The short version
- The fastest TGV from Paris Gare de l’Est takes 1 hour 31 minutes, with about 14 trains a day and fares from €22.
- Place Stanislas is a 5-minute walk from the station. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983, together with Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance.
- The Musée des Beaux-Arts on the square is €10 or €7.50, depending on the exhibitions, and closed on Tuesday. It is free under 26 and on the first Sunday of the month.
- The Musée de l’École de Nancy, the Art Nouveau museum, is €7.50 and open Wednesday to Sunday.
- The Villa Majorelle is under restoration until late 2028. Only the ground floor is open now, and you book a time slot online.
- The Saint-Nicolas festival runs November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with the big parade on Saturday, December 5.
What to see
Start on Place Stanislas, built between 1752 and 1756 by the architect Emmanuel Héré for Stanislas, the last duke of Lorraine. Jean Lamour made the gilded iron gates in its corners. Walk through the Arc Héré to the tree-lined Place de la Carrière.
Visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts on the square for its paintings and about 300 pieces of Daum glass, shown in the old city fortifications. A Yayoi Kusama mirror room is on the ground floor.
Go to the Musée de l’École de Nancy for the furniture, glass and rooms of the Art Nouveau movement that started here. The garden is free. A combined ticket with the Villa Majorelle is €9.
The Villa Majorelle, built in 1901 and 1902 for the furniture maker Louis Majorelle, was the first Art Nouveau house in Nancy. Until April 3, 2027 there are no guided tours, and only the ground floor is open.
The tourist office’s Art Nouveau walk takes about two and a half hours past the town’s best buildings. The Musée lorrain in the dukes’ palace is closed for renovation, with no reopening date.
Getting there and around
TGVs leave Paris Gare de l’Est for Nancy station, in the center. Some stop instead at Lorraine TGV station, linked to Nancy by shuttle bus, so check the arrival station when you book.
The nearest airport, Metz-Nancy-Lorraine, is 45 kilometers away and has no flights from Paris.
The center is all on foot. For the Art Nouveau museums, take the Stan buses: €1.80 a trip, €2 from the driver, or €5 for 24 hours.
When to go
The Saint-Nicolas festival is the big season: 45 days from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, with the parade on December 5 and light shows on Place Stanislas.
In summer, the square is lit with a video show in the evenings, from mid-June to mid-September.
Winters are cold, with frost and some snow. Plan around the closures: the Beaux-Arts on Tuesday, and the Art Nouveau museum and the Villa Majorelle on Monday and Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nancy a good day trip from Paris?
Yes. The fastest TGV takes 1 hour 31 minutes, and Place Stanislas is a 5-minute walk from the station. Go Wednesday to Sunday if you want the Art Nouveau museum.
Can you visit the Villa Majorelle?
Yes, but book a time slot online first. It is open Wednesday to Sunday afternoons. Restoration runs until late 2028, so only the ground floor is open, and guided tours are suspended until April 3, 2027.
When is the Saint-Nicolas festival in Nancy?
From November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The main parade is on Saturday, December 5, and Place Stanislas has a light show throughout the festival.
What should I eat in Nancy?
Order quiche lorraine, which comes from this region. Try mirabelle plums in late summer, bergamotes, the clear bergamot sweets, and the flat, cracked macarons de Nancy.
Is there a tour nearby?
Yes, in Strasbourg, the next region east. Our Strasbourg day trip from Paris meets at the Strasbourg tourist office for a private guided walk of the old town, the cathedral and the canals, with four tastings and an Alsatian lunch. It runs all year, four guests minimum, and in December the walk goes through the Christmas markets.
Our Most Popular Day Trips From Paris
Louvre, Montmartre and Notre Dame in eight hours with a private driver-guide.
