How to Plan the Perfect Loire Valley Itinerary

Article written by Elisa
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Best Time to Visit Loire Valley

The Loire Valley sits right in the center of France, dividing north and south, so it gets relatively hot in summer (around 25°C in July) and cold in winter (around 7°C in January).

The best time to visit Loire Valley to have good weather is from April to October. Spring is a great time to visit the chateaux’s gardens, all in full bloom.

The best seasons for outdoor activities are spring and autumn. The shoulder seasons in the Loire Valley are perfect for walking and cycling.

The months of July and August see the crowds in the Loire Valley, especially around the main sites. For the best accommodation and prices, it will be key to book well in advance. Also, we recommend buying skip-the-line tickets online in advance for the main Châteaux of the Loire Valley.

The season to avoid for a Loire Valley trip is winter. The winter months see rain and cooler temperatures, and some châteaux may be closed.

How Many Days in Loire Valley

The Loire Valley has so many things to see and do that you could spend all your French holiday in this region.

To get the most out of the Loire Valley, we recommend a minimum of 3 full days, but ideally 5-to 6 days. If you spend 5 to 6 days in the Loire Valley, you will have time to visit a couple of towns and cities, explore some of the best Châteaux of the Loire Valley, wine tasting and shopping, and perhaps a relaxing boat trip.

Loire Valley tours from Paris are also popular amongst people with tight schedules and they are perfectly planned to see a bit of everything.

How to Visit Loire Valley

1. Loire Valley Tour from Paris

2. Take a Loire Valley Road Trip

For extended trips to the Loire Valley, we recommend taking a road trip. A French self-drive holiday will allow you to visit the main sites and also other stunning châteaux and medieval towns, which are more difficult to reach by public transportation.

If you need some inspiration to craft your itinerary, have a look at this 5-day Loire Valley road trip. You will also find this road trip in our France by Car e-book, complete with the best places to eat and sleep for each day and our recommendations on customizing this driving holiday for shorter or longer trips.

3. Loire Valley by Train

Cities and towns like Tours, Beaugency, Orléans, Blois, and Amboise are easy to reach by train. Here’s a list of train distances and times from Paris for reference:

• Train Paris – Tours: 1h 12 min (fast train)
• Train Paris – Orléans: 1h 52 min (fast train)
• Train Paris – Blois: 1,5-2hrs (direct or via Orléans)
• Train Paris – Amboise: 2-2,5hrs (direct or via Orléans)

Thanks to the Train Loire à Vélo (Train Loire by Bike) system, you can board trains on the Interloire line with your bicycle, from mid-June to mid-September. The service is free and has dedicated personnel to take care of your bike from the moment you board to when you get it back when you get off.

This train is great for La Loire à Vélo and the Itinéraire Vélocéan bike routes and allows you to easily skip stages or return to your point of departure.

Defining the Perfect Loire Valley Itinerary

The Loire Valley is more than fairytale castles. The region is also known for its vibrant cities, medieval towns, and natural wonders, so the perfect itinerary Loire Valley combines a little bit of all these things.

If you visit the Loire Valley for the first time, you may want to stick to the main sites. However, the most memorable Loire Valley trip usually begins when you leave the beaten path.

The list of things to do in the Loire Valley can be longer or shorter depending on the duration of your holiday. For example, for a Loire Valley 3-day itinerary, stay in one of the cities mentioned below. From there, visit a medieval village, one or two top castles, and take a wine tour. For a Loire Valley 5-day itinerary or longer, add at least one night in one of the stunning château-hotels nearby.

Best Cities in the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley’s main cities are a good place to put down your suitcases for a couple of days. Enjoy the city’s atmosphere and main sights and explore the rest of the Loire Valley on day trips. Here are the cities in the Loire Valle not to miss:

1. Orléans

Orléans is the capital of the Centre-Val-de Loire region. Orléans is famous as the city of Jeanne d’Arc, a French heroine who, on the 8th of May 1429, played a decisive role in the town’s liberation from the occupying English.  

Over recent years, this dynamic city has engaged in major conservation projects to reveal all its former splendor. Orléans is a good base to explore the medieval towns of Beaugency, Meung-sur-Loire, and the castles of Chambord and Cheverny.

2. Blois

Blois is a beautiful city with remarkable architectural and cultural heritage. Its Old Town is very compact, and you can easily explore it on foot. In Blois, don’t miss visiting the Château de Blois, the Loire’s finest in-town château and home to seven French Kings!

Blois is a good base to explore the medieval town of Beaugency, the city of Amboise with its Royal Castle and the Clos de Lucé, and the castles of Chambord, Cheverny, Chaumont sur Loire, and Chenonceau.

3. Tours

Tours is a historic city with a rich heritage. Tours was the capital of the French kingdom, even if for a short time. It is also a student city, with a lively city center populated by many restaurants and bars that pop up their terraces outside as soon as the beautiful days arrive. 

Tours is an excellent base to explore the medieval towns of Chinon, and Langeais, the city of Amboise with its Royal Castle and the Clos de Lucé, and the castles of Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, and Villandry.

4. Saumur

Sitting on the River Loire banks, in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire, the city of Saumur has a pretty medieval Old Town to explore crowned by a fairytale medieval castle and plenty to see and do.

Saumur is a good base to explore the medieval towns of Chinon and Langeais, the city of Angers with its imposing medieval castle, the magnificent Abbey of Fontevraud – the burial place of the Plantagenets in France – and the castles of Azay-le-Rideau, and Villandry.

Stay in One of the Château Hotels in the Loire Valley

For a total Loire Valley experience, stay a couple of nights in one of the wonderful château hotels in the Loire Valley.

Many Châteaux of the Loire Valley have found new lives as château hotels and now offer accommodation with discerning five-star service that will treat you like a royal, if only just for the night. Explore the best Castles of the Loire Valley during the day, and choose your particular château to rest your head at night.

Best Châteaux of the Loire Valley to Visit

In the Loire Valley, you will find some of the most beautiful French castles to visit. Most of the Châteaux of the Loire Valley were built during the Renaissance, so they are very different from the Château de Versailles and other castles near Paris.

As there are several hundred châteaux in the Loire Valley, with about 100 open to the public, it’s quite difficult to choose only a few for your itinerary!

If you don’t know what castles to visit, this list of the best Châteaux of the Loire Valley may help. For a perfect Loire Valley itinerary, we recommend visiting only 2-3 castles a day and completing the rest of the days with other activities.

Best Medieval Towns in the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is dotted with some of the most beautiful medieval towns in France and other picturesque villages accredited with labels like “Plus beaux villages de France” (Most beautiful villages in France) or “Petites Cités de Caractère” (Small towns of character). You will certainly be charmed by their tuffeau stone houses, flower-filled streets, and medieval remains!

Taste the Wines of the Loire Valley

If you like French wine, we recommend visiting one or two wineries in the Loire Valley Wine Region, where you’ll learn about the history of the land and get to taste several local wines, sometimes paired with delicious cheeses. 

The Loire Valley is one of the largest wine regions in France. If you are looking for lighter wines, the wines of Loire Valley are right up your alley. There are great selections of lighter red wines, delicate, fruity white wines, sweet roses, and a large production of sparkling wines (named Crémants de Loire).

The Loire Valley Wine Region has different production zones. The production area closest to the main Châteaux of the Loire Valley is Touraine, located around the city of Tours.

East of Tours, the production is focused on white wines from Chenin grape variety (e.g. AOC Vouvray). West of Tours, is the land of red wines from Cabernet Franc grape variety (e.g. AOC Chinon, AOC Borgueil). The AOC Touraine produces light wines in three colors (white, red, rosé).

All these Loire Valley wineries offer top-rated tours and tastings in French and English. A visit to these wineries is also a great opportunity to buy excellent wines directly from the producers. Book your visit online in advance.

• Domaine Thierry Cosme – AOC Vouvray
• Domaine Les Pièrres d’Aurèle – AOC Touraine
• Domaine Cahterine et Michel Langlois – AOC Pouilly Fumé
• Domaine Jean-Marc et Mathieu Crochet – AOC Sancerre

Other Fun Things to Do in the Loire Valley, France

Of course, the Loire Valley offers much more than sightseeing. If you are visiting the Loire Valley for more than two or three days, consider one of these fun activities for adventure lovers:

1. See the Loire Valley Castles from Other Points of View

A visit to the interior of the Châteaux of the Loire Valley is a must, but it’s worth viewing the Castles from other perspectives for more magnificent views.

Take a boat trip to see the Château de Chenonceau from the water. The Canoë Company offers different boat tours that are guided or self-guided, with different itineraries.

You can also admire the Châteaux de Chenonceau (and the Loire Valley) from a hot-air balloon with France Montgolfières. Our trip with them over Fontainebleau was an incredible experience that we recommend. You can check our review here.

Another unique way to explore the Châteaux of the Loire Valley is a micro flight with a professional pilot. Flights last from 30 min to 1,5 hrs, depending on the chosen option. The departure point is 40km from Tours, and you will be able to admire the Châteaux de Chenonceau, Loches, Chaumont, and Amboise.

2. La Loire à Vélo (The Loire Valley by Bike)

Explore the beautiful landscapes of the Loire Valley by following part of the famous Loire Valley bike route. We have covered different sections already, and it’s always a fun experience!

3. Taste the Regional Food

4. Shopping

Most of the Châteaux open to visitors have impressive souvenir shops with interesting history books and medieval-related merchandise.

If you take a wine tour, don’t miss the opportunity to buy a couple of your favorite bottles. Prices are always cheaper than in the wine shops in the city.

Look for the local markets for regional produce, cheese, rillettes, and local sweets.

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