At Nantes Atlantique Airport our car rental desk is clearly signposted in the vehicle rentals area of Hall 2. Once your paperwork is completed it is only a quick drive of 7 miles into the city centre. At Nantes TGV Station our office is just a short stroll from the South exit of the concourse while Nantes West / BMW is a short journey into the suburbs on tram route 3. Leave the tram at the Marcel Paul stop.
As in most French cities driving in Nantes is fairly straightforward with clear signposting and easy to recognise international road signs. Remember to drive on the right and have your vehicle documents and driving licence with you at all times. French motorways are well-maintained and a fast way of getting from town to town, while slower country roads give you a relaxed drive through Brittany with time to enjoy the view.
The city of Nantes has nearly a dozen pay and display car parks, several of which are open 24-hours a day. There is also a limited amount of metered street parking. Take care not to park in residential permit zones.
When the city's thriving shipbuilding and port industries relocated West to Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic Nantes reinvented itself as a cultural and university hub although the River Loire is still an important focus in the town. With a car hire in Nantes, you can cruise along the river banks and admire 18th-century architecture while getting an overview of the city layout before exploring in more detail. At the heart of the town is the imposing Château des Ducs de Bretagne, home to Nantes History Museum. Next door is the beautiful Cathédrale Saint Pierre with its two treasure filled crypts. The town has a long connection with Jules Verne and at the Jules Verne Museum, you can enjoy an eclectic collection of memorabilia related to this author, one of the first writers of sci-fi. When you want to relax for a while and watch the world go by stop at the Jardin des Plantes near the station or on the l'Ille de Versailles with its charming Japanese garden.