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City guide

Nantes, France

Nantes is a city in the Loire-Atlantique department of France on the Loire, 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 327,734 in Nantes proper (2023) and a metropolitan area of 1,050,815 inhabitants (2023).

Type CityPopulation 327,734Metro Area Population 1,050,815

Why go

  • Prefecture and commune in Pays de la Loire, France.
  • Served by Saint-Nazaire-Montoir Airport (SNR).

History

Nantes is a city in the Loire-Atlantique department of France on the Loire, 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 327,734 in Nantes proper (2023) and a metropolitan area of 1,050,815 inhabitants (2023). With Saint-Nazaire, a seaport on the Loire estuary, Nantes forms one of the main north-western French metropolitan agglomerations.

Where to stay

9 All. Commandant Charcot, 44000 Nantes, France · chachachahotel.com
Indoor
63 Bis Bd de la Prairie au Duc, 44200 Nantes, France · eklohotels.com
Indoor
9 Rue de Rieux, 44000 Nantes, France · hotels-centre-nantes.fr
Indoor
6 Rue du Roi Albert, 44000 Nantes, France · maisonmaubreuil.com
Indoor
24 Rue Crébillon, 44000 Nantes, France · oceaniahotels.com
Indoor
10 Rue Gresset, 44000 Nantes, France · hotelvoltaireoperanantes.com
Indoor
15 Rue de Strasbourg, 44000 Nantes, France · okkohotels.com
Indoor
16 Rue Frédéric Cailliaud, 44000 Nantes, France · sozohotel.fr
Indoor
3 All. Baco, 44000 Nantes, France · all.accor.com
Indoor
6 Rue Henri IV, 44000 Nantes, France · nanteshotel.com
Indoor
Indoor
50/51 Quai de Malakoff, 44000 Nantes, France · hotel-mercure-nantes.com
Indoor
1 Bd des Martyrs Nantais de la Résistance, 44200 Nantes, France · all.accor.com
Indoor
5 All. Duquesne, 44000 Nantes, France · hotelpetitduquesne.com
Indoor
10 Rue Konrad Adenauer, 44200 Nantes, France · residhotel.com
Indoor
Indoor
7 Rue Saint-Nicolas, 44000 Nantes, France · hotel-saintpatrick.com
Indoor
6 Pl. Aristide Briand, 44000 Nantes, France · radissonhotels.com
Indoor
19 All. Commandant Charcot, 44000 Nantes, France · adagio-city.com
Indoor

