Best places to stay in Nantes
Oceania Hôtel de France Nantes
24 Rue Crébillon, 44000 Nantes
This four-star hotel in the heart of the city offers guests a modern and artful display to contrast the classic exterior. Beautiful rooms coupled with a chic bar and restaurant make this an ideal place to stay for those wanting to soak up the very best of French culture.
L’Hôtel Voltaire Opéra
10 Rue Gresset, 44000 Nantes
This charming boutique hotel is minutes from the city’s best arts and cultural attractions. They offer classically fashionable rooms, some with balconies, in bright and airy spaces, along with a restaurant and bar, so you can make the most of this ideal location in comfort and style.
Radisson Blu Hotel
6 Pl. Aristide Briand, 44000 Nantes
If you fancy just a little more luxury, the four-star Radisson Blu Hotel has you covered. This grand hotel was the former Palais de Justice and is now an elegant venue that offers spacious rooms a central location and amazing food. Why not treat yourself and relax in the Aquatonic Spa after exploring the city sights.
Best places to eat in Nantes
Restaurant Art N’Blum
10 Rue Léon Blum, 44000 Nantes
As the title suggests, this artful and creative restaurant is famous for its imaginative set menus that explore the very best of French cuisine. Each meal is specially paired with local wine, so you can appreciate the food at its best.
Cuit Lu Cru
5 Rue Châteaubriand, 44000 Nantes
This classic yet-rustic restaurant prides itself in sourcing the very best local and fresh seasonal produce to make its traditional French dishes, with a twist. Everything’s made on site, with high-class dishes, tinted with a little bit of rustic home cooking.
Gwaien
63 Rue de Bel air, 44000 Nantes
Gwaien is a popular, if slightly less formal, dining option, though still crafts beautifully creative dishes to suit all palettes. They’re known for their friendly and homely atmosphere, and for priding themselves on sourcing the very best local and fresh produce, from seasonal vegetables to freshly caught seafood.
Best things to do in and around Nantes
Les Machines de L’ile
Parc des Chantiers, Bd Léon Bureau, 44200 Nantes
This dreamlike artistic exhibition project is housed on the Isle of Nantes within the old shipyard buildings. Here, you’ll find huge mechanical steampunk creatures constructed from scrap, wood, and metal. It really is something you have to see to believe, with great wooden elephants, giant mechanical spiders, and huge metal birds, and you can ride them too.
Château des ducs de Bretagne
4 Pl. Marc Elder, 44000 Nantes
This 15th century castle was once home to the Dukes of Brittany and the French Monarchy, and now serves to educate and inspire tourists with centuries of the country’s history. Walk the halls of this grand château and learn all about the castle’s, and the city’s, rich history.
Arts Museum of Nantes
10 Rue Georges Clemenceau, 44000 Nantes
The Arts Museum of Nantes is home to a huge collection of historic and contemporary French art, with the building itself being a great spectacle in its own right. One of the largest and oldest art museums in France, it was set up in 1801 by Napoleon Bonaparte.