school that still trains the officers of the French army's armored units.
It's a pleasure to stroll through the small, pedestrian-only town center and walk up to the castle.
Attractions in the city
Many different attractions in this city
- Château de Saumur and its museums
- Vineyards and troglodytic caves
- The prestigious "Le Cadre Noir" riding school
- The armoured museum
- Distillerie Combier
- The mushroom museum
- ...
See all the best attractions in Saumur.
Nearby Loire castles
Less than 1 hour's drive away, you'll find, among others:
- Château de Brissac
- Château d'Angers and its Tapestry
- Château d'Ussé
- Château du Rivau (castle and gardens)
- Château d'Azay-le-Rideau - Book your ticket
- Château de Villandry - Book your ticket
See our selection of the best châteaux around Saumur.
Where to stay in Saumur
We recommend..:
Hôtel Saint Pierre - a historic stay, full of charm
See prices, pictures and availability
Hôtel Château La Marquise: a beautiful building with swimming pool and sumptuous staircase
See prices, pictures and availability
Hôtel Anne d'Anjou: overlooking the river and château
See prices, pictures and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Saumur.
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:
Destination 3: Tours
Why stay in Tours
In our opinion, the city of Tours is a good spot to visit the castles of the Loire. Very accessible from Paris in 1 hour by TGV, it is less than an hour away from the great names of the Loire (Chambord, Chenonceaux, Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau...).
The city is booming, driven by the arrival of many Parisians, eager to enjoy a preserved living environment. This new dynamism is felt throughout the city and allows us to expand the range of activities to discover!
Attractions in the city
- Stroll through the old town with its half-timbered houses
- Cycling or walking along the Loire
- Saint-Gatien Cathedral
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Castle museum
- Museum of Campagnonage
- Traditional boat trip on the Loire
- Saint-Côme Priory...
See all the best attractions in Tours (coming soon).
Nearby castles
Less than 1 hour's drive away, you'll find, among others:
- Château de Chenonceau - Book your ticket
- Château de Chambord - Book your guided tour ticket
- Château d'Ussé
- Château du Rivau (castle and gardens)
- Château d'Azay-le-Rideau - Book your ticket
- Château de Villandry - Book your ticket
- Château d'Amboise
- Château du Clos Lucé
See our selection of the best castles around Tours.
Where to stay in Tours
We recommend..:
Hotel Ferdinand with character
See prices, pictures and availability
Hotel Les Trésorières: 5 stars with a soothing ambience
See prices, pictures and availability
Hôtel du Cygne: a welcoming boutique hotel
See prices, pictures and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Tours.
Destination 4: Blois
Why stay in Blois
The town of Blois has an incredible charm: a remarkable architecture that blends monumental heritage with small streets full of character and historic houses, a peaceful way of life but not a sleepy town for all that, a town built around the Loire and which offers it a magnificent setting.
The castle of Blois is among the richest of the Loire Valley. Accessible by train from Paris, it offers an immersion in the great history of the French Renaissance, its architectural follies, the opulence of its way of life, its links with artists...
The fact that one of the most emblematic French ministers of culture was mayor of the city for many years, translates a form of continuity through the centuries! Blois succeeds in being a city of yesterday and today!
Attractions in the city
- Views of the city from the banks of the Loire River
- The Royal Castle with its richly furnished interiors
- The old town with its half-timbered houses
- Views from the bishop's garden
- The Museum of Magic
- The cathedral
See all the best attractions in Blois (coming soon).
Nearby castles
Less than 1 hour's drive away, you'll find, among others:
- Château de Chenonceau - Book your ticket
- Château de Chambord - Book your guided tour ticket
- Castle of Valençay
- Château de Blois - Book your ticket
- Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire - Book your ticket
- Castle of Cheverny
See our selection of the best châteaux around Blois.
Where to stay in Blois
We recommend..:
Hôtel Fleur de Loire: luxury hotel with superb city views
See prices, pictures and availability
Hôtel Château des Basses Roches: beautiful building in a park, in a quiet location
See prices, pictures and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Blois.
Destination 5: In the countryside, châteaux-hotels or charming houses
Why stay in the countryside
Instead of staying in a city, why not take the experience a step further, and experience timeless moments in magnificent castles or buildings in the countryside.
What binds us to these centuries-old stone palaces is indefinable. We feel both respect for the genius of their builders and humility in the face of places that will outlive us all.