Restaurants & places to go

French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su,PH 07:30-00:30 Features: step-free access Wikipedia: fr:La Cigale (brasserie) · lacigale.com
Indoor
Greek, Mediterranean, French, Restaurant · Features: vegetarian options · odeck.fr
Indoor
Restaurant · Features: step-free access · Allée Prosper Mérimée, Esplanade de la Bégraisière, Saint-Herblain, 44800 · hotel-marine.fr
Indoor
Lobster, Seafood, Restaurant · Plats à base de homard bleu breton Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-13:30,19:00-21:30; Su 12:00-13:30 · nantes.lehomardfrites.com
Indoor
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Street food vietnamienne et bubble tea Opening hours: Mo,We-Su 10:00-22:00; Tu off Features: takeaway, vegetarian options, air… · gare-nord.tiktak-restaurant.fr
Indoor
Deli, Cheese, Restaurant · Planches apéros de fromage et/ou charcuterie Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:45-23:00; Th-Sa 17:45-00:00 Features: takeaway, delivery,… · le17-45.fr
Indoor
Argentinian, Fast Food · Empanada bar Opening hours: Tu-Th 09:45-20:00; Mo 10:45-14:30,17:00-19:30; Fr 09:45-21:00; Sa 10:45-15:00,16:00-21:45 Features:… · el-almacen-empanadas.fr
Indoor
Coffee Shop, Brasilian, Cafe · Café et épicerie brésilienne Opening hours: We,Th 09:30-17:00; Fr,Sa 09:30-17:30; Tu 09:00-16:00 Features: takeaway, delivery,… · bahianantes.fr
Indoor
International, Restaurant · Bar à manger. Cuisine bistronomique le midi, assiettes à partager le soir Opening hours: Tu-Th 12:00-14:00,17:30-24:00; Fr… · guindaille.fr
Indoor
Sushi, Restaurant · Sushi artisanal Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-14:00,18:30-21:30; Su 18:00-21:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegan options, reservation… · naniwa-nantes.fr
Indoor
Burger, Chicken, Restaurant · Cuisine de rue ibérique Opening hours: Mo-We 12:00-13:45,19:30-22:00; Th-Fr 12:00-13:45,19:30-22:30 Features: takeaway,… · picota-nantes.com
Indoor
Brasserie, Restaurant · Chai urbain, bar, cave et scène alternative Opening hours: Tu-Fr 12:00-02:00, Sa 16:00-02:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · brasdefernantes.fr
Indoor
Poutine, Restaurant · Restaurant proposant des poutines québecoises (Frites + Sauce brune + fromage). Option végétarienne disponible Opening hours: Tu-Sa… · comptoirapoutine.fr
Indoor
Sandwich, Salad, Fast Food · Streetfood d'inspiration italienne Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:45-14:00, Th 19:30-22:00; Sa 12:00-14:30 Features: takeaway, delivery,… · ezope-restaurant.com
Indoor
Japanese, Restaurant · Brasserie japonaise. Donburi le midi, tapas à la japonaise le soir Opening hours: Mo 12:00-14:00; Tu-Fr 12:00-14:00, 19:00-22:30; Sa… · ichizen.fr
Indoor
Alsatian, Restaurant · Bar à tartes flambées Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:00, 18:00-22:00 Features: vegan options, halal, step-free access · lalsacien.com
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Bar à huitres et comptoir de produits locaux Opening hours: Tu-Fr 18:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-14:30,18:00-23:00; Su 12:00-15:00,18:00-22:00… · la-bourriche-bar-huitre-nantes.metro.rest
Indoor
Crepe, Cafe · Café et boutique autour des photos de Cédric Blondel Opening hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 14:00-18:30 Features: vegetarian options, step-free… · lagruejaune.com
Indoor
Friture, Waffle, Fast Food · Friterie belge, frites fraiches cuites à la graisse de bœuf Opening hours: Tu-Su 11:00-21:00 Features: takeaway · lediablerouge.com
Indoor
Coffe Shop, Cafe · Café, pâtisserie, cantine Opening hours: Tu-Fr 08:30-18:00; Sa 10:00-18:00 Features: takeaway, vegan options, step-free access · lestriplettesdenantes.fr
Indoor
Fried Chicken, French, Cafe · Bistro à boire Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-01:00 Features: vegetarian options · magnum.family
Indoor
Corsican, Restaurant · Délices de Corse et méditerranée Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-15:00,19:00-24:00 Features: takeaway, vegetarian options · maisonpaganelli.com
Indoor
Taiwanese, Restaurant · Thé Oolong et Dim Sum Opening hours: Mo 18:30-21:00; Tu-Sa 11:30-14:00,18:30-21:30 Features: vegan options, step-free access · panierdor.fr
Indoor
Fries, Restaurant · Pommes de terre taillées en bûches cuites dans du gras de bœuf à la belge Opening hours: Tu-Th 12:00-14:00,18:30-22:00; Fr… · pomme-buche.fr
Indoor
Salad, Wrap, Restaurant · Restaurant saladbar Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-14:30 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options, step-free access · saladile.fr
Indoor
Pizza, Fast Food · Possibilité de manger dans les bars : Le Narcisse, Chez les filles et Amère Opening hours: Tu-Th 17:15-21:30; Fr,Sa 17:15-22:30 Features:… · pizzeria-chezgab.fr
Indoor
Moroccan, Restaurant · Couscous, tajines, pastilla Opening hours: Tu-Su 11:00-14:00,17:30-21:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options · oasisexpress.fr
Indoor
Cafe · Café associatif Opening hours: Mo,Th,Fr 11:00-24:00; Tu 11:00-20:00; We 11:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating · laperlecafe.fr
Indoor
Kebab, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-20:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options, step-free access · restaurants.berliner-do.com
Indoor
Bagel, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-18:00; Su 12:00-17:30 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegan options · bagelstein.com
Indoor
Thai, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:30-14:00,18:30-23:00; Fr 18:30-23:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options, halal, air conditioning · ko-yao.fr
Indoor
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:45-15:00,18:45-20:45; Fr 11:45-15:00,18:45-21:00; Sa 11:30-21:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian… · atlantis-nantes.com
Indoor
Snack, Sandwich, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu 16:00-19:30; We-Fr 12:00-14:30,16:00-19:30; Sa 12:00-17:30 Features: takeaway, vegetarian options · cbd-merrys.fr
Indoor
French Tacos, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr 14:00-24:00; Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 12:00-23:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, halal · restaurants.o-tacos.com
Indoor
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo,We-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:30-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian options, halal, step-free access · centre.tiktak-restaurant.fr
Indoor
Waffle, Salad, Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 10:30-19:00 Features: takeaway · waffnroll.fr
Indoor
Ice Cream, Ice Cream · Opening hours: Mo-Th 10:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-24:00; Su 10:00-23:00 Features: step-free access · amorino.com
Indoor
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:30-14:30,18:30-21:30; Fr 11:30-14:30,18:30-22:00; Sa 11:30-22:30; Su 11:30-21:30 · Route de Vannes · buffalo-grill.fr
Indoor
Brunch, French, Caribean, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa,Su 11:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, vegetarian options · edengardenrestaurants.com
Indoor
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-23:00, Fr,Sa 11:00-24:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, step-free access · 6 Rue des Cochardières,… · kfc.fr
Indoor
Poke, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:30 Features: takeaway, vegan options · Boulevard Salvador Allende, Saint-Herblain, 44800 · restaurants.pokawa.com
Indoor
Lebanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu,Th 12:00-14:00,19:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-15:00,19:00-22:30; Su 19:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegetarian… · le-comptoir-libanais-restaurant-nantes.eatbu.com
Indoor
Bistro, French, Cafe · Opening hours: Tu,We 09:00-17:00; Th,Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-16:00 · leslapinsdelabutte.com
Indoor
Korean, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Sa 12:00-13:00,19:00-21:00; Tu 19:00-21:00 Features: vegan options · oneul.odoo.com
Indoor
British, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-24:00, Su 10:30-17:30 Features: vegetarian options · pilgrimrestaurant-nantes.com
Indoor

353 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) 8.3 km to the centre
Nantes, PDL, FR — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 19 airlines (VOLOTEA Airways, Air France, Transavia France, Airlinair…) · direct flights to 55 destinations incl. Rome, Ajaccio, Bastia, Djerba, Lyon… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 19 airlines, 55 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Saint-Nazaire-Montoir Airport (SNR) 46 km to the centre
Saint-Nazaire/Montoir, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
La Roche-sur-Yon Les Ajoncs Airport (EDM) 59 km to the centre
La Roche-sur-Yon, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
La Baule-Escoublac Airport (LBY) 60 km to the centre
La Baule-Escoublac, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Île d'Yeu Airport (IDY) 84 km to the centre
Île d'Yeu, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Ancenis Airfield 36 km to the centre
Ancenis, PDL, FR
Outdoor

Regional airports

Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.

Rennes-Saint-Jacques Airport (RNS) 95 km to the centre
Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, Ille-et-Vilaine, BRE, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 7 airlines (Air France, Airlinair, Flybe, Alitalia…) · direct flights to 9 destinations incl. Barcelona, Exeter, Paris, Southampton, Bordeaux… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 95 km from Nantes · Air France, Airlinair, Flybe · Getting around Rennes →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 7 airlines, 9 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Gare Maritime
Ferry terminal · 1.8 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Hangar à Bananes
Ferry terminal · 2.5 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Port Boyer
Ferry terminal · 2.7 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Petit Port Facultés
Ferry terminal · 2.8 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Trentemoult Roquios
Ferry terminal · 3.2 km from the centre
Outdoor
Bas-Chantenay
Ferry terminal · 3.5 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Navibus
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Port Boyer - Petit Port Facultés
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N3 Port Boyer → Petit Port - Facultés
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N3 Petit Port - Facultés → Port Boyer
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Navibus Loire
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N2 Trentemoult Sablières → Hangar à Bananes
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N2 Hangar à Bananes → Trentemoult Sablières
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N1 Gare Maritime → Trentemoult Sablières
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Saint-Nazaire-Montoir Airport (SNR); 25 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: NTE has direct flights to 55 destinations on 19 airlines (incl. Rome, Ajaccio, Bastia, Djerba, Lyon…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Gare Maritime, 1.8 km); routes include Navibus, Port Boyer - Petit Port Facultés, N3 Port Boyer → Petit Port - Facultés.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Nantes, France. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing