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Things to do in Tours, France

Castles and vineyards are just a taste of what this charming town in the Loire Valley has to offer.

Our most recommended things to do in Tours, France

Chenonceau Castle Admission ticket

1. Chenonceau Castle Admission ticket

Enjoy access to Chenonceau site and its wonderful gardens. This unusual castle was built on a bridge across the Cher River. To learn more about castle history, audio guides are available in 16 languages. The castle is located near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Indre-et-Loire department. Chenonceau castle, also known as the Chateau des Dames, is famous for the great heroines who lived there, such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis, and for the beauty of its Renaissance gardens. Chenonceau castle was also used as a military hospital during the First World War. Discover the rich history of this incredible fortress.

From Tours & Amboise: Day Trip to Chambord & Chenonceau

2. From Tours & Amboise: Day Trip to Chambord & Chenonceau

Benefit from pick-up by air-conditioned, 8-seater van and head to the picturesque Château de Chenonceau with magnificent Renaissance gardens. Then, go to Amboise for a wine tour with tastings. Visit Les Caves Ambacia for a wine experience and sample some of the wines of the Loire Valley at a tasting with a sommelier. Lunch at leisure in Amboise. Continue to Chambord for a guided tour of the chateau. Admire the fine details of the largest chateau in the Loire Valley, including a double helix staircase by Da Vinci. Get dropped off in Tours at 5.30 PM or Amboise at 6:00 PM. Admire the fine details of the largest chateau in the Loire Valley, including a double helix staircase by Da Vinci. Get dropped off in Tours at 6 PM or Amboise at 6:45 PM.

From Tours: Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at Family Chateau

3. From Tours: Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at Family Chateau

Travel back to the days of the French Renaissance on a full-day tour of the châteaux of the Loire Valley. Enjoy a lunch in a privately owned and still-occupied castle. Start with a visit to Chenonceau, and pass the must-see castles of the French “Valley of the Kings,” including Chaumont, Amboise, and Blois. Upon arrival at the Château de Chenonceau, admire the unusual castle built on a bridge across the Cher River.  Stroll through the manicured gardens, named after Catherine de Médicis and Diane de Poitiers, the famous women who once lived there. Take time to appreciate the refined architecture, beautiful antiques, and lovely arrangements of fresh flowers. Discover glorious works of art and architecture as your guide selects the most emblematic rooms to visit. On your way to lunch at the Chateau of Villesavin, admire authentic French villages and the countryside. Eat a traditional French lunch with local products and local wine. Arrive at Chambord and discover the apartments of Francis I. View the double helix staircase, an emblem of Chambord. Hear memorable anecdotes and see hidden details. Get breathtaking views of the castle during a coffee break in Chambord Park. Enjoy the most striking view of Château de Chambord, before ending your tour in the evening.

From Tours: Afternoon Loire Valley Wine Tour to Vouvray

4. From Tours: Afternoon Loire Valley Wine Tour to Vouvray

Meet your guide at the tourist office in Tours and drive in a minivan to Vouvray. Discover this beautiful wine area full of passionate winegrowers. Meet a French winemaker in a charming family-run estate. See the vines and visit the traditional vat room and the cellars. During this visit, you will improve your knowledge regarding wine-making and of course wine tasting. Elegant sparkling wines and white wines are produced in this area. After this first visit, explore one of the famous underground caves that were dug during the 10th century in order to extract stones and today used by a famous Loire Valley wine house for producing and storing wines. Throughout the afternoon, your guide will share his knowledge with you, to help you understand the diversity of Loire wines and their specific terroir. You will learn the different steps of wine tasting and train your nose to identify many wine aromas. Benefit from your guide's tips and tricks and learn to taste like a professional. Afterward, you will be driven back to Tours, where your tour will end. 

From Tours: Loire Valley Wineries Day Trip with Tastings

5. From Tours: Loire Valley Wineries Day Trip with Tastings

Explore the Bourgueil wine region famous for its Renaissance castles and wines. Tour around local wineries, and savor regional wines on this day trip from Tours. Begin by traveling to a traditional winery with your guide and learn about wine production from the grape to the bottle. See the vineyards and learn about the area's soil diversity that gives the wine a delicate and fruity taste. After that, arrive in Chinon, a charming small town surrounded by vineyards. Explore the picturesque town featuring preserved medieval half-timbered and Renaissance townhouses. Have time to stroll the streets, do a spot of shopping, or try some local Chinon specialties such as pork rillettes. After a break, enjoy a wine-tasting session in the famous Chinon wine region. Entice your palate with fine red wines produced in the area and hear how to detect different notes in the wine

Morning Tour to Villandry & Azay-le-Rideau

6. Morning Tour to Villandry & Azay-le-Rideau

Meet your guide in front of the Tourist Office of Tours at 9:30 AM and board the minivan for an amazing day in the Loire Valley. You will start with a visit to the Château d'Azay le Rideau, absolute prowess of Renaissance architecture. The perfection of the facade and its reflect on the Indre finish setting one of the most beautiful chateau of the Loire Valley. Your passionate guide will accompany you on all the visits and will share with you the stories of the estate. Then, arrival at the Château de Villandry to visit the gardens, a jewel of French heritage built during the Renaissance, by Jean Le Breton and inhabitated by the familly Carvallo for over a century. They put a true amount of work to give us the gardens of Villandry, a perfect replica of what the gardens looked like in the 16th century. An experience you will never forget. Arrive back in Tours around 1:30 PM.

