Nantes, France: travel guide
Mechanical elephants, a ducal castle and creativity on the Loire
The creative capital of western France and former ducal seat of Brittany — a sprawling, innovative city on the Loire estuary that blends industrial heritage with world-class contemporary art.
About Nantes
Nantes sits on the Loire in western France, a former seat of the Dukes of Brittany that has reinvented itself as a creative, easygoing city. Its castle, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, anchors the old centre, while the former shipyards on the Île de Nantes hold some of its most original attractions.
Things to do in Nantes include riding the giant mechanical elephant at Les Machines de l'Île, exploring the cathedral and castle, browsing the Passage Pommeraye shopping arcade and following the green line of public art that runs through town. It also makes a good base for the Loire valley and the Atlantic coast.
Nantes suits curious travellers who prefer a lived-in city to a monument circuit. Late spring through early autumn is a comfortable time to visit.
- Country
- France
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Paris
- Nearest airport
- NTE
Last updated
Top places to visit in Nantes
Nantes Big Elephant Machine Ride
mechanical-elephant · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Grand Éléphant of the Machines de l'Île — riding the iconic 12-metre tall, 50-ton mechanical elephant that walks through the former shipyards, the most spectacular attraction in Nantes.
Nantes Brittany Day Trip Cancale
breton-coast · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Nantes to coastal Brittany — visiting the spectacular Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint-Malo's walled city, and the famous Cancale oyster beds along the Brittany coast.
Nantes Castle Dukes Brittany
dukes-castle · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · entry €9 (≈ ₹960)
The Château des Ducs de Bretagne — Nantes' spectacular medieval-Renaissance castle of the Dukes of Brittany, with the magnificent Musée d'histoire de Nantes, and the historic ramparts walk.
Les Machines de l'Île Nantes
mechanical art installation · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The most extraordinary artistic installation in France — mechanical creatures built on the former Île de Nantes shipbuilding site. The Grand Éléphant (12 m, carries 49 passengers) is the centrepiece. The Carrousel des Mondes Marins…
Château des Ducs de Bretagne Nantes
medieval castle · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
A massive 15th-century castle in the heart of Nantes, seat of the Dukes of Brittany and site of the 1598 Edict of Nantes. The Nantes History Museum inside covers the city's complex past including its 18th-century slave-trading history. The…
Nantes Passage Pommeraye
shopping-arcade · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Passage Pommeraye — the spectacular 19th-century covered shopping arcade with three levels connected by ornate staircases, an architectural masterpiece featured in Jacques Demy's films.
Nantes Jardin des Plantes
botanical-garden · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Jardin des Plantes — Nantes' magnificent 18th-century botanical garden, one of France's four major botanical gardens, with the Magnolia grandiflora (the oldest in France), the spectacular greenhouses.
Nantes Île de Nantes Industrial
industrial-quarter · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Île de Nantes — the former shipyard island transformed into a major cultural and creative quarter, with the famous Machines de l'Île, the historic Cantine du Voyage, and the artistic Loire riverside.
Nantes Place Royale
main-square · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Place Royale — Nantes' elegant central square with the historic 1790s fountain depicting the Loire and its tributaries, the spectacular neoclassical buildings, and the central meeting point.
Nantes La Cigale Brasserie
belle-epoque-restaurant · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
La Cigale Brasserie — the spectacular 1895 Belle Époque brasserie with the most elaborate Art Nouveau interior in France, the colourful ceramic tiles, the painted ceilings, and the historic Nantais culinary heritage.
Nantes Voyage Surprise
art-route · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
Le Voyage à Nantes — the spectacular annual art route (summer) marked with a green line on the ground, taking visitors through the city's contemporary art installations and architectural surprises.
Nantes Bouffay Old Quarter
medieval-quarter · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Bouffay Old Quarter — Nantes' spectacular medieval district with the historic half-timbered houses, the lively bars and restaurants, the famous Place du Bouffay, and the heart of old Nantes nightlife.
Things to do
- Les Machines de l'Île — Giant Elephant & Carrousel Attraction · 2 h · from EUR 32 per person
Day trips and tours
- Guerande Salt Marshes and La Baule Day Trip 9 h · from EUR 50
Where to stay in Nantes
- Centre-Ville & Île de Nantes about EUR 130 per night
Nantes' compact centre around the Château des Ducs de Bretagne and the spectacular Machines de l'Île on the former shipbuilding island — ideal for short stays.
Hotels
- Radisson Blu Hotel Nantes 4-star · EUR 180 to EUR 480 per night
- Hôtel Pommeraye 4-star · EUR 135 to EUR 245 per night
- Auberge de Jeunesse Nantes Mangin-Beaulieu (HI) 2-star · EUR 20 to EUR 70 per night
Where to eat
- La Cigale french, brasserie, seafood · about EUR 40 per person
- Crêperie Heb Ken breton, french · about EUR 14 per person
- L'Atlantide 1874 french, fine_dining, loire · about EUR 120 per person
Getting to Nantes
Airport: Nantes (NTE)
Getting around
- Tram
- Walking
More in France
Frequently asked questions about Nantes
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Nantes?
- The highest-rated places in our Nantes guide are Nantes Big Elephant Machine Ride, Nantes Brittany Day Trip Cancale, Les Machines de l'Île Nantes, Nantes Voyage Surprise, Nantes Castle Dukes Brittany.
- Where should I stay in Nantes?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Nantes: Centre-Ville & Île de Nantes.
- How do I get around Nantes?
- Ways to get around Nantes covered in our guide: Tram, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Nantes?
- The nearest airport to Nantes has the code NTE.