Parking in Nantes

• Parking Nantes (44000) is a garage that’s open from morning to night close to Chateau des ducs de Bretagne, or the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, plus the main shopping district
• Parking Nantes Médiathèque (44000) is set near Cours Cambronne, the Natural History Museum and several riverside museums and monuments
• Zenpark (44000) is a multi-storey car park that’s open 24/7, close to the Arts Museum of Nantes and the Botanical Garden

Key roads in and around Nantes

• D723 is a major arterial road that heads towards the city, and the commune of Rezé, from Nantes airport. In the opposite direction, this road leads to attractions such as Escal’Arbes and the Loire-Atlantique coast
• European route 3 (E3) partially circles the outskirts of Nantes, providing a useful route from Nantes airport to suburban communes such as Orvault and Vertou. Further afield, the E3 leads to Rennes and Normandy
• The A11 autoroute, also known as L’Océane, heads west from Nantes to Angers, Le Mans and Paris

How to get from Nantes airport to Nantes city centre

It takes about 20 minutes to drive the 12km (seven miles) from Nantes airport to the city centre.

1. Leave the car rental car park at Nantes Atlantique Airport and follow the one-way system to the exit
2. Take the third exit at the roundabout to join D85
3. Cross one roundabout, then take the first exit right at a second to join the slip road on to the E3 (Périphérique), heading north-west
4. Take Exit 52a Porte de Bouguenais to join D723
5. Keep left to head straight on Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, then turn left to cross Pont de Pirmil and Pont Général Audibert into central Nantes

How to get from Nantes airport to Cholet

Charming Cholet is just a 50-minute drive from Nantes. Just use the D85 to reach the E3, where you’ll need to turn right. Keep left to continue straight on N844, then turn right on to the E62 (N249). Exit 8 leads into Cholet.

Best places to stay in Nantes

Hôtel Oceania Nantes

Aéroport Nantes Atlantique, 44340, Bouguenais

Located 300m from Nantes airport, Hôtel Oceania Nantes is a four-star with its own heated swimming pool, tennis court and colourful lounges. It features a fitness room, plus business facilities. Choose from rooms designed for comfort or business – there’s free Wi-Fi and a Nespresso machine that’s sure to impress.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Nantes

6 Place Aristide Briand, 44000, Nantes

Radisson Blu Hotel is housed in a neoclassical courthouse, but once inside, the rooms burst with show-stopping modernity. Paintings of famous European landmarks are set against dark walls, and each of the hotel’s 142 hideaways shows something different. Suites sleep up to four adults and come with luxurious details, such as magnifying mirrors and sleep well spray.

SOZO Hotel

16 Rue Frédéric Cailliaud, 44000, Nantes

SOZO captures the spirit of Nantes perfectly with its unusual mix of neon-bright interiors and stained-glass windows. It’s set in a former chapel, featuring rooms with vaulted ceilings. The on-site spa promises to transport guests to ‘heaven on earth’ through its sauna, ice room and range of treatments.

Best restaurants in Nantes

La Cigale

4 Place Graslin, 44000, Nantes

Nantes’ cuisine is rivalled only by the city’s artistic spirit, and at La Cigale, both come together. This 19^th-century fine dining brasserie is noted for its vibrant tiled interior. Drag your eyes away from the gilded walls and enjoy fresh catches from the seafood bar, or sumptuous afternoon tea.

L’U.ni

36 Rue Fouré, 44000, Nantes

This chic eatery experiments with flavour to create experiences you’ll savour. There’s tandoori-spiced veal tagine, citrus-infused monkfish and pink peppercorns introduced subtly into small plates. The flavour-savvy staff are usually happy to help translate the ever-changing menu into English.

Le Lion et L’Agneau

40 rue Foure, 44000, Nantes

This contemporary food bar specialises in elegant and hearty food from south-west France. It’s named after La Fontaine’s fable of the lion and the lamb, and you’ll find suitably brave flavours inside. Think asparagus, duck breast, sheep cheese and sage-baked guinea fowl.

Best things to do in and around Nantes

Castle Ducs de Bretagne

4 Place Marc Elder, 44000, Nantes

No trip to Nantes is complete without visiting a fairy-tale castle, and this 15^th-century Chateau doesn’t disappoint. Inside, there’s a museum detailing the history of Nantes, including exhibitions on the city’s international legacy.

Arts Museum of Nantes

10 Rue Georges Clemenceau, 44000, Nantes

Around 12,000 works stand proudly on display at the Arts Museum of Nantes, covering a wide range of schools from the 13^th century right up to the 21^st. You can see works by the likes of Monet and Picasso here, plus contemporary showcases.

Les Machines de I’Île

Parc des Chantiers, Boulevard Léon Bureau, 44200, Nantes

As one of the quirkiest things to do in Nantes, Les Machines de I’Île makes a great day out for families and the young at heart. Francois Delaroziere and Pierre Orefice teamed up to create this world of mechanical animals. Ride the sea monster carousel and you might notice eclectic influences from Leonardo da Vinci and Nantes’ former shipyards.