From Tours: Full-Day Guided E-Bike Tour to Chambord

7. From Tours: Full-Day Guided E-Bike Tour to Chambord

What better way to discover the castles of the Loire than an electric bike tour. You will visit two magnificent castles: a charming family property and the prestigious Château de Chambord. Then have lunch in Chambord Park, and stroll through the estate, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. In e-bike mode, your perception changes and this excursion will allow you to enjoy this magnificent region “à la française!”.

Mont Saint-Michel & Chateaux Country 3-Day Tour from Paris

8. Mont Saint-Michel & Chateaux Country 3-Day Tour from Paris

Drive through the beautiful French countryside to discover Middle Age and Gothic-inspired architecture, and learn the intriguing history of Normandy and France from an expert guide. Cross to the tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel, and soak up the refinement of prestigious Loire Valley castles, such as the vast royal Château de Chambord. Day 1 (Friday): Traveling by luxury air-conditioned coach, depart Paris via the western districts and take the Normandy motorway as far as Mont Saint-Michel. Arriving at approximately midday, stop for lunch at the 4-star Relais Saint Michel, offering fantastic views across to the island. After lunch, ascend to the Abbey on the summit of the mount for a guided visit of its Gothic and Romanesque interior. Enjoy some time at leisure exploring the narrow, hilly streets before your departure for Angers, cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty, where you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the Hotel Mercure Lac de Maine (or similar accommodation). Day 2 (Saturday): After a hearty breakfast, drive to Langeais, passing Cunault and Saumur en route. Driving by vineyards, enjoy views of romantic castles on the horizon. Arrive at Château de Langeais to explore one of the best-known examples of late medieval architecture. Continue with a guided visit of Clos-Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci's last dwelling place. Stroll through the stunnning gardens of Villandry, and visit the old historic district of Tours on the lower reaches of the Loire. An evening meal will be served at your overnight stop in Tours at the Hotel Mercure. Day 3 (Sunday): Take a guide tour of the Château de Chenonceau, built on the site of an old mill across the River Cher. Continue to the decorative Château de Cheverny, used by Tintin creator, Hergé as the inspiration for his fictional Château de Moulinsart. After lunch at the Hotel Saint-Hubert, go to the Château de Chambord to explore the largest and most imposing castle in the Loire Valley. Admire the distinctive French Renaissance architecture, which blends impressively with traditional medieval forms.

From Tours: Half-Day Chambord Castle Guided Trip

9. From Tours: Half-Day Chambord Castle Guided Trip

Discover one of the most fascinating and beautiful castles in the Loire Valley and a UNESCO World Heritage Site on a half-day tour from Tours. Explore the Château de Chambord with a guide to learn about its history, architecture, and more. Admire the surrounding estate from the castle terraces. Meet your guide and be driven to the Château de Chambord. Upon arrival, follow your guide on a tour of the castle. Explore the main rooms, built to impress foreign visitors and ambassadors and demonstrate the power of the young King of France, Francis I (François 1er) in the early 16th century. After discovering some of the 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 84 staircases the castle is home to, discover the central axis: the famous double helix staircase thought to be inspired by the world of Leonardo da Vinci. Marvel at the unusual design. Learn about the building's Italian Renaissance style. Then, head to the terraces at the top of the castle for a fantastic view of the surrounding area, including the French-style gardens. Next, enjoy some free time to discover Chambord Castle on your own before your guide drives you back to Tours.

Tours: CoupleAdventure: fun game, challenges and city walk

10. Tours: CoupleAdventure: fun game, challenges and city walk

Explore Tours through an unusual, but fun adventure. Take part in an interactive smartphone game with your partner that will help you get to know each other even better. Unlock clues to your next destination by taking on tasks and answering tricky and funny questions about each other. You can choose English or German language for this self guided outdoor activity. You will download an app and all content (in English or German) in advance and then start your activity. Begin your game in the city center and allow the app to guide you from there. Receive instructions about how to move through the area and design your own route. Challenge yourself and your partner by acting as a team to solve even the trickiest questions and situational puzzles. Enjoy a special outdoor date and create long-lasting memories as a couple. Step away from mainstream sightseeing and create your own adventure. Take advantage of the bonus tasks to keep playing even after the city exploration game is over. Please notice: You will explore the area, but this city or its sights are not connected to the content of this outdoor adventure game.

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What people are saying about Tours, France

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 531 reviews

Absolutely outstanding tour. Worth every penny. Alex was incredible and extremely knowledgeable. She knew when to give explanations and be informative and then knew exactly when to let you have time to explore for yourself. It was the perfect balance. These castles are absolutely breathtaking and a multi sensory experience with the lunch built in. We spent two weeks in France and went on several tours. She was by far the absolute best.

These chateaus are an absolute must see. Charles was a great guide who is super knowledgeable about some of the lesser known (and, for me, more interesting) things about the chateaus and the people who lived and worked there. Lunch at Les Caves Ambacia was a really pleasant surprise as well.

The palace & the vicinity was beautiful and well-kept. I liked the way they arranged all the waypoints and landmarks. It’s easy to follow and very detailed. The history of the palace and it’s owners and inhabitants are also equally interesting. Would highly recommend.

Wonderful trip, well organized and very interesting. Excellent tour guide (Leona) and driver (Ibrahim). Highly recommended

Wonder your, wine tasting fun. Great host, meet other people too