Travelling To Nantes

Nantes has excellent transport links with the capital, Paris, and allows for easy access form the UK, being situated as it is within close range of several major French ports, eliminating the necessity of having to fly here. Rail and bus services are also excellent, while taxis are readily available for short hops.

By car

Nantes is easily accessible by road from Paris, with the A11 offering access via Le Mans and Angers. The city is also conveniently situated within driving distance of some of Frances major ports, making travelling by car from the UK easy.

Car ferries offer services from the UK to the ports at Calais, Cherbourg, Dieppe, Caen, Roscoff and St Malo, with the latter two ports being the closest to Nantes. From St Malo, Nantes can be reached by car from the N137 via Rennes, while the city can be accessed from Roscoff via the coastal N165, or alternatively via the N12 to Rennes, which is linked to Nantes by the N137. Nantes itself is easy to navigate by car, with the city being encircled by a ring road.

By rail

Nantes is situated on a number of rail and TGV lines. The city can be reached via TGV from Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Lille. Lines are currently being developed to connnect Strasbourg and the east of France to Nantes. Quimper, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Lyon and Toulouse can be reached by standard trains and Angers, Le Mans and La Roche sur Yon can all be reached by regional transport.

By bus

Bus services to Nantes are available from Paris, with frequent connections. If you are traveling from the UK, Eurolines offers regular services form Londons Victoria Coach Station to Paris, from where you can easily connect to Nantes. There are also plenty of regional bus services to and from Nantes to destinations within the region, Brittany and Normandy. Local bus services within Nantes operate seven days a week; details of routes can be seen displayed at bus stops.

By air

Nantes Atlantique Airport is the main and most important air hub not only for Brittany, but the whole of western France. It serves flights from many European and domestic locations, with multiple daily flights to and from London.

The airport is a single terminal building housing a bank, bureau de change, ATMs, information desks and business facilities. Restaurants and pubs can be found throughout the terminal and offer a wide choice of refreshments. Shopping opportunities are in abundance, with a range of shops located across the terminal including duty-free shops in the Departures lounge.

The airport has been redesigned to suit the needs of those passengers who require wheelchairs. Toilets have been adapted and lifts and ramps have been fitted. Designated parking spaces can be found in the car park opposite the terminal building.

Getting to and from the city centre of Nantes is very simple, as the airport is only a 10-minute drive from the downtown area. There is an airport shuttle service linking the city to the airport, offering regular services which conveniently coincide with scheduled flight times. The shuttle service makes a number of stops en-route. Tickets can be bought on the shuttle itself and are valid for an hour. Cars can be hired from the airport if you would rather make the journey on your own and in your own time.

There are seven car parks available at the airport, providing parking for short-term and long-term stays. There is a choice of undercover and free parking, but both facilities can get very busy, especially in peak season. If you want to pick up or drop off a passenger, there is a designated area situated outside the front of the terminal.

By ferry

While Nantes is not directly accessible by ferry, car and foot passengers can travel from the UK to a nearby port before transferring to Nantes. Ferry services operate from the UK ports of Dover, Folkestone to Dunkerque and Calais; from Poole and Portsmouth to Cherbourg; from Newhaven to Dieppe; from Portsmouth to Caen; from Plymouth and Cork (Ireland) to Roscoff; and from Poole, Portsmouth and Weymouth to St Malo, with the latter two ports being the closest to Nantes.

Taxis

Taxis can be pre-booked or hailed in the street in Nantes, although they can be hard to find in out-of-the-way locations. Fares are charged according to a meter, with extra charges sometimes applying to night services and extra passengers or luggage. It is best to pre-book a taxi by telephone if you have to be at your destination at a particular time.