Nantes, the historic capital of Brittany and once one of Europe’s busiest shipbuilding centres, has completed one of the continent’s most ambitious urban reinventions. Where derelict warehouses and rusting cranes once defined the Île de Nantes, today you’ll find a green, walkable cultural playground. Its crown jewel, Les Machines de l’Île, continues to evolve in 2025 with expanded programming and public art, captivating visitors with Jules Verne-inspired creations like the towering Grand Éléphant and the rotating Carrousel des Mondes Marins. Just across the Loire, the Musée d’Arts de Nantes—founded by Napoleon—remains one of France’s finest regional art institutions, with a collection that spans from classical masters to modern provocateurs. It’s yet another reason the city is increasingly seen as a quieter, more sustainable alternative to Paris.
The former European Green Capital (2013) continues to double down on its eco-credentials, expanding its cycleways and public transport options, helping Nantes rank #21 for Biking. Tourism is up again this year, thanks in part to new direct Ryanair flights from across the UK and a growing international reputation for uncrowded, under-the-radar cities. The 15th-lowest poverty rate in Europe is yet another ingredient in the Nantes special blend.