Nantes flights and travel guide

Nantes is France’s sixth-largest city and Brittany’s largest town. It’s known as a university haven, so many travellers on Nantes flights are students. In fact, it was the town’s students who aptly named the busiest street in Nantes Rue de la Soif (street of thirst). The students in Nantes keep the city young and vibrant and add to the culture and energy of the city.

Nantes is built on the largest island in the Loire Valley's château country. The town welcomes travellers by boat, train and plane and it is one of France’s major seaport capitals. Visitors booking flights to Nantes enter a town oozing with knowledge thanks to its thousands of eager students and high-tech industries that provide economic stability for Nantes.

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Nantes climate

Summers in Nantes are warm with temperatures reaching the mid 20s (Celsius). Winters are mild, and temperatures range from about zero to 10 degrees. Spring through autumn are the most popular times to visit Nantes.

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Getting into town Nantes

When you land at Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) in Bougenais, you’ll find a multitude of transport options. The city has a TGV station and the longest tram network in the country. An airport shuttle timed to accommodate incoming flights will drop you off at Gare SNCF Sud, the largest train station in the city and the best place to hop aboard a train. It’s only a two hour ride to Paris and four hours to Lyon.

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Getting around Nantes

To travel smartly within Nantes, buy yourself a “Pass Nantes,” which works on all  public transport, including buses and trams. If you’re there for longer than a week, it’s probably worthwhile buying a monthly tram pass. Validate your passes on the bus to avoid a fine. 

You can also rent a bike from Velocampus, a local rental company, which includes a tyre pump, maps for trails, and tickets to place on illegally parked cars. And if that isn’t enough, there are also river ferries and taxis to help you get around.

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Nantes insider information

• The town has ten parks. The Jardin des Plantes has 11,000 varieties in its botanic collections, and the Grand-Blottereau has agronomy greenhouses.
• The castle of the dukes of Brittany is where Anne de Bretagne was born in 1477 and where Henri IV signed the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which granted Protestants rights to their religion. The Gothic cathedral has the magnificent black-and-white marble tomb of Anne de Bretagne’s parents.
• Bouffay, the medieval quarter, is charming and beautiful. Some of its buildings date back to the 15th century.
• Nantes has several museums including one dedicated to Jules Verne, the science fiction author of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days, who was born in Nantes. There is also the Natural History Museum, Dobree museum, Fine Arts Museum and Museum of printing.
• Rue Crebillon is Nantes’ fanciest shopping street. Pommeraye is the 19th-century shopping arcade. It houses elegant boutiques. For bargain-hunting, go to the Flea Market – place Viarme – on Saturday mornings. The Marche de Talensac is the town's biggest market, open every day except Monday.
• The Lieu Unique is the old LU biscuit factory. It is an arts and community centre, bar and restaurant.
• Close to Nantes are the Loire estuary and Atlantic Coast, the Nantes vineyard trail and Chateaux of the Loire.

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Nantes airports

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