How to spend one day in Nancy, France

Nancy is located in the north of France, right along the Route du Soleil. It is therefore the perfect city to visit if you are on your way to your holiday destination in the South of France. The center of Nancy is easy to explore, so you can visit all the highlights in one day. Nancy really surprised us and we want to give you tips on how to spend a day in this beautiful city.
Nancy France
Nancy France

How to spend one day in Nancy, France

Nancy is located in the north of France, right along the Route du Soleil. It is therefore the perfect city to visit if you are on your way to your holiday destination in the South of France. The center of Nancy is easy to explore, so you can visit all the highlights in one day. Nancy really surprised us and we want to give you tips on how to spend a day in this beautiful city.
Nancy is located in the north of France, right along the Route du Soleil. It is therefore the perfect city to visit if you are on your way to your holiday destination in the South of France. The center of Nancy is easy to explore, so you can visit all the highlights in one day. Nancy really surprised us and we want to give you tips on how to spend a day in this beautiful city.

Stroll past the most beautiful squares

One of the most impressive squares in Nancy is Place Stanislas and has rightly been awarded a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This gigantic square is surrounded by special buildings, such as the opera house and the town hall, black and gold detailed gates and on every corner you will find imposing fountains. This gives the square a prosperous and luxurious appearance. In the center of the square is the statue of King Louis XV. Place Stanislas is the connector of the city. From here you can easily go to all other highlights.

From Place Stanislas, walk under a triumphal arch to the breathtaking Place de la Carrière. It seems as if you are going back to the 18th century, in the time of the Renaissance. Jousts and tournaments used to be held on this square. The long, wide square is surrounded by two rows of trees and on both sides you are surrounded by beautiful architecture.

Place D’Alliance is also worth a visit. This square has a beautiful fountain in the center and is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Tip: Rent a bike and cross from square to square, so you are sure that you don’t miss anything!

Visit food halls and vintage markets

In Nancy you can stroll around at various markets. How about the covered food hall Marche Central with fresh vegetables, roasted nuts and the most colorful herbs. If you like unique items, then stroll through beautiful alleys through the vintage market where you can buy special antiques.

Taste macarons, the specialty de Nancy

You have to try one of Nancy’s colorful specialties: macarons. They come in all colors, shapes and flavors such as raspberry, coconut, pistachio, mocha, lemon, caramel. We definitely recommend the delicious macarons from Chocolats de Neuville.

Relax at Parc de La Pépinière

Nancy’s largest park is the enchanting Parc de la Pépinière. It is the perfect place to recover from the bustle of the city, in the middle of nature. Here you will find beautiful flowers, baroque statues and fountains. In addition to relaxing, you can also do many fun activities here, such as mini golf, walking through the rose garden, attending a concert in the music dome, tasting the most delicious waffles or churros at various stalls. There is even a zoo (!), where you can spot monkeys, peacocks, goats and donkeys.

Admire the free light show Rendez Vous

On warm summer evenings, between June and September, Place Stanislas offers a colorful and free light show. We reserved a spot at Pizzaria Michel Angelo and ate delicious pizzas, watched the dreamy sunset and enjoyed the colorful light show Rendez Vous, which projects the history of Nancy on the facades of the buildings.


We are Abel & Danique, the enthusiastic travel couple behind HappyTravelSpots. With this blog we want to prepare you for your next travel so you know where to find all the happy travel spots. 

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