Best value car hire from top brands
Nantes car hire tips
Where to pick up your car
The most popular car hire location is Nantes Airport (NTE), which is just over 20
mins’ drive from the centre (about 10km).
Top car rental brands
The most popular car rental brands in Nantes are Thrifty, Budget, Avis, Europcar and
Sixt.
Local currency
Euro (EUR)
Average temperatures
Warmest month: July (20°C)
Coldest month: January (6°C)
Side of road
Right
Hire a car in Nantes
Nantes is a hub of playful imagination and
youthful creativity.
This fanciful city is well-known for its robotic animals, les machines de I’Île,
which stroll down the Loire River and rub shoulders with historic architecture. Constantly
renewing itself through inventive charms, Nantes is one of France’s best avant-garde
showstoppers.
The city also makes the perfect launching point for a Loire Valley road
trip. Search for your car hire with easyCar and drive through this UNESCO region, stopping
to take in its elegant landscapes and chateaux.
Driving in Nantes
Things to note
Frequently Asked QuestionAnswer
| What is the most popular rental length in Nantes? | Six to seven days. |
| What is the most popular month to rent a car in Nantes? | August, when a hire car costs on average £23.50 per day. |
Cheapest month / most expensive monthAverage cost per day of car hire in Nantes
| November | £14.30 |
| December | £25.80 |
Parking
If you want to avoid fighting over parking spaces within the
city, it’s best to park at a parkings relais, located just outside Nantes. You
can also order a Pass Nantes, which gives you access to both parkings relais
and public transportation.
Red light turns
In France, you are not allowed to turn right on a red
light. You may only do so if there is a flashing right-facing amber arrow.
Aires
If you’re planning on driving long distances, you’ll likely
become familiar with the French aires. These stop-off points are located around
every 20km on the motorways. Some simply offer a toilet block and picnic area while
others are full service stations.
Loire Valley
Vineyards
The Loire Valley is one of the most diverse wine growing regions in the country and the base
of France’s longest wine route, which stretches 1000km from Nantes to Sancerre. It’s also
home of the second-greatest sparkling wine behind Champagne. Most vineyards here are
family-owned, giving the wine an extra hint of dedicated warmth.
You can visit numerous wineries located on chateaux grounds, such as Château des Vaults and
Château Soucherie, or others like Domaine Sauvète and Pierre & Bertrand Couly that are
integrated into the natural landscape. For a particularly unique vineyard experience, check
out the 100 year old hand dug cellars at Les Caves du Père Auguste.
Grand castles
With 42 different chateaux, the Loire Valley is overflowing with architectural creativity.
The 16th-century Château d’Ussé has inspired magical storybook tales with its enchanting
facade and pointed turrets. Resting on the edge of the Chinon Forest, it is all too easy to
picture knights and nobles riding up the castle’s doors.
Château de Goulaine is located just outside of Nantes and is the first castle of the Loire.
Originally built to defend the Duchy of Brittany, it was later rebuilt in the great French
Renaissance style and has been home to the same family for over 1000 years.
Gardens
Regarded as the “Garden of France”, the Loire Valley is ripe with natural French splendor and
stylistically trimmed gardens. The greenery you’ll find here is more than just groupings of
plants, its a true form of art.
The Parc Oriental de Maulévrier is the largest oriental garden in Europe. An easy day trip
from Nantes, the garden will likely put you in a meditative trance with its sculpted ferns
and flowers.
In comparison to most gardens in the region, Le Jardin d’Elise is still in its infancy.
Ancient roses and over 600 perennials bloom throughout the year, filling the garden with
vivid colours and intense fragrance.
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Book by phone
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Beyond the city
Coastal views
An hour’s drive west of Nantes will bring you to Pornic, a relaxing seaside town on the
Jade Coast. Pleasure boats fill its marina while beaches and creeks fan out from its
edges.
In the morning, peer around the town, discovering its 13th-century castle and botanical
gardens. If you’re looking for somewhere to laze about in the afternoon, head to the
nearby beaches of Plage de l’Étang and Plage de la Boutinardière.