Châteaux-hotels
We recommend, for example:
- Hotel Château du Rivau, between Saumur and Tours
See prices, photos and availability - Hotel Château de Chissay, near Chenonceaux
See prices, photos and availability - Hôtel Château des Forges, north of Angers
See prices, photos and availability - Hotel Château de Ternay, south of Saumur
See prices, photos and availability - Hotel Château de Perreux, near Amboise
See prices, photos and availability
Read our article dedicated to our nights in the Loire castles.
Other charming buildings
We recommend, for example:
- Hôtel Le Pigeonnier de la Farge, between Blois and Orléans
See prices, pictures and availability - Hotel Le Moulin de Francueil, near Chenonceaux
See prices, pictures and availability - Hôtel Les Sources de Cheverny, not far from Blois
See prices, pictures and availability - Hôtel de l'Abbaye de Fontevraud, between Saumur and Angers
See prices, pictures and availability
Destination 6: Angers
Why stay in Angers
Much wiser than its neighbor Nantes, Angers has made the sweetness of life its signature. Along the Loire River and crossed by the Maine River, Angers is a city wherenature and water sculpt the city.
High place of thehistory of the powerful County of Anjou, we like the attention paid to the remarkable heritage, of yesterday... and tomorrow!
Attractions in the city
- Charming downtown
- The Château d'Angers and its Tapestry
- The Cathedral
- The David d'Angers Museum
- Terra Botanica and its magnificent plants
- The banks of the Maine
See all the best attractions in Angers (coming soon).
Nearby castles
Less than 1 hour's drive away, you'll find, among others:
- Castle of Serrant
- Château de Brissac
- Castle of Saumur
See our selection of the best châteaux around Angers.
Where to stay in Angers
We recommend..:
Hôtel L'Oisellerie, a historic and atypical stay. A unique experience
See prices, pictures and availability
Hôte 21, Foch for a modern stay
See prices, pictures and availability
Hotel Château des Forges, quiet on the outskirts of town
See prices, pictures and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Angers (coming soon).
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Angers.
Destination 7: Azay-le-Rideau
Why stay in Azay-le-Rideau
Azay-le-Rideau is a charming destination, especially famous for its magnificent Renaissance château.
It's a much smaller town, with a peaceful and very romantic atmosphere.
It offers a convenient location, and the advantages of a small tourist town: easy access and a few good restaurants.
Attractions in the city
- Château d'Azay-le-rideau - Book your ticket
- Enjoy the peace and quiet
- Goupillières Troglodytic Valley
- Castle of Islette
Nearby castles
Less than 1 hour's drive away, you'll find, among others:
Where to stay in Azay-le-Rideau
We recommend..:
Hotel À l'Ombre d'Azay-le-Rideau, with a very pleasant atmosphere
See prices, pictures and availability
Hotel Troglododo, rooms carved out of the rock
See prices, pictures and availability
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Destination 8: Nantes (further from the castles)
Why stay in Nantes
If you're not looking for the Loire castles, but a dynamic destination with lots of museums, Nantes is for you.
Swept by the winds of the Atlantic, surrounded by the arms of the Loire, it is for us, the dynamic and resolutely creative city of the Loire!
Located at themouth of the Loire River, Nantes is the most attractive city in western France. It is a city marked by its port past, but which has been able to turn towards the new millennium by investing heavily in culture and digital technology.
Attractions in the city
- The Nantes elephant and machines
- Nantes Castle
- The Cathedral
- Extraordinary gardens
- The Musée des Beaux-Arts, magnificent!
See all the best attractions in Nantes.
Distance to castles
- Château d'Angers and its Tapestry: 1h10 drive
- Château de Saumur: 1h45 drive
- Château de Serrant: 1h drive
- Château de Brissac: 1h20 drive
See our selection of the best châteaux around Nantes.
Where to stay in Nantes
We recommend..:
Sozo Hotel: Stay in a19th-century chapel
See prices and availability
Hotel Okko, centrally located and modern
See prices, pictures and availability
Hôtel Coeur de Loire: classic and charming
See prices, pictures and availability
See our article on the best hotels in Nantes.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Most beautiful city along the Loire
In our opinion, the most beautiful towns along the Loire are Saumur and Blois.
But they all have their own special character and charm.
See our article on towns along the Loire.
Amboise, Tours or Blois
Choose between the 3 cities:
Tours, if you want a central location to see as many castles as possible
Amboise, if you want a charming little town that's easy to get around in
Blois, if you want to be as close as possible to the best-known châteaux
See our comparative article (coming soon).
How many days should you allow to visit the châteaux of the Loire Valley?
There are over 3,000 châteaux in the Loire Valley, so several years...
To see the most famous, allow 3 days.
But if you want to see a wide variety of castles and charming places, you'll need at least a week.
See our itineraries: 3 days - 1 week (coming soon).
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
