Day Trips from Nantes
The best excursions and trips you can do in a day
Full-Day Trips
Worth dedicating a whole day to explore.
Île de Noirmoutier
$25-35Salt-crusted fishing boats, pine forests whispering in Atlantic winds, and villages where oyster farmers still use wooden tables to sort their catch. The island's connected by a road that disappears twice daily under the tide.
Clisson and Sèvre Valley
$20-30Italian-style villages dropped into French wine country. The ruined castle overlooks vineyards where locals have grown Muscadet since Roman times, and the riverbanks smell of wild mint.
Guérande Medieval Town
$15-25Complete ramparts you can walk entirely, salt marshes stretching silver-blue to the horizon, and bakeries selling kouign-amann that flakes apart in buttery layers.
Pornic and the Atlantic Coast
$20-30White-washed fishing villages tumbling down cliffs, seafood shacks where mussels steam in seawater, and coastal paths where gorse flowers scent the salt air.
Île d'Yeu
$40-50Wild Atlantic island where granite cliffs crash into turquoise water, fishing boats unload langoustines at Port-Joinville, and wild irises bloom along coastal paths.
Saumur and Loire Valley
$35-45Honey-colored château reflected in the Loire, troglodyte caves carved into limestone cliffs, and horse country where the Cadre Noir trains their world-famous black stallions.
Half-Day Options
Shorter excursions when time is limited.
Trentemoult Fishing Village
$10-15Colorful houses stacked like children's blocks along the Loire's south bank, with waterfront bars serving muscadet and moules frites.
Château de Châteaubriant
$12-18Renaissance castle rising from reflecting pools, with formal gardens where box hedges scent the air after rain.
Saint-Nazaire Submarine Base
$15-20Massive concrete U-boat pens now housing an ocean liner museum, with tours that smell of diesel and sea salt.
Jardin Exotique de la Garenne
$5-8Botanical gardens perched above the Loire with views across Nantes, where magnolia flowers scent the air in spring.
Day Trip Tips
Make the most of your excursions.
- ✓ TER trains require seat reservations in summer - book the day before, for coastal routes
- ✓ Most coastal towns shut down 12-2pm - plan lunch accordingly or pack a picnic
- ✓ Ferry tickets to islands sell out during French school holidays - book online if traveling July-August
- ✓ Navibus ferries from Nantes run every 20 minutes - good for half-day trips to riverside villages
- ✓ Muscadet vineyards offer free tastings but expect to buy a bottle - budget €8-15 per good bottle
- ✓ Sunday trains run reduced schedule - check SNCF Connect app for exact times
- ✓ Coastal paths can be muddy after rain - bring decent walking shoes even in summer
- ✓ Many restaurants in small towns close Sunday evenings and Monday - plan alternative meals
Book These Day Trips
Top-rated excursions you can book now.
Visit to Saline - Guérande Salt Marshes
Dive into the salt marshes of Guérande and experience a magical transformation of the sea into salt. This guided tour transports you through a landscape where sky and water merge into a shimmering mir
PANORAMA TOUR OF NANTES by electric bike
During this tour you will have the opportunity to discover Nantes and its surroundings in the best and most original way you can imagine. Riding an electric bike, you will learn the anecdotes and fun
Nantes City Self-Guided Walking Tour with an APP
Dive into the heart of Nantes with our immersive Trippy Tour Guide App! Begin your adventure in the tranquil beauty of the Botanical Garden, then step into history at the grand Château des Ducs de Br
4x4 crossing in a Private Estate in Pays de Loire
Go on an adventure on our vast domain behind the wheel of our 4x4 equipped crossing! The 4x4 business was launched in 2005 and has grown steadily since. The 4x4 fleet is made up of 12 vehicles to dat
One hour quad ride between Nantes and La Baule
Our space is a leisure center located in central nature in a green setting. The center offers you to go hiking on the handlebars of its CAN-AM OUTLANDER MAX quads and to go on an adventure on its vast
Jet-ski session near Nantes
Since 1994, Jean-Yves and Franck Leroux have created a unique estate which brings together different activities in the same place. Jet-skiing is done on a large dedicated body of water. From our whit
Need a base for your day trips?
Our accommodation guide helps you pick the best area to stay in Nantes.
Where to Stay →Explore Activities in Nantes
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Nantes.
See All Nantes Tours on Viator