The Best Hotels to Book in Tours for Every Traveller

The 18th-century Hôtel du Cygne, in Tours, makes a great base for your Loire Valley experience
The 18th-century Hôtel du Cygne, in Tours, makes a great base for your Loire Valley experience | Courtesy of Hôtel du Cygne / Expedia
Lily Plume

The Loire Valley is a Francophile’s dream: prestigious vineyards, glorious gastronomy and showstopping châteaux along the length of the River Loire. Base yourself in Tours to discover all that the region has to offer – and choose from our curated collection of hