Nantes Airport Mini Guide
Tell me Why I Should Visit Nantes?
It’s a great base for exploring the chateaux of the Loire and is built on the banks of the river. There are lots of historic buildings including the magnificent Cathedrale Saint Pierre. Nantes has a disturbing history with its wealth based on being the main centre for the importation and sale of slaves in the 18th century.
It was also the scene of some of the worst atrocities during the French Revolution where thousands were executed in horrific manner, often when they were innocent of the crimes of which they were accused. The city later grew to be an important port city but this declined after the port facilities were moved closer to the sea at St Nazaire.
How Can I Get to See the Sights of Nantes?
You can fly in to Nantes Airport which is only five miles away from the city. Both easyJet and Ryanair fly there from the
UK as does Flybe and Air France. The journey from the airport is about twenty minutes by bus or you can make a connection on the train that will get you to the city in thirty minutes.
How Would you Describe the Airport?
It has an L shaped terminal which was built in the 1950s with arrivals on the ground floor and departures upstairs. It is quite busy in summer as it takes many flights from all over Europe although the seasonality of tourism here means that the airport is much quieter in winter.
What can I Expect When I Arrive at Nantes Airport?
Despite its age, like many steel and glass airports, it looks very modern. Your plane will stop at an air bridge to let you enter directly into the terminal. After passport checks you’ll need to go downstairs to the baggage reclaim section and from there you’ll enter the arrivals hall.
There’s an information kiosk found centrally in the arrivals hall. If you’ve had any mishaps in flight, there’s also a small health centre there. For currency exchange or cash withdrawals you’ll find an exchange kiosk and a self-service banking outlet including an ATM.
To collect a pre-booked hire car you must go out of the terminal building and walk down the path to the separate building housing the rental company offices. All the final paperwork can be completed there ready for your departure. If you’re taking public transport to your destination there are the TAN buses that can take you straight to the city via the local railway stop. Taxis are also on hand for your convenience.
What About When I Leave Nantes?
There’s a good range of shopping at the airport once you’ve checked in and collected your boarding passes. Relay have a great range of travel related items plus newspapers, magazines and books. There are two fashion stores at the airport plus a large duty free outlet after security.
If you’re feeling peckish and want a last taste of delicious French food, try Le Marche which is renowned for the quality of its fare. Several other restaurants catering for different tastes are also available before and after security. When shopping and eating are done you can then connect to the airport’s Wi-Fi for a small fee and check your messages.