A Travel Price Comparison for France Nantes vs. Arles for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Nightlife

Should you visit Nantes or Arles?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nantes or Arles, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Nantes

Nantes is a welcoming, friendly, and historical city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Arles

Arles is a charming, compact, and quaint town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Nantes and Arles: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nantes or Arles?

Both Arles and Nantes have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Nantes is very popular for its food, nightlife, and shopping, while Arles attracts visitors for its museums and historical sights. Nantes is famous for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens. Arles is famous for its Roman history and its influence over Vincent van Gogh.

How is Nantes different from Arles?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Arles is an unbeatable place for its museums and history. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Arles has many famous sights for visitors. It's a small town but it's filled with Roman ruins and remarkable landmarks. Popular sights include L'Amphithéâtre Romain, Les Alyscamps, Cloître Saint-Trophime, and Théâtre Antique.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Nantes. 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 Nantes or Arles? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nantes is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

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).

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Arles. The cuisine is heavily influenced by the region's local agriculture. Popular dishes include agriade (beef stew), tellines soup, and fougasse (a local bread).

Is Nantes or Arles Better for Nightlife?

Nantes is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Nantes is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Arles has a few options to choose from. There are countless bars and pubs where you can enjoy a cold drink and a relaxing night out.

Is Nantes or Arles Better for its Old Town?

Arles is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Arles offers plenty to see. The large old town is filled with Roman ruins and historic sights. There are narrow streets and many interesting places to explore.

Many visitors go to Nantes to see the historical 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Nantes or Arles?

Nantes is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Arles. There are many boutiques that are filled with local art, crafts, and merchandise.

Is Nantes or Arles Better for Families?

Nantes is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Arles is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Nantes is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

For families, Arles is not always the best place to visit. Filled with Roman ruins and beautiful art, this is a great town, but can make for a long day for younger kids.

Is Nantes or Arles Better for Couples?

Nantes and Arles are both excellent to visit as a couple.

Nantes makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Couples visit Arles frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy history, roman ruins, and beautiful art will appreciate a weekend getaway to this town.

Is Nantes or Arles Better for Students?

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

Nantes is popular with 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.

Arles is not popular with students.

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

Nantes is well known for its public transit. Also, Arles is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Nantes. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

While Arles offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses that run between the city center and the train station, which is less than a kilometer out of town.

Is Nantes or Arles a more walkable city?

Nantes and Arles are excellent when it comes to walkability.

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

Arles is very walkable. It's a historic walled city that is very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Arles or Nantes?

How long in Nantes or Arles?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Nantes or Arles to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Nantes than Arles because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Nantes, and 1-2 days is enough time in Arles.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nantes than Arles 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 Nantes or Arles?

In Nantes, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this beautiful destination offers. Lots of people come for the food. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Arles. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Nantes or Arles?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nantes. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Arles is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Nantes or Arles?

Nantes is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Nantes. Lots of people come for the food. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Arles. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

A week in Nantes or Arles?

You'll find food and shopping around the friendly destination of Nantes. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Arles. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best 2-Week Tours in France, and The Best River Cruises in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nantes and Arles, we can see that Arles 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 Arles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arles 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 Nantes Expensive? and Is Arles Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Nantes or Arles?

Nantes has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Arles. When comparing the sizes of Nantes and Arles, 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 Nantes or Arles?

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 Nantes or Arles in the Summer?

Both Arles and Nantes during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Nantes for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Arles because of the family-friendly experiences.

Nantes is cooler than Arles in the summer. The daily temperature in Nantes averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nantes. In the summer, Nantes often gets less sunshine than Arles. Nantes gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun.

Nantes usually gets more rain in July than Arles. Nantes gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nantes or Arles in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nantes and Arles. The autumn months attract visitors to Nantes because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Arles this time of year.

In the autumn, Nantes is cooler than Arles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nantes in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Arles averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Nantes usually receives less sunshine than Arles during autumn. Nantes gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Arles receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Nantes usually receives less rain than Arles. Nantes gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Nantes or Arles in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Nantes as well as Arles. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nantes this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Arles for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Nantes is generally cooler than Arles. Daily temperatures in Nantes average around 6°C (42°F), and Arles fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Nantes often gets less sunshine than Arles. Nantes gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun.

Nantes usually gets more rain in January than Arles. Nantes gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nantes or Arles in the Spring?

Both Arles and Nantes are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Nantes for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the spring for the natural beauty.

Nantes is cooler than Arles in the spring. The daily temperature in Nantes averages around 11°C (51°F) in April, and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Arles. Nantes usually receives less sunshine than Arles during spring. Nantes gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nantes usually receives less rain than Arles. Nantes gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arles and Nantes