Weekend in Nantes: ideas and tips for discovering the city
Weekend in NantesTwo days are enough to discover the highlights of Nantes: the historic centre on the first day, the banks of the Loire and the Île de Nantes on the second. In the heart of the city, Maison Maubreuil, a 5-star hotel, lets you do everything on foot and round off each day with dinner or a drink on site.
Arriving in Nantes for the weekend
Nantes is about two hours from Paris by TGV high-speed train, so you can arrive on Friday evening or Saturday morning without wasting any time. From Nantes train station, Maison Maubreuil is a twelve-minute walk (950 metres), in the heart of the historic centre. For guests arriving by car, the Cathédrale car park is just behind the hotel, a one-minute walk away. The team can store your luggage if you arrive before check-in time, so you can start exploring as soon as you arrive.
Day 1: heritage and the historic centre
The first day naturally begins in the historic centre: Nantes Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul), just steps from the Maison, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany), the streets of the Bouffay district and Passage Pommeraye. Leave time for detours: a square, a shop or a café terrace often become the best memories of the trip.
In the late afternoon, heading back to the hotel is a chance to slow down. At Chez Albert, L’Odyssée Nomade afternoon tea, created with pastry chef Vincent Guerlais, offers a gourmet interlude from Tuesday to Saturday, by reservation.
An evening of gastronomy and the art of living
After a day on foot, dinner is right on site. Under its stone vaults, Restaurant Félicie reinvents time-honoured dishes, some made with produce from the Ferme de Maubreuil (Maubreuil Farm). The evening can continue at the Bar d’Albert, over a cocktail to share.
Day 2: the Loire, quays and creative Nantes
The second day takes a more contemporary turn. The Île Feydeau and the quays lead to the Île de Nantes and Les Machines de l’Île, with the Great Elephant and the Carousel of the Marine Worlds. Depending on the weather, the river shuttle takes you to the village of Trentemoult, or the Jardin des Plantes offers a quieter break before heading home.
What if the weekend continued from city to nature?
With one more night, the City & Garden experience continues your stay at the Château de Maubreuil, 15 minutes from the city centre, set in an 8-hectare park. Gardens inspired by the four corners of the world, the Cinq Mondes Spa and, in summer, Les Bains de Maubreuil round off the escape.
To discover the world of the Collection, explore the Château de Maubreuil, its gardens and leisure activities and, depending on the season, Les Bains de Maubreuil.
Practical tips for a weekend in Nantes
For a truly relaxed weekend, book the moments that matter most to you as soon as you arrive: dinner at Restaurant Félicie, afternoon tea or a wine workshop in the vaulted cellars.
Two nights let you experience Nantes at your own pace. And for any special request, our team is here for you via the Contact & Access page.
FAQ - A weekend in Nantes
Yes. Two days are enough to discover the highlights of Nantes: the Château des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany), Nantes Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul), the Bouffay district and Passage Pommeraye on the first day, then the Île de Nantes and Les Machines de l'Île on the second. The historic centre is easily explored on foot, leaving plenty of time to wander. A third night lets you add the Nantes wine country or the Atlantic coast.
For a weekend, the historic centre is the most convenient area to stay: everything can be done on foot, from the Château des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany) to Nantes Cathedral. Maison Maubreuil, a 5-star boutique hotel on rue du Roi Albert, offers 13 rooms and suites, each inspired by a destination. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, it has been awarded a Michelin Key.
On Saturday, explore the historic centre on foot: the Château des Ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany), Nantes Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul), the Bouffay district and Passage Pommeraye, before dinner at Restaurant Félicie, in the vaulted cellar of Maison Maubreuil. On Sunday, head to the Île de Nantes and Les Machines de l'Île, then on to the Jardin des Plantes or the village of Trentemoult, reached by river shuttle. Afternoon tea at Chez Albert brings the weekend to a gentle close.
Yes. Nantes is about 2 hours from Paris by TGV high-speed train, and Maison Maubreuil is a 950-metre walk from Nantes train station. Once there, the historic centre is best explored on foot, while the tram or the river shuttle will take you to the Île de Nantes and Trentemoult. For guests arriving by car, the Cathédrale car park is just a minute away.
Yes. The Château de Maubreuil, a 5-star hotel in Carquefou, 15 minutes from the centre of Nantes, lets you add a peaceful night after the city, in an 8-hectare park with a spa and swimming pools. It is also an ideal base for exploring the Nantes wine country, 30 minutes away, or the beaches of La Baule, 55 minutes away. The two hotels can be combined in the City & Garden experience.
