Nimes Travel Guide

By Peter19 mins read

This city has a population of over 150,000 people, it is considered to be the hottest city in France and has more than 2000 years of history and culture. Textiles are also very popular here too.

Here you will find all the necessary information on what the attractions, best time of the year and places to stay are, plus much, much more.

Nimes is situated close to the French Mediterranean, and this gives it its phenomenal and attractive weather.

You can get either a taxi or a private transfer from the airport to your hotel, positive things to factor in about scheduling a transfer service is that you can do it ahead of time, which means that there will be one less thing to worry about, also that you will know everyone is driving to the hotel together.

Eating in Nimes can be a very interesting experience; France is very popular for its culinary qualities, and Nimes is famous for its particular food combinations.

>>Most Famous Monuments In France

Some Info About The City Of Nimes

This French city dates from 4000 B.C. when the first inhabitants settled down and had a number of different beautiful highlights. Roman influence is very strong and visible in the architecture since the city was initially located on Via Domitia: The first Roman road built in Gaul, it linked Hispania to Italy, and it was constructed in 118 BC.

Most buildings are very well preserved, and the city’s history is deep in meaning. The first inhabitants of this region were farmers, and later, during the Bronze Age population started growing significantly. Around 28 B.C., Nimes became a Roman colony, becoming the capital city of the Narbonne province.

Some of the highlights of the city are the Temple of Diane, a beautiful construction apparently used as Roman baths in the beginning and then used as a church. The Arena of Nimes is another interesting tourist destination since this amphitheater has served different purposes through centuries.

Here you will find all the necessary information on what the attractions, best time of the year and places to stay are, plus much, much more.

La Gardoise De Terrassement - Nimes Travel Blog

When to Travel to Nimes

It is in the middle of the year, June, July, and August that the weather in Nimes is at its best, with colorful and fresh sunny days, though it is always possible to visit it in general from May to November. Nimes is situated close to the French Mediterranean, and this gives it its phenomenal and attractive weather.

No matter what season you decide to pack up and visit it, the weather is never really bad, even during winter, since some tourists rather visit places in the low season, thus finding themselves in a non-touristic environment, not to mention that winter is not too cold.

Autumn and spring are very popular seasons to visit because temperatures are very moderate and enjoyable, and temperatures drop off only a bit during night time.

Nimes is neither too hot nor too cold, no matter what time of the year it is.

How To Get To Nimes

There is free information available at the airport from early in the morning until 7pm from Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays info desk closes at 6pm. The city center is located about 20 km. away from the airport.

There are no gangways in case of rain, so be aware you might get wet through the hundred meters distance to the first hall.

There are several rent-a-car desks available at the airport as well. The airport itself is not very big, but it runs properly with efficient service and a parking lot. In case you need to use the parking lot, remember that you get a ticket as you drive in, and you have to pay as you drive away.

The bus stop is only 50 meters away from the airport exit, and the bus times go along with the flight arrival times, so in case you feel like taking the bus; remember, they will drop you in the city center too.

Getting Around Nimes

It is true that in such small a city, as Nimes is, walking seems quite convenient since you can get most attractions on foot, but in case you donīt like walking remember that the buses are definitely a good way to get around Nimes since they go pretty much everywhere from Monday to Sunday, even holidays; they also get to communities and more rural areas. Get yourself a weekly pass so you wonīt have to worry about getting separate tickets.

There are two types of taxis: Formal and informal. In case of taking a formal taxi, remember you can call them 24 seven or get them from one of the many taxi stops. These taxis have a meter, so make sure your driver turns it on when required. In the case of informal taxis, remember that you need to set a fare before taking them.

Rent a car if you like driving, but beware you will, most likely, end up paying to park your car in a parking lot since parking in the streets is not that easy.

Eating in Nimes

Eating in Nimes can be a very interesting experience; France is very popular for its culinary qualities, and Nimes is famous for its particular food combinations.

Traditional food from Nimes includes the very popular “Brandade”, which is salt cod and olive oil. The way it is prepared in Nimes is very particular; therefore, having this dish is a must for every tourist. It can be eaten with bread, and this dish is frequently eaten during winter.

Prices vary highly depending on the food and restaurant; a menu can go from €11 to €45. Some restaurant suggestions are:

Restaurant Le Bouchon du marché

Address: 23 rue de l’Etoile
Telephone: 04 66 23 15 49

Le Lisita Restaurant

Address: 2, boulevard des Arènes
Telephone: 33 0 4 66 67 29 15

Aux Plaisirs des Halles

Address: 4 rue Littré
Telephone: 04 66 36 01 02

Le Bouchon et l’Assiette

Address: Chemin du Saussois
Telephone: 0 67 331 814

Hotel Imperator-Concorde

Address: Quai de la Fontaine | 30900 Nimes | Francia
Telephone: 33 0 4 66 21 90 30

Best of Nimes

There are several amazing, breathtaking places to visit in Nines. Because of the mixture of history, architecture, and modern life, it is an obligatory stop for whoever travels by the South of France. Here some of the places we strongly recommend you to visit:

Try the historical center walking through its beautiful streets where you will find the Crocodile Fountain (the Crocodile chained to a palm represents the victory of Rome over Egypt). You should also try the street of merchants and the street of Aspic.
A mandatory stop is Nimes Cathedral: A beautiful Roman Catholic cathedral. It is believed that the cathedral was built on the place where the Temple of August was first built. It has got a Neo-Gothic style, and it was built around 1880.
The Temple of Diane is another attractive destination in Nimes, walking distance from the Jardins de la Fontaine, this temple was actually not a temple, but it was originally built as Roman baths and later on became a church. Unfortunately, this building was hardly damaged during the Wars of Religion. Its name comes from a misinterpretation since a statue of Diane was found by excavators long ago. Opening times vary depending on the month of the year, and there is no entrance fee.
Jardins de la Fontaine are beautiful gardens considered one of the most beautiful attractions in Nimes. Created in the 18th century, it has real-sized statues, something that contributes to its beauty. A beautiful fountain and different canals plus all the aforementioned attributes make this place a mandatory stop if you are travelling through southern France.

Museums of Nimes

Archaeological Museum

In a Jesuit College, this museum has Age and Gallo ceramics on exhibitions, pieces are both local and regional. It works from 10am to 6pm.

Address: 13, boulevard Admiral Courbet
Telephone: 33 4 66 76 74 80

Fine Arts Museum

It has art pieces from different countries such as Holland, French, and Italy. The collection possesses different works: Paintings, mosaics, and sculptures that come from 15th, 17th, and 18th centuries, making this museum the largest in Nimes.

Address: Rue Cité Foulc (1 block away from the Arenas)
Telephone: 33 04 66 67 38 21

Museum of Natural History

Located in a chapel from the 17th century, this museum shows natural sciences at their best. It also includes interesting samples of prehistoric mammals and reptiles. This is an important place to visit for whoever is into science.

There is no fee for entrance, and it works from 10am to 6pm.

Address: 13, Boulevard Amiral Courbet
Telephone: 33 0 4 66 76 73 46

Contemporary Arts Museum

This is a very dynamic museum. Here, the exhibitions are renewed, and activities are regular. The building is by itself interesting since it was built to complement the Maison Carrée. There are temporary presentations and concerts available as well. It is open from 10am to 6pm.

Address: Maison Carrée
Telephone: 33 0 4 66 76 35 70

Shopping in Nimes

What place could be better for shopping than one that does not only have beautiful streets, different cultural influences but is also a modern city?

The best thing about Nimes when it comes to shopping is that everything is walking distance! And the main area for shopping in town is, as a matter of fact, downtown, around Général-Perrier street, Marchands street, and Madeleine street to be precise.

If you want to have a bite while shopping, try Aux Pates Fraiches for interesting food, it is located in des Broquers street.

Don´t forget to pay a visit to the daily market in the very center of Nimes at Les Halles. For clothes shopping, try a very fashionable place called Cacharel located fairly close to Maison Caree.

If you feel like finding out more about bullfighting, there is a shop called “El Duendecillo” located in 20 rue Fresque. They have a very particular idea of sales so give it a try, even if you don´t support bullfights it may be interesting to know a little more about them.

Weather – Nimes Travel Guide

What we can determine from now when it comes to Nimes is that its weather is, in general, very nice. This is one of the factors that make this city more attractive to tourism.

Rainfall is high during the year (20 to 70 ml. a year approx.) so it is always a good idea to carry a raincoat with you whenever you visit Nimes. It is October when most precipitations occur.

The two most beautiful and attractive seasons of the year are spring and autumn, and whenever the temperature drops, it has more to do with the wind, so you can always carry a light jacket with you after 4pm.

Summer takes place during the middle of the year, which is June, July, and August. Summer is nice having, literally, half the day of sunshine, and temperatures may raise up to 30 degrees Celsius.