The short version
- TGVs from Paris Montparnasse reach Nantes in 1 hour 57 minutes at the fastest, with 23 trains a day, nearly all direct. OUIGO Train Classique fares start at €10.
- The Grand Éléphant gives rides every day until November 1, 2026, then stops for maintenance until the end of February 2027. Tickets are €12 for each attraction, sold for the same day only.
- The château courtyard and ramparts are free. The history museum inside is €9 and closed on Monday.
- The cathedral, damaged by arson in 2020, partly reopened in September 2025. It is free and open daily from 9:00 to 19:00; the crypts are closed.
- The Pass Nantes, from €30 for 24 hours, covers the museums, the château, the Galerie des Machines, the Carrousel and public transport, but not the elephant ride.
- Until November 1, 2026, tram lines 2 and 3 are cut between Hôtel Dieu and 8 Mai, with replacement buses.
What to see
Start at Les Machines de l’île in the old shipyards on the Île de Nantes. Ride the Grand Éléphant, then see the creatures in the Galerie des Machines and the Carrousel des Mondes Marins. Some elephant rides can be booked online; strong wind or heat can cancel them at short notice.
Walk the ramparts of the Château des ducs de Bretagne, the 15th-century castle of the Dukes of Brittany, for free, and go inside for the museum of Nantes history. It is free under 18 with a booked time slot, and free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month except in July and August.
See the Gothic Cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, set on fire in July 2020 and partly reopened in 2025. The great organ was destroyed, the west front is under scaffolding, and the tomb of François II is under restoration.
Follow the green line painted on the pavement, about 22 kilometers past the city’s sights and more than 120 works of art in its streets. In the center, step into the Passage Pommeraye, a covered shopping arcade from 1843 on three levels, decorated with sculpted figures.
Go to the Marché de Talensac, the main covered food market, open every morning except Monday.
Getting there and around
Most trains leave from Paris Montparnasse and some from Paris Austerlitz, so check the station when you book. There are also flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Nantes Atlantique.
From the airport, the shuttle takes about 20 minutes to the station for €10, every 20 minutes from April to October and every 30 minutes from November to March. The ticket also works for an hour on the trams and buses.
Trams, buses and the Navibus river boats take the same tickets: €1.80 for an hour, €6.80 for 24 hours, or €15 for 24 hours for four people. Tram 1 stops at Duchesse Anne, a minute from the château, and at Chantiers Navals, four minutes’ walk from the Machines.
The Pont Anne-de-Bretagne is closed to cars until about November 2026 but open to people on foot and on bikes.
When to go
July averages a high of about 25°C and January about 9°C. October to January is the wettest stretch.
Every summer, Le Voyage à Nantes adds new works of art to the streets, and the château museum opens daily in July and August.
In winter, the elephant rests from November 2 to the end of February, and the airport shuttle runs every 30 minutes. La Folle Journée, a classical music festival, runs January 27 to 31, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from Paris to Nantes?
1 hour 57 minutes at the fastest, from Paris Montparnasse. Nearly all of the 23 daily trains are direct, and OUIGO Train Classique fares start at €10.
Can you ride the elephant in Nantes in winter?
No. The Grand Éléphant stops for maintenance from November 2, 2026 to the end of February 2027. Until November 1 it runs every day from 10:15 to 18:45, about every 45 minutes.
Is the château in Nantes free?
The courtyard and ramparts are free every day. The museum inside is €9, free under 18 with a booked time slot, and free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month except in July and August.
What should I eat in Nantes?
Order Loire fish with beurre blanc, the butter, shallot and white wine sauce from this area, and drink a Muscadet. Buy LU Petit-Beurre biscuits, created in Nantes in 1886, and a slice of gâteau nantais, an almond and rum cake.
Is there a tour I can add?
Yes, up the Loire. Our Loire Valley tour meets at the tourist office by Tours station for Chambord and Chenonceau, with lunch and Loire wines at the Château de Villesavin, eight guests at most, Tuesday to Sunday from April to October.
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