Things to do in Nantes France

There are so many fabulous things to do in Nantes. This up and coming city has a lot to offer including gardens, a beautiful cathedral, churches, crêperies, a gorgeous château, museums, lovely architecture and more. Now is the time to visit Nantes because it is a lesser known city in France which means that you can have a laid back and authentic experience without the crowds.

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Things to do in Nantes

There are many things to see in Nantes, however, it is a small city so you don’t need a lot of time to see everything. You can visit the city in two to three days, but you could absolutely spend more time to get to know this sweet city even better. Whether you love museums, visiting châteaux, tasting delicious foods or strolling through beautifully curated French gardens, you will love this list of things to do in Nantes.

Stroll through the Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne

Built by Guy of Thouars, Duke of Brittany, in 1207, the chateau was in use as a residence until 1862. Today the chateau houses the Nantes History Museum. The entire chateau was restored in the 1990s. The restoration took 15 years to complete. We loved walking through the space and enjoying the view from above.

Visit the Machines of the Isle of Nantes

The island was originally used to construct boats and later as a business center. Today, the island is an artistic and cultural project created by artists François Délarozière and Pierre Orefice. There are two things you must see on the Machines of the Isle of Nantes : The Great Elephant and The Marine Worlds Carousel.

The Great Elephant, a giant mechanical elephant, dates back to 2007. It is an exact replica of the Sultan’s Elephant from Royal de Luxe which toured the world between 2005 and 2007. The primary difference is that it was specifically designed to carry spectators. The elephant can carry 49 people and regularly takes groups for a 45 minute ride around the island. The elephant stands high at 39 feet tall and is truly impressive.

The Marine World Carousel is spectacular! It is a massive carousel that stands 65 feet tall and features three levels of moving, underwater creatures. We loved the elephant!

Carousel Nantes, red, white and blue, one of the things to do in Nantes

Walk to Nantes Cathedral

Nantes Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of St. Peter or St. Paul of Nantes. This Romanesque cathedral dates all the way back to the 1400s and took over 450 years to complete!

Taste the Strawberry Sorbet at La Fraiserie

La Fraiserie is an institution in Nantes. Fraise means strawberry in French. La Fraiserie is known for their strawberry products, and particularly their homemade strawberry sorbet. We recommend pairing with their vanilla ice cream or a chocolate hazelnut ice cream (pictured below).

Ice cream from La Fraiserie Nantes 2 scoops of ice cream, red and brown

Smell the Flowers in the Jardin des Plantes de Nantes

The Jardin des Plantes de Nantes is a spectacular botanical garden dates back to the early 1800s. The oldest tree in the garden is the Magnolia d’Hectot, a gorgeous magnolia tree. Today, the garden features over 11000 species and is just breathtaking. We had so much fun walking through the garden and taking photos. Spring is, of course, a wonderful time to visit because all of the plants are in bloom.

Talk a Walk through the Cours Cambronne

We immediately felt at home in the Cours Cambronne. We loved the beautiful greenery, flowers and beautiful architecture here. It is a wonderful place to walk, relax on a bench and take it all in and take photos.

Square with trees and beautiful architecture

Visit the Jules Verne Museum

The Jules Verne Museum was created in the late 1970s to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Jules Verne’s birth. Inside the museum, you will find some of Verne’s original furniture, replicas of some of his inventions, memorabilia from his life and adventures, and even a collection of china gifts he received from various foreign journalists.

Spend a Couple of Hours at the Art Museum of Nantes

The Fine Art Museum of Nantes was closed for renovations from 2011 to 2013 and has not been fully renovated. The museum is beautiful and worth a visit just to admire the architecture alone. The work featured here is a mixture of old and new.

Enjoy a Meal and Shopping at Le Lieu Unique

Le Lieu Unique is a social and artistic space designed to inspire creation, relaxation and community. It features a Turkish bath, a record shop, a café, a restaurant and even a nightclub. It really is a unique space and worth a visit when you are in Nantes.

Visit the Cherry Blossoms at île de Versailles

The île de Versailles may be my favorite place that we visited during our time in Nantes! It is a stunning Japanese garden that feels peaceful and authentic. When we visited the garden was in bloom, filled with cherry blossoms and magnolia flowers. It was an absolute dream. Walk along the Japanese bridge, sit by the water, stop for a tea and take it all in. The perfect zen experience. It is also dog-friendly which we greatly appreciated.

White cherry blossoms in the Japanese garden in Nantes

Pink Japanese house, water and trees in the Japanese Garden in Nantes

Spend the Afternoon in the Centre-Ville de Nantes

This centre-ville is the heart of Nantes. It is one of eleven neighborhoods in the city. Go for a walk, have a coffee and take in this gorgeous city.

Visit the Eglise Sainte-Croix de Nantes

The Eglise Sainte-Croix de Nantes dates back to the seventeenth century. The church’s windows and statues were damaged during World War II but rebuilt following the end of the war. If you enjoy visiting churches when you travel, you will love this beautiful structure.

Go Shopping in the Passage Pommeraye

The Passage Pommeraye is a lovely shopping arcade in the center of Nantes. dating back to the mid 1840s. It is a chic and beautiful place to shop or just sit and enjoy a café. We were so happy to be able to bring our dogs with us when we visited too.