Château des ducs de Bretagne
Moated castle-palace of the Dukes of Brittany, home to the Nantes history museum. You can walk its ramparts for free.
Tickets →Nantes, France
Nantes: airports, things to do and where to stay
Nantes, on the banks of the Loire, was once the seat of the Dukes of Brittany. Today it combines historic heritage, a lively cultural scene and the giant machines of the Île de Nantes.
Nantes airports
From the airport to central Nantes
Nantes Atlantique airport is about 8 km from central Nantes.
Navette Aéroport
Naolib shuttle between the airport and the bus station next to the railway station (about 20 min). Runs every 20 min from April to October and every 30 min the rest of the year; tickets cost €10.
Naolib 38
City bus to Pirmil (about 25 min), where you can change to tram lines 2 and 3 into the centre. Uses a standard network ticket.
Taxi
Rank outside the terminal. The ride to central Nantes takes about 20-25 min, depending on traffic.
Nantes
Things to do in Nantes
Les Machines de l'île
Workshop of fantastical machines in the former shipyards, home to the Great Elephant that carries visitors on its back.
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Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul
Gothic cathedral with a white façade, housing the Renaissance tomb of Francis II, the last Duke of Brittany.
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Passage Pommeraye
19th-century shopping arcade with staircases, balustrades and statues beneath a glass roof.
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Jardin des Plantes
Botanical garden next to the railway station, with historic glasshouses, ponds and camellias.
Tickets →Frequently asked questions
Which airport serves Nantes?
Nantes is served by Nantes Atlantique (NTE).
How far is the airport from central Nantes?
Nantes Atlantique airport is about 8 km from central Nantes.
How do I get from the airport to central Nantes?
From Nantes Atlantique airport you can take Navette Aéroport (bus), Naolib 38 (bus), and Taxi. Pre-booked taxis and private transfers are also available.
What are the must-sees in Nantes?
Highlights of Nantes include Château des ducs de Bretagne, Les Machines de l'île, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Passage Pommeraye, and Jardin des Plantes.
Photo credits
- Château des ducs de Bretagne: John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Les Machines de l'île: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul: François de Dijon, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Passage Pommeraye: François de Dijon, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jardin des Plantes: John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons