Where to stay in Nîmes?

Où Dormir à Nimes

Are you planning to visit or stay in the « French Rome », the prefecture of the Gard department? Find out where to stay in Nîmes?

Situated between the lower Rhône valley and the Languedoc plain, between the Mediterranean and the Cévennes, the city of Nîmes is the prefecture of the Gard département (30) and one of the most visited cities in the south of France: with its breathtaking historical and cultural heritage, Nîmes is one of the best open-air remains of the Roman Empire. With a population of 150,672 and 266,175 in the entire urban area, spread over 161.85 km², Nîmes is mainly visited for its ideal climate, its ancient remains – arenas, Maison Carrée, Tour Magne, sanctuaire de la Fontaine – and its ferias and festivals. Nîmes was at once Roman, Camargue, Cevennes, Languedoc, Provençal and Hispanic, a Protestant stronghold during the wars of religion in the 17th and 18th centuries, and a mecca for textile production (denim).

Accommodation in Nîmes, the « French Rome », can be relatively expensive if you visit in summer and depending on the area. Here’s where to stay in Nîmes, what to do and what to see.

Central Nîmes

Loger à Nimes, Centre

Photo credit: Pixabay – PcDazero

Nicknamed l’Écusson – as in Montpellier – the hyper-center is the city’s historic district and one of its most popular. Symbolically, it’s the birthplace of the famous writer Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897). It’s home to most of the historic monuments visited by millions of tourists every year: the arena, the Maison Carré, the Porte d’Auguste and the Tour de l’Horloge. A peaceful atmosphere reigns supreme in the narrow streets of the center, dotted with friendly bars and restaurants, as well as small shops where you can do your shopping. Don’t miss a visit to the Musée du Vieux Nîmes, the prefiguration gallery of the future Musée de la Romanité, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Arènes (of course), the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Castor, and finish off with a stroll along the Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle. This is the most central area to stay in Nîmes, but also the most touristy, so you can do and see everything on foot.

La Placette

A small district to the west of the Écusson, this is Nîmes’ working-class district, with a strong Protestant and Gypsy identity. It is home to a particularly active network of associations, livened up by the sounds of flamenco, and where residents indulge in their passions: pétanque and bullfighting. Strolling through the neighborhood’s narrow streets, you feel like you’re in a world of your own: a small, popular village in the city where everyone knows everyone else. If you’re looking to escape the tourist hustle and bustle of the city’s ancient center, this is the place to stay in Nîmes.

Cadereau

Drift further west to find the Cadereau district, crossed by Avenue Jean Jaurès and Quai de la Fontaine. This is a residential area adjoining the town center, in the immediate vicinity of the Jardins de la Fontaine – including the Bains Romains – and the Tour Magne, where you can enjoy the commercial soul of the district: bars, restaurants and shops of all kinds.

Feuchères-Triangle

This district forms an imaginary « V » to the south of the Écusson, and is home to an ideal stopping-off point for tourists: the Nîmes SNCF train station. Crossed by boulevard Talabot and avenue Feuchères, it’s an ideal place to stay in Nîmes, just a stone’s throw from the city center, taking advantage of all it has to offer – walks, terraces and shops – especially if you have an early morning train to catch, without taking public transport.

Main photo credit: Pixabay