Créé par Emilie, le 7 mai 2026
Votre guide Ryo
© Shutterstock
If you're traveling in northeastern France, you'll likely make a stop in the lovely riverside city of Nancy. Whether you spend a weekend, a week, or more there, you'll find plenty of things to do and see in this little corner of paradise, away from the big city. With its Art Nouveau heritage, it's typically the kind of place where you want to capture moments by taking beautiful photos. Moreover, depending on when you go, you'll always be delighted to enjoy varied activities that not only educate but also entertain: walks, sports, museum visits, tastings of local products... For this, we've prepared a little list of points of interest to visit.
What to do in Nancy?
1. Place Stanislas
Category: €€/Cultural
Description: Of course, we couldn't start this ranking any other way. Bordered by the city hall, Place Stanislas was voted the French people's favorite monument in 2021. And even today, it continues to be considered a true work of art by all those who pass through it. Needless to say, this is THE main attraction to absolutely see first in Nancy. Entirely pedestrian, it constitutes the very heart of Nancy. People love to stroll nearby, sit and chat while eating ice cream, pass by on bike or roller skates. With its 106 x 124 meters, its four pavilions house the Grand Hôtel de la Reine, the Opera, and the Fine Arts museum. And if you're wondering who created this marvel, in the center, you can see a statue of Stanislas Lesczzynski, King of Poland, but also Duke of Lorraine.
2. Visit the city and enjoy a delicious meal
Category: €€/Cultural/Gastronomic
Description: Leave the car aside and opt for a more ecological and healthier means of transportation for your body: your legs! Yes, by taking the time to walk while discovering the city, you'll be able to notice all the small details it contains, which are part of its cultural and historical identity. It's also an excellent family activity for children, who regularly need to exercise. On your route, don't hesitate to chat with the city's inhabitants, admire the architecture of buildings or churches you'll encounter, learn more about the Art Nouveau style, and spend a few hours in the street shops that offer unique and atypical objects and artworks. Finally, at noon, take time to stop at a sublime restaurant in an enchanting setting, while enjoying a local specialty on the terrace.
3. Pépinière Park
Category: Sports
Description: Head to the middle of the historic center. What the people of Nancy affectionately call the "Pep" stands there before your still eyes, yet seeming so alive. With its 21 hectares, Pépinière Park is undoubtedly the most important green space in all of Nancy. Originally, it was founded by Stanislas to replace the former ducal gardens as well as the bastions of the Old Town. Since 1835, it has been a park open to all, eager to admire the splendid trees that proudly stand there, as well as the magnificent rose gardens that adorn the earth, dressing it in colorful and joyful attire. With family, friends, or lovers, it's an excellent place to come running, exercise, play mini-golf, admire animals from the animal area, bike, or why not settle down for a picnic. Open from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM with free access, we recommend going there at the end of the day to admire the sunset that caresses your skin with its warm and luminous rays.
4. The Fine Arts Museum
Category: €€/Cultural
Description: Dating from 1793, the Fine Arts Museum is undoubtedly THE place where you'll learn more about Nancy's history, its inhabitants, and its cultural heritage. The museum's collections focus mainly on European history, or more precisely, the history of European art, in all its splendor and purest essence. Spanning from the end of the Middle Ages to the contemporary period, the museum makes room for design. As mentioned earlier, it's located on Place Stanislas, in the city center, and is partly equipped with an auditorium, a graphic arts cabinet, and a workshop for children. But if there's one room to visit at all costs, it's: the vestiges of the city's fortifications, dating from the 15th to 17th centuries. You'll travel back in time to arrive at the famous era of the former Duchy of Lorraine, with an entire collection of Daum glassware. Fantastic!
5. Stroll along the urban artistic route
Category: Cultural/Unusual
Description: Do you love art? Or rather street art? What we see everywhere nowadays, and which has been gaining more and more momentum in recent years, has quickly conquered Nancy... And made it a true city filled with colors and joy. When you stroll through the streets, watch carefully and be on the lookout, because behind certain walls, hide drawings from contemporary art. A true open-air museum, from the ground to the houses, graffiti has been drawn whose perfectly executed geometric forms testify to Nancy's artistic heritage. A true living tableau, with people walking around, who unknowingly animate and are also part of the canvas. Admiring the different frescoes and artworks throughout the city will not only make you love street art even more but also allow you to take some of the most beautiful photos of your stay.
6. Arc de Triomphe Héré
Category: €€/Cultural
Description: Located at 23 Rue Héré, this monument with royal appearance inspired by that of Septimius Severus in Rome, glorifies the former King of France Louis XV. You can indeed see him, represented in portrait, at the top of the edifice. Like many others, we owe this monument to Stanislas (he had it built in the 18th century to honor his son-in-law who was none other than Louis XV), its architecture magnificently complements Nancy's Royal Square. The Héré arch is among the oldest post-Roman arches built on French territory. This is a unique jewel that is part of the city's identity and makes its inhabitants proud. Listed as a historical monument since 1923 and inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1983, the Arc de Triomphe, imbued with great history that we leave you to discover more deeply on site, turns many heads every time they pass by this immense edifice.