Are you planning to spend one day in Nantes and want to make sure you don’t miss the best this city has to offer?
I’ve walked these streets myself and packed this guide with everything you need to know—from the top things to do in Nantes to exactly what to do in Nantes for a day, even if it’s your first time.
Nantes is one of the most populated cities in France, yet it often slips under the radar on classic France itineraries. But since you’ve found your way here, I’m guessing you’re ready to explore a place that’s full of surprises 😉.
Once the largest port in France and a key player in the slave trade, Nantes has gone through dramatic transformations. Today, it’s one of France’s most liveable cities: cosmopolitan, creative, and full of character.
In this post, I’ll walk you through when to visit, how to get around, how many days you might want to stay, and of course, a full step-by-step itinerary to help you plan the perfect day.
I’ll also share where to eat, where to stay, and a few local spots that’ll make your visit feel anything but rushed.
Is Nantes worth visiting?
Nantes might not be the first city that comes to mind when planning a trip to France and that’s okay. It doesn’t have the grandeur of Paris or the medieval charm of cities like Strasbourg or Colmar.
But if you’re looking for a laid-back weekend getaway with a mix of history, creativity, and just the right amount of quirk, then yes Nantes is worth visiting.
One of the city’s most unique highlights is Les Machines de l’Île, an interactive mechanical park that’s especially fun if you’re traveling with kids (or if you’re a kid at heart). The giant elephant alone makes it worth stopping by.
Nantes also works well as an add-on to a trip to Rennes or Mont Saint-Michel, since it’s easily accessible by train or bus. So if you’re already in the region and have a day or two to spare, Nantes can be a refreshing change of pace with enough to keep you curious.
Best time to visit Nantes
Located in the Brittany region, the weather in Nantes can be a bit uncertain. The warmest time of the year and most likely to have good weather is from May to September, so I recommend visiting Nantes at this time.
However, this does not mean that you should not visit Nantes at other times of the year. For example, I visited Nantes in mid-February and, although it was a bit chilly, it was quite sunny.
How many days in Nantes
While there aren’t hundreds of landmarks to tick off, there are enough things to see in Nantes to keep you busy for at least a full day.
I explored the city in just one day and managed to cover the main highlights, but I had to keep a steady pace. If you prefer a slower visit or want to dive deeper into the city’s museums and hidden gems, then spending 2 days in Nantes is a better choice.
How to get to Nantes?
Getting to Nantes is easy, especially if you’re coming from elsewhere in Europe. The city is served by Nantes Atlantique Airport, which offers direct flights to and from many major European cities, including destinations in France, Portugal, the UK, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland.
You don’t have to fly to get to Nantes since there are plenty of ways to reach the city from other parts of France.
One of the most popular options is the high-speed TGV train from Paris, which takes just over 2 hours and is a great choice if you’re combining cities.
In my case, I opted for a more budget-friendly option and took a FlixBus from Rennes, which took around 1h20 and cost only 6€.
How to get from Nantes airport to the city centre?
The simplest and quickest way (except for taxis, of course!) to get from Nantes airport to the city centre is by shuttle bus. The service is available daily and costs 10€ (the ticket can be purchased from the driver). More information.
There are buses every 20 minutes during the week and every 30 minutes on the weekend. There are 3 stations available in the city, which you should choose depending on what is most convenient for you:
- Gare Sud
- Lieu Unique
- Commerce
However, there are other options combining trams and buses:
- bus no 38 to Pirmil + tram no 2 or 3
- bus no 38 to Grenaraie + tram no 4
- bus no 98 to Neustrie + tram no 3
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How to get around Nantes?
Some of the main points of interest in Nantes are far away, which means that it can sometimes be quite useful to use the public transport available in the city.
Single tickets for public transport in Nantes cost 1.80€ when bought from the machines, while a 24-hour pass is available for 6.6€. I went with the 24-hour option, since I had several trips planned and it ended up being more cost-effective than buying individual tickets each time.
Tickets are valid on the entire transport network in the city (including tram, bus and ferry). However, they are not valid on the shuttle bus that runs between the airport and the city centre.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Find out more about the public transport options in Nantes.
How to save some money in Nantes?
Depending on what you plan to visit in Nantes, it may make sense to buy the city pass, which gives free access to various attractions in the city, as well as the public transport network and the shuttle bus from the airport.
In my case, I chose not to buy the Pass Nantes, as it was not worth it for what I was visiting. The best way to know if it’s worth it for you is to add up the cost of the attractions you want to visit and any public transport you’ll need. If the total comes close to or exceeds the pass price, then it might be a good deal.
There are several Pass Nantes options available depending on how long you plan to stay in the city. You can choose between 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or even a full week. To see what’s included and get the most up-to-date details, check the official website.
Accommodation in Nantes
I chose to stay in a relatively centrally located flat – Cosy à Guist’hau. The flat was very spacious and had everything you need for a longer trip (kitchen, dishwasher, washing machine, coffee machine, microwave, …).
Despite being in an older building, it is clearly visible that the flat had been refurbished and was in excellent condition.
However, there are other accommodation options available in Nantes:
Activities & tours in Nantes
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Nantes Tourist Map
Looking for what to see in Nantes at a glance? This tourist map will help you easily spot the city’s main attractions and plan your route efficiently.
📌HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the top left corner to access the various layers of the map. You can select the layers you’re interested in and also find out more about each point of interest by clicking on it in the left-hand sidebar or on the pin on the map. Add the map to your Google Maps by clicking on the star next to the title. To access the map, simply go to Google Maps ‘Saved’ and click on ‘Maps’!
How to spend one day in Nantes
If you only have a day in the city, this Nantes itinerary is designed to help you make the most of it. From historic landmarks to quirky art installations, it covers the best things to do in Nantes while keeping the pace manageable and enjoyable.
» Île de Versailles
This itinerary in Nantes starts at the Île de Versailles, a small island in the river Erdre which passes through Nantes. The island was artificially created in the 19th century and is 1.7 hectares in size.
Originally used by naval carpenters, the island was transformed into a Japanese-style garden in 1983. The island is quite small but worth a visit.
» Botanical Garden
We moved on to another garden, this time a bit bigger. Also known as the Jardin des Plantes, the Botanical Garden is a pleasant space in the city.
On a Monday morning, there were several locals enjoying the sunny winter day that was 🥰. Walking around the garden, we can find some funny figures, making the visit even more fun!
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Admission to the garden is free, with opening times varying according to the time of year. The opening times can be found here.
» Saint-Clément Church
The church of Saint-Clément Church wasn’t even on my original itinerary, but I decided to include it here on the post. Although I entered this church by chance, I thought it is worth a quick visit. It’s the first gothic-style church to be built in Nantes.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Entry into the church is free!
» Castle of the Dukes of Brittany
The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany is a must-visit in Nantes. It is a fortress with 500 metres of ramparts and seven towers, linked together. The castle was built at the end of the 15th century by the last Duke of Brittany.
In fact, one of the activities I most recommend in the castle is walking around the ramparts. Entering through the main door into the walls, just climb the ramparts and follow the directions of the visit.
This is one of the best viewpoints in the city 😍.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The visit to the ramparts of the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany is completely free and can be done any day of the week from 8.30 am to 7 pm (or 8 pm in July and August).
On the premises, you can also visit the Nantes History Museum, which tells the history of the city. However, you need to buy a ticket to visit this part of the castle. The museum is closed on Mondays.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The ticket to visit the museum costs 9€ (+2 € with an audio guide or +4 € with a guided tour), but is free with the Nantes Pass. There are some cheaper tickets for those under 25 years old or the City Museums Pass. You can find the most up-to-date information here.
» Water Mirror
As soon as you leave the Dukes of Brittany Castle, I suggest you visit the Water Mirror, located right in front of the castle. The thin layer of water there creates the ideal conditions for a beautiful photo of the castle reflected in the water.
» Cathedral of Nantes
Built in the 15th century, St. Peter’s Cathedral in Nantes is one of the most important religious monuments in the city.
Unfortunately, the Cathedral suffered a serious fire in July 2020, which caused severe damage. Thus, the building is closed to the public indefinitely while restoration work is carried out.
Anyway, it is still possible to admire part of the exterior of the Cathedral from the street where it is located.
» Sainte-Croix Church and Passage
It’s time to head for another church – Sainte-Croix Church. Built in the 17th century, this is another of the city’s churches. However, there is an important detail: it is in this church that Jules Verne was supposedly baptized in 1828.
Right next to the church, we find the entrance to the Sainte-Croix Passage. It is a covered passage of about 70 metres long. Currently, there are some art exhibitions inside.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Admission to the church is free, and to the passageway as well. However, the passageway is only open from Tuesday to Saturday from 12 pm to 6.30 pm.
» Saint-Nicolas Basilica
The next thing to visit in Nantes is the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas. It is a neo-Gothic style basilica, whose construction began in 1844. However, the site where the basilica was built had already had other religious temples throughout the ages.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Entry to the basilica is free!
» Place Royale, Place du Commerce and Place Graslin
We continue this itinerary towards 3 of the most important squares in the city. Right next to the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas, we find Place Royale. It was designed in the 18th century and its main point of interest is the monumental fountain located in the centre of the square.
