Tours

Travel Guide

Tours featuring outdoor eating, cycling and heritage architecture
Tours
Tours featuring outdoor eating and dining out
Saint Martin Basilica featuring heritage architecture, heritage elements and a church or cathedral
Tours which includes shopping

Relax in the quaint central plaza of this former Roman city, which is a hub of historic remnants, art and elegant churches.

In the center of France, Tours is a quaint city surrounded by vineyards. The Loire River passes through the region on its way to the Atlantic coast. The city is famous for the Battle of Tours in A.D 732. Find museums, galleries, churches and parks as you wander through its many medieval alleys, streets and plazas.

The Musée des Beaux-Arts is in a former bishop’s palace. Browse more than 1,000 works of art including  paintings and sculptures by Monet, Rubens, Rembrandt, Rodin and others. Explore the courtyard and colorful gardens of the grand structure. 

Place Plumereau, a square in the center of the city, is home to upscale restaurants and cafés. Sip coffee in the al fresco seating. Admire the black-and-white façades of the historic buildings lining the sides of the plaza. The area is a popular meeting point as one of the most recognizable parts of Tours.

Visit the Prieure de Saint-Cosme, ruins of a priory from the 11th century. Discover old furniture and relics from the Middle Ages. The scenic garden is dedicated to the 16th-century poet, Pierre de Ronsard, who lived at the priory for several decades.

Make your way to the Tours Cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century. Note the blend of Renaissance and Gothic architecture. Inside you’ll find a 16th-century organ.  

See the giant 19th-century Saint Martin Basilica. Admire its neo-Byzantine design and stained-glass windows. Its western clock tower dates back to the original church built on this site honoring the Bishop of Tours from the fourth century. 

The regional French dialect spoken in Tours is said to be neutral and easy to understand. Tours was formerly known as Caesarondunum (Caeser Hill) in Roman times. The current name of the city resembles the former Gallic term, Turones.

Tours is easy to reach from Paris, just over an hour on the TGV train. Enjoy a pleasurable vacation browsing these historic sites in the Loire Valley.

Where to stay in Tours

Place Plumereau which includes a small town or village

Tours City Centre

4.5/5(15 area reviews)

Tours City Centre is noteworthy for its historical sites, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Place Plumereau and Saint Martin Basilica.

Tours City Centre
Tours Cathedral which includes heritage architecture and heritage elements

Old Town Tours

5/5(1 area review)

Old Town Tours is noteworthy for its historical sites, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Saint-Gatien Cathedral and Saint Martin Basilica.

Old Town Tours
Musee des Beaux-Arts showing a statue or sculpture

Cathédrale

While visiting Cathédrale, you might make a stop by sights like Saint-Gatien Cathedral and Tours Fine Arts Museum.

Cathédrale
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La Fuye-Velpeau

4/5(4 area reviews)

While La Fuye-Velpeau isn't home to many top sights, Saint-Gatien Cathedral and Tours Fine Arts Museum are some notable places to visit nearby.

La Fuye-Velpeau
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Les Halles

When in Les Halles, you can plan a visit to Saint Martin Basilica and Place Plumereau, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Les Halles
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Quartier Giraudeau

Though Quartier Giraudeau may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Botanical Garden and Saint Martin Basilica.

Quartier Giraudeau
Château Belmont Tours by The Crest Collection
Château Belmont Tours by The Crest Collection
4 out of 5
57 Rue Groison, Tours, Indre-et-Loire
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Tours. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the room service in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9/10 Wonderful! (589 reviews)
"Beautiful property!"

Reviewed on 4 Jul 2025

Château Belmont Tours by The Crest Collection
Campanile Tours Nord - Forum Melies
Campanile Tours Nord - Forum Melies
3 out of 5
5 Impasse 207 Rue De La Presle, Esplanade Vaucanson, Tours, FR
The price is HK$551 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
HK$551
HK$639 total
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Tours. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (442 reviews)
"Comfortable for a one night overnight stop. Access to the hotel not very easy - only option is via underground car park, and this is space dependent"

Reviewed on 12 Jan 2025

Campanile Tours Nord - Forum Melies
Nemea Appart Hotel Quai Victor Tours Centre
Nemea Appart Hotel Quai Victor Tours Centre
3 out of 5
6 Rue Marcel Tribut, Tours
The price is HK$502 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
HK$502
HK$584 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star spa residence in Tours. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Tours Fine Arts Museum and Saint-Gatien ...
8/10 Very Good! (443 reviews)
"Good location, fine overall. Good value. Did see some suspect people outside in evening/early mornings"

Reviewed on 9 Jun 2025

Nemea Appart Hotel Quai Victor Tours Centre
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Nemea Appart Hotel Quai Victor Tours Centre
Nemea Appart Hotel Quai Victor Tours Centre
3 out of 5
6 Rue Marcel Tribut, Tours
Stay at this 3-star spa residence in Tours. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Tours Fine Arts Museum and Saint-Gatien ...
8/10 Very Good! (443 reviews)
"Good location, fine overall. Good value. Did see some suspect people outside in evening/early mornings"

Reviewed on 9 Jun 2025

Nemea Appart Hotel Quai Victor Tours Centre
City Résidence Tours
City Résidence Tours
3 out of 5
41 Rue Edouard Vaillant, Tours, Indre-et-Loire
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Tours. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Tours Fine Arts Museum and Prébendes ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (388 reviews)
"Friendly welcome."

Reviewed on 12 Jul 2024

City Résidence Tours
Appart Hotel Odalys City Tours Le Jardin des Lettres
Appart Hotel Odalys City Tours Le Jardin des Lettres
49 bis Boulevard de Preuilly, Tours, Indre-et-Loire
Stay at this aparthotel in Tours. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (476 reviews)
"Good for money, near old city"

Reviewed on 9 Sep 2024

Appart Hotel Odalys City Tours Le Jardin des Lettres
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Tours

4.1
Top destination
5 - Excellent
10
5 - Excellent 43%
4 - Good
8
4 - Good 35%
3 - Okay
3
3 - Okay 13%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 4%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 4%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

It’s a very beautiful city and has a lot of fun and great service.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Since we were there overnight only, we can't comment in detail. However, the hotel was no more than a 10 minute stroll from the restaurant district which had plenty to choose from.

2/5 - Disappointing

John-DAVIS

I would advise anyone wanting to stay in Tours to use the mercure in the north of the city NOT the MERCURE CENTRE GARE ET CONGRES

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Lovely picturesque town. But like all towns gets you timings right for lunch because the quaint loval restaurants shut at 2 and then your left with the tourist eateries and that can be expensive. Still good food though.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Great city. Lots to see and do.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Visited several times and always a great town to visit whilst passing through france