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

Should you visit Nantes or Lyon?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nantes or Lyon, 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 friendly, historical, and beautiful 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.

Lyon

Lyon is a authentic, historic, and beautiful city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Nantes and Lyon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nantes or Lyon?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lyon than Nantes, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Lyon is more touristy than Nantes and is popular for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town. It is also home to The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Nantes is popular for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens.

How is Nantes different from Lyon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Lyon 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 Lyon?

Lyon 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, Lyon has many famous sights for visitors. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

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 Lyon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Nantes and Lyon can be an enjoyable experience.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Nantes is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. 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).

Many restaurants in Lyon have been singled out for their culinary prowess. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.

Is Nantes or Lyon Better for Nightlife?

The superb nightlife scene is relatively similar in Nantes and Lyon.

Nantes has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Lyon is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.

Is Nantes or Lyon Better for its Old Town?

Lyon 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, Lyon offers plenty to see. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.

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 Lyon?

Shoppers can find a variety of superb stores in both Nantes and Lyon.

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.

Lyon is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.

Is Nantes or Lyon Better for Families?

Nantes and Lyon are both superb destinations for the whole family.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Nantes. 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.

Lyon is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.

Is Nantes or Lyon Better for Couples?

Nantes and Lyon are both superb 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 Lyon frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.

Is Nantes or Lyon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lyon is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Nantes is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Lyon. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

Nantes is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't as many hostels as you would expect in the area, so finding an affordable and social place to stay may be a bit challenging.

Is Nantes or Lyon Better for Students?

Lyon is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Lyon is a great destination for students. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.

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.

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

Lyon is an unbeatable place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Visitors in Lyon can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

Visitors to Nantes can move around easily with public transportation. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

Is Nantes or Lyon a more walkable city?

Nantes and Lyon are superb 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.

Lyon is very walkable. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Lyon or Nantes?

How long in Nantes or Lyon?

In either Nantes or Lyon, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Lyon than Nantes because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Nantes, and 2-5 days is enough time in Lyon.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon than Nantes 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 Lyon.

One day in Nantes or Lyon?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Nantes. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Lyon is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Nantes or Lyon?

Nantes is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the food. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Lyon 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.

Five days in Nantes or Lyon?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Nantes. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lyon. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Nantes or Lyon?

The beautiful city of Nantes offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural big city of Lyon. This city 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 comparing the travel costs between Nantes and Lyon, we can see that Lyon is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Nantes or Lyon?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 70% larger than the population of Nantes. When comparing the sizes of Nantes and Lyon, 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 Lyon?

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 Lyon in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nantes as well as Lyon. The summer months attract visitors to Nantes because of the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.

In July, Nantes is generally cooler than Lyon. Daily temperatures in Nantes average around 19°C (67°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lyon. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nantes this time of the year. In the summer, Nantes often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lyon. Nantes gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 285 hours of full sun.

Nantes usually gets less rain in July than Lyon. Nantes gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nantes or Lyon in the Autumn?

Both Lyon and Nantes are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Nantes this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Lyon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Nantes is around the same temperature as Lyon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nantes averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Lyon fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

Nantes usually receives more sunshine than Lyon during autumn. Nantes gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Nantes usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lyon. Nantes gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Nantes or Lyon in the Winter?

Both Lyon and Nantes during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nantes for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Lyon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Lyon can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Nantes is much warmer than Lyon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nantes in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Lyon averages at about 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Nantes often gets more sunshine than Lyon. Nantes gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lyon receives 62 hours of full sun.

Nantes usually gets more rain in January than Lyon. Nantes gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nantes or Lyon in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nantes and Lyon. Many visitors come to Nantes in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Lyon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Nantes is generally around the same temperature as Lyon. Daily temperatures in Nantes average around 11°C (51°F), and Lyon fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

Nantes usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lyon during spring. Nantes gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Lyon receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nantes usually receives less rain than Lyon. Nantes gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lyon receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lyon and Nantes