Another square is Place du Commerce, where many people gather, as this is the location of one of the main public transport stations in the city.
Finally, we have Place Graslin, where we find the theatre that gives it its name (Graslin Theatre). The theatre is undoubtedly the centre of attention in the square. However, I recommend you also admire the facade of La Cigale.
Of the three squares, I have to admit that my favourite was Place Royale!
» Passage Pommeraye
Passage Pommeraye was, for sure, one of the places I most enjoyed visiting in Nantes 😉. It is a small 19th-century shopping gallery and its name comes from its founder (Louis Pommeraye).
The passage connects two streets (Rue Santeuil and Rue de la Fosse), and there is more than one entrance to the gallery.
Apart from a visit to the various cute shops there, I also suggest going up to the upper floors for the best photo opportunities.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Admission to the Passage Pommeraye is free and opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm. You can check the most up-to-date information here.
» Trentemoult
Even though I didn’t visit this point on the itinerary (the ferry wasn’t operating the day I visited), I decided to include it as I believe it must be quite interesting.
Trentemoult is an area connected to Nantes via a ferry ride. Although the journey between the centre of Nantes and Trentemoult is short, this area of the city is entirely different from the rest of the town. It’s a great place to get lost while admiring the colourful small houses there.
» Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery
Returning to the centre of Nantes, I suggest a brief stop at the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery. Nantes was once one of France’s most important ports for the slave trade during the 18th century.
Thus, this memorial was created in 2012, in order to remember the past and to leave a warning for the future. Next to the river, we can see several plaques reminding us of all the slave ships that departed from Nantes. We can also visit an underground part of the memorial.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Visiting the memorial is free and opening hours are 9 am to 7 pm from 16 May to 15 September and 9 am to 6 pm from 16 September to 14 May. You can find the most up-to-date information here.
» Les Machines de l’Île
It’s time to cross the Anne de Bretagne Bridge to visit another of Nantes’ islands – Île de Nantes. It is on this island that we will find Les Machines de l’Île.
Les Machines de l’Île is an entertainment and exhibition area that opened in 2007. In the place where we can now spend a good few hours enjoying everything this part of Nantes has to offer, there used to be shipyards.
Here we find several (mostly representing animals) robotic machines. The best known is the elephant, where it is possible to travel on its top on a small route on the island.
In my opinion, this part of the itinerary is more suited to those visiting with kids. I can see how some adults might enjoy it too, but it just wasn’t for me. Especially since the only thing you can really do for free is watch the elephant stroll around.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Prices for each activity vary: Elephant ride (12€), Galerie des Machines (12€), Carousel of the Maritime World (12€). However, there are combined tickets for those who want to take part in more than one activity.
💡 EXTRA TIP: The Nantes Pass has many advantages for visiting Les Machines de l’Île. So, if you want to visit this part of Nantes, it may be worth it to buy the Nantes Pass.
» Quai des Antilles
One of the last stops I recommend in Nantes is the Quai des Antilles, a riverside promenade that’s part of the city’s transformation of its former port areas on the Île de Nantes.
It’s a lovely place for a relaxed walk, offering some of the best views of the city center, especially at sunset.
Along the promenade, you’ll spot the iconic Anneaux de Buren, a series of giant rings that light up after dark.
Originally created for a contemporary art festival in 2007, these glowing rings have become a symbol of the area and one of the coolest things to do in Nantes at night.
» Museums
Although I didn’t visit any museums during my trip to Nantes, I wanted to include three of the city’s most important ones in case you’re interested. Here they are:
- Natural History Museum (admission 5 €)
- Jules Verne Museum (admission 3 €)
- Nantes Museum of Arts (admission 9 €)
Restaurants in Nantes
I had the chance to try two restaurants in Nantes, and I genuinely enjoyed both:
- Chez ta Mère (€€): pleasant space and had a daily menu for lunch, although with few dishes available, making it a more accessible option.
- L’Entrecôte (€€€): The restaurant usually has a queue, so it’s best to arrive before it opens (I arrived at 6.50 pm and there were almost 20 tables ahead of me). They only have one dish (entrecôte) that comes served with fries, but it’s really delicious. In addition, the service was very friendly.
Final thoughts on visiting Nantes
Spending one day in Nantes is more than enough to get a feel for the city’s creative energy, charm, and relaxed vibe. Whether you’re following the trail of the Dukes of Brittany, strolling along the river, or watching a mechanical elephant march by, there’s plenty to fill your day.
If you were wondering what to do in Nantes, I hope this itinerary has given you a solid plan and maybe even a few unexpected ideas.
Have you been to Nantes or are you planning a trip soon? I’d love to hear what you’re most excited to see or if you’ve discovered any hidden gems I missed.
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