A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Inverness vs. Nantes for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Inverness or Nantes?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Inverness and Nantes can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a traditional, local, and historic city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Nantes

Nantes is a welcoming, friendly, and historical city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Inverness and Nantes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Inverness or Nantes?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Nantes. Although Inverness and Nantes are both popular with visitors, Nantes has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Nantes is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Inverness is known for its small town charm. Inverness is more touristy than Nantes and is popular for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. Nantes is popular for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens. It is also home to The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany.

How is Inverness different from Nantes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Nantes and Inverness. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Inverness or Nantes?

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Inverness and Nantes.

Many visitors head to Inverness specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Nantes can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historical monuments, particularly in the Bouffay District. Highlights include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.

Is the Food Better in Inverness or Nantes? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nantes is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Nantes has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The region lends itself to unique flavors with a great mix of seafood from the Atlantic, freshwater fish from the Loire, and dairy from the surrounding countryside. The region is also famous for its wine. Local dishes that you should try include Filet de Sandre au Beurre Blanc (fresh fish in butter sauce), Crepes Bretonnes (breakfast crepes), and Le Canard Nantais (duck with Muscadet wine).

Inverness has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

Is Inverness or Nantes Better for Nightlife?

Nantes is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Nantes offers plenty to do in the evening. The large student population heavily influences the nightlife scene. You'll find a young vibe with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from, particularly around Île de Nantes.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

Is Inverness or Nantes Better for its Old Town?

Nantes is very good for its old town. However, Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Nantes to see the old town. The city's old town is in the Bouffay District and it is filled with half-timbered houses and a maze of streets and shops.

Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Nantes?

Both Inverness and Nantes are excellent shopping destinations.

Inverness is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Nantes. There are impressive shopping streets, boutique stores, and grand shopping malls. Make sure you check out Rue Crébillon, Passage Pommeraye, and the shops around the Bouffay District. Talensac Market is also a historical covered market that you can explore.

Is Inverness or Nantes Better for Families?

Nantes is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Nantes is a very kid-friendly city. It's filled with gardens, museums, and theme parks, making it a great combination of fascinating activities for adults and kids alike. Some of the top kid-friendly activities include a visit to Machine of the Isle of Nantes (both a theme park and a museum), seeing a show at Le Lieu Unique, or experiencing Naudières Park (a smaller theme park). Kids will also enjoy seeing Goulaine Castle or wandering around Jardin Extraordinaire or the Botanical Gardens.

Inverness is a family-friendly city. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

Is Inverness or Nantes Better for Couples?

Nantes is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Nantes is a very popular place to visit for couples. There is a mix of both natural and historical beauty. Couples can enjoy a nice meal, stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, or even spend the day at the spa.

Inverness is a good city for couples to visit. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Is Inverness or Nantes Better for Students?

Nantes is very good for students. However, Inverness is not popular with students.

Nantes is a good city to visit for students. There's a decent sized student population and the city has a welcoming atmosphere. It's also easy to get around with public transportation.

Inverness is not popular with students.

Is Inverness or Nantes Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Nantes is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Nantes has some very good public transit options. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

Public transit is mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Inverness or Nantes a more walkable city?

Inverness and Nantes both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Inverness is a very walkable city. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

Nantes is a very walkable destination. The city is very walkable. Both locals and tourists alike choose to walk in Nantes.

For even more information, also check out Is Inverness Worth Visiting? and Is Nantes Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Nantes or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Nantes?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Inverness and Nantes. In our opinion, Nantes has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Nantes than Inverness. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Inverness, and 2-3 days is enough time in Nantes.

Families should spend more time in Nantes than Inverness. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Nantes, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Nantes than Inverness. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Nantes that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nantes than Inverness if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Nantes.

One day in Inverness or Nantes?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Inverness. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Nantes. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Inverness or Nantes?

Inverness is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the welcoming destination of Nantes. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Inverness or Nantes?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Inverness. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the welcoming city of Nantes. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the food. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Inverness or Nantes?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the local destination of Inverness. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Nantes is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Inverness and Nantes, we can see that Inverness is more expensive. And not only is Nantes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nantes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nantes and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Inverness would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Inverness than you might in Nantes.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Inverness Expensive? and Is Nantes Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Inverness or Nantes?

Nantes has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness and Nantes, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Inverness or Nantes?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Inverness or Nantes in the Summer?

Both Nantes and Inverness during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Inverness this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Nantes for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Inverness is cooler than Nantes. Typically, the summer temperatures in Inverness in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Nantes averages at about 19°C (67°F).

In Nantes, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 267 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets more rain in July than Nantes. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Nantes in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Nantes. Many travelers come to Inverness for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, many visitors come to Nantes in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Inverness is generally cooler than Nantes. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 9°C (49°F), and Nantes fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during autumn. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Inverness usually receives less rain than Nantes. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Inverness or Nantes in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Nantes. Many visitors come to Inverness in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Nantes for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Inverness can get quite cold in the winter. Inverness is much colder than Nantes in the winter. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Nantes fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 72 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in January than Nantes. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Nantes in the Spring?

Both Nantes and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Inverness for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Nantes because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Inverness is much colder than Nantes. Typically, the spring temperatures in Inverness in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Nantes averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during spring. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Inverness usually receives less rain than Nantes. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nantes and Inverness