You program a small weekend in Brittany or maybe a Normandy-Brittany circuit and want to take the opportunity to visit Nantes in 1 day ? So for discover the most beautiful tourist sites of Nantes in 1 day, maybe my self-guided walking tour will inspire you!
City of art and history, on the banks of the Loire, Nantes is a city which is worth the detour and which can easily be visited in a day. And, with my self-guided tour, just follow my walking route on the attached Google Maps to discover the emblematic and unmissable monuments of this beautiful city.
How to visit Nantes in 1 day?
The Nantes tourist office has designed a walking route along a green line on the ground. This route allows you to discover especially contemporary works of art and some sites of the historical heritage of Nantes.
But this walking tour has no less than 65 stages which are not all essential visits ...
On the other hand, there are Nantes private tours which allow you to visit Nantes in an exclusive way with a guide just for you and your loved ones. Or for more fun, you also have the possibility to visit Nantes by electric scooter !
Personally, I preferred to make my own tourist circuit on foot, which only goes through the most beautiful and interesting sites, short those that really deserve a visit (according to my tastes of course).
Visit Nantes on foot
If Nantes is a port city, Capital of the Pays de la Loire, it is no less a tourist city with a magnificent historical and cultural heritage. Its very pedestrianized center attracts many visitors who take as much pleasure in strolling there as in sightseeing. But to be sure you don't miss out on a great visit, it is best to follow a circuit.
In fact, when you only have one day to visit Nantes, my itinerary is a good way to discover the must-see sites but also the little hidden treasures of Nantes. This loop walking tour is a good way to discover Nantes in 1 day while walking and optimizing your time!
What to see in Nantes in 1 day?
In one day, it is possible to see the historic district of Nantes but also the more modern monuments while discovering regional gastronomy.
Here are the stages of my Nantes tourist circuit which is done on foot in 1 day:
- Feydeau district and the reflecting pool
- Bouffay district
- Château des Ducs de Bretagne
- St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral
- Talensac market
- Tour de Bretagne and its panoramic bar Le Nid (Currently closed)
- Basilica of St. Nicholas
- Restaurant La Cigale
- Passage Pommeraye
- Les Machines de l'Ile
- Ile de Nantes district
- Wharf of the West Indies
- Unique Place (Former Nantes biscuit factory)
Walking route map to visit Nantes in 1 day
Click on "More options" in the map to follow the GPS
Nantes in 1 day - Morning tours
My morning sightseeing tour is only 3 kilometers to walk. If you come by car and need to park, I recommend the Car park Feydeau which is the starting point of my itinerary.
Feydeau district
To start the day, we will discover Île Feydeau with its urban character but also its 18th century slave trade district. By going to Cours John Kennedy, you will enjoy the reflection of the Château des Ducs de Bretagne on the reflecting pool.
Its architecture of the city is well preserved from the time when Nantes was the most important port in France. See more info on the official website of the Tourist Office.
Bouffay district
Continuing from the Feydeau district going towards the Château de Nantes, is the oldest district of downtown Nantes: the Bouffay district.
This medieval district is a pedestrian zone made up of pretty alleys located all around the Place du Bouffay. This cobbled square is very pleasant to enjoy its terraced cafes and restaurants.
Château des Ducs de Bretagne
250 meters from Place du Bouffay, you will arrive at the most visited site in Nantes: The Château des Ducs de Bretagne. It is a Renaissance-style fortress which today serves as a Museum (history of Nantes from its origins to today).
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Cathedral
I'm not a big fan of churches and religious buildings, but this Cathedral is worth a visit. I recommend you to discover it with a free guided tour organized by theAssociation of Friends of the Cathedral.
Talensac market
Want to discover local products from Brittany and the Nantes region in particular? Then a little trip to the Talensac Market will please you!
It is the largest market in Nantes which offers all the seasonal products sold by the locals and from their regions.
Tour of Brittany
I mention this step even if the visit is no longer possible because the tower is under construction. But, perhaps, in a while, you will be able to go up again to the panoramic bar: Le Nid to enjoy the most beautiful view of the city of Nantes!
Basilica of St. Nicholas
Just a short photo stop in front of Saint-Nicolas Basilica before going to feast a stone's throw from here (500 meters).
La Cigale - Legendary restaurant in Nantes
I am not offering you a lunch break, but a historical and cultural immersion in a legendary restaurant in the footsteps of Jacques Prévert or André Breton!
On Place Graslin, opposite the theater, this magnificent building was designed in the Art Nouveau era and was inaugurated in 1895. A true work of art for its architecture and decoration, this brasserie has served as the backdrop for many films.
Personalities from cinema and song (Camille Lelouche, Guillaume Canet, Laurent Baffi, Franck Dubosc, Patrick Bruel…) meet there regularly.
Nantes in 1 day - Afternoon visits
The tourist circuit that you will continue in the afternoon is more "light"! To start, head to the Passage Pommeraye, 250 meters from the restaurant for a little digestive walk.
Self-guided walking tour – Passage Pommeraye
Some say it's a vintage mall but it's so much more!
Indeed, the Passage Pommeraye is a covered shopping gallery from the 19th century whose very loaded and luxurious style is a mixture of neoclassicism and eclecticism.
Listed as a historical monument, the Passage Pommeraye represents a real tourist visit (its majestic marble staircase, its statues, its gilding, its magnificent glass roof) but also the ideal place for shopping!
After this lovely walk, my circuit takes us after a 15-minute walk into a magical, fantastic and fun world, that of the Machines de l'Ile de Nantes.
Machines from the Ile de Nantes
At the heart of a former shipyard, the site is magnificent and allows you to spend several hours there!
With a mixture of the sets of Jules Verne and extraordinary inventions of Leonardo da Vinci, the Machines of the island of Nantes plunge us into the land of dreams and giants. To visit it, you will have several options but no matter which one you choose, you will have to remember to book in advance: https://www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/pratique/tarifs-billetteries/
Among the many attractions, you can discover the great Carrousel des Mondes Marins, the Titan cranes or the Rings of Buren. Of course, you will not miss the Grand Elephant de Nantes, a gigantic mechanical pachyderm with 2 floors which has today become one of the symbols of the city.
Visit Nantes on foot - Nantes island district
The island of Nantes is not just about machines! We are now going to discover this very special district. Indeed, from meadows to pastures, from foundry lands to shipyards, the Ile de Nantes district has continued to evolve over time.
Let's go for a 10-minute walk to Wharf of the West Indies to make a beautiful walk along the Loire. The best will be to walk there at nightfall. Indeed, in the dark you can enjoy the 18 Buren rings which light up in all colors.
Le Lieu Unique (former Lu biscuit factory)
To complete the loop, my circuit takes us to the Lieu Unique. As it is a bit long on foot, you can take the Bus lines C2 or C3, Lieu Unique stop or tram line 1, stop at Duchesse Anne.
In the old biscuit factory in Lu, the Lieu Unique is a cultural center. If you have some time left, you can discover exhibitions and many other artistic events and cultural activities.
Where to stay in Nantes to visit on foot
For a short weekend in Nantes, I recommend that you take an apartment where you can cook for yourself. The economical and practical solution is the apart-hotel.
The one that I recommend to you has a very good value for money while being very well located right next to the city center and the train station. It is therefore perfect for making my tourist circuit on foot without wasting time! Be careful, however, because it is located right next to a sensitive area of Nantes: See Neighborhoods to avoid in Nantes
Hotel in Nantes
For those on a larger budget, I recommend a very nice hotel very well located in one of the most beautiful districts of Nantes. Its location is perfect for visit Nantes on foot.
And for other city tours, here is:
