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City guide

Nantes, France

Nantes is a city in the Loire-Atlantique department of France on the Loire, 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 327,734 in Nantes proper (2023) and a metropolitan area of 1,050,815 inhabitants (2023).

Type CityPopulation 327,734Metro Area Population 1,050,815

Why go

  • Prefecture and commune in Pays de la Loire, France.
  • Served by Saint-Nazaire-Montoir Airport (SNR).

History

Nantes is a city in the Loire-Atlantique department of France on the Loire, 50 km (31 mi) from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 327,734 in Nantes proper (2023) and a metropolitan area of 1,050,815 inhabitants (2023). With Saint-Nazaire, a seaport on the Loire estuary, Nantes forms one of the main north-western French metropolitan agglomerations.

Restaurants & places to go

French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su,PH 07:30-00:30 Features: step-free access Wikipedia: fr:La Cigale (brasserie) · lacigale.com
Indoor
French, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu,We 12:00-14:00; Th,Fr 12:00-14:00,19:30-22:00; Sa 19:30-22:00 Features: vegetarian options, step-free access · restaurantlereflet.fr
Indoor
Greek, Mediterranean, French, Restaurant · Features: vegetarian options · odeck.fr
Indoor
Restaurant · Features: step-free access · Allée Prosper Mérimée, Esplanade de la Bégraisière, Saint-Herblain, 44800 · hotel-marine.fr
Indoor
Lobster, Seafood, Restaurant · Plats à base de homard bleu breton Opening hours: Tu-Sa 12:00-13:30,19:00-21:30; Su 12:00-13:30 · nantes.lehomardfrites.com
Indoor
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Street food vietnamienne et bubble tea Opening hours: Mo,We-Su 10:00-22:00; Tu off Features: takeaway, vegetarian options, air… · gare-nord.tiktak-restaurant.fr
Indoor
Deli, Cheese, Restaurant · Planches apéros de fromage et/ou charcuterie Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:45-23:00; Th-Sa 17:45-00:00 Features: takeaway, delivery,… · le17-45.fr
Indoor
Argentinian, Fast Food · Empanada bar Opening hours: Tu-Th 09:45-20:00; Mo 10:45-14:30,17:00-19:30; Fr 09:45-21:00; Sa 10:45-15:00,16:00-21:45 Features:… · el-almacen-empanadas.fr
Indoor

292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) 8.3 km to the centre
Nantes, PDL, FR — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 19 airlines (VOLOTEA Airways, Air France, Transavia France, Airlinair…) · direct flights to 55 destinations incl. Rome, Ajaccio, Bastia, Djerba, Lyon… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 19 airlines, 55 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Saint-Nazaire-Montoir Airport (SNR) 46 km to the centre
Saint-Nazaire/Montoir, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
La Roche-sur-Yon Les Ajoncs Airport (EDM) 59 km to the centre
La Roche-sur-Yon, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
La Baule-Escoublac Airport (LBY) 60 km to the centre
La Baule-Escoublac, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Île d'Yeu Airport (IDY) 84 km to the centre
Île d'Yeu, PDL, FR — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor
Ancenis Airfield 36 km to the centre
Ancenis, PDL, FR
Outdoor

Regional airports

Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.

Rennes-Saint-Jacques Airport (RNS) 95 km to the centre
Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, Ille-et-Vilaine, BRE, FR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 7 airlines (Air France, Airlinair, Flybe, Alitalia…) · direct flights to 9 destinations incl. Barcelona, Exeter, Paris, Southampton, Bordeaux… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 95 km from Nantes · Air France, Airlinair, Flybe · Getting around Rennes →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 7 airlines, 9 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Gare Maritime
Ferry terminal · 1.8 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Hangar à Bananes
Ferry terminal · 2.5 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Port Boyer
Ferry terminal · 2.7 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Petit Port Facultés
Ferry terminal · 2.8 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Trentemoult Roquios
Ferry terminal · 3.2 km from the centre
Outdoor
Bas-Chantenay
Ferry terminal · 3.5 km from the centre · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Navibus
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Port Boyer - Petit Port Facultés
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N3 Port Boyer → Petit Port - Facultés
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N3 Petit Port - Facultés → Port Boyer
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
Navibus Loire
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N2 Trentemoult Sablières → Hangar à Bananes
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N2 Hangar à Bananes → Trentemoult Sablières
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor
N1 Gare Maritime → Trentemoult Sablières
Ferry route · SEMITAN
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Saint-Nazaire-Montoir Airport (SNR); 25 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: NTE has direct flights to 55 destinations on 19 airlines (incl. Rome, Ajaccio, Bastia, Djerba, Lyon…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Gare Maritime, 1.8 km); routes include Navibus, Port Boyer - Petit Port Facultés, N3 Port Boyer → Petit Port - Facultés.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Nantes, France. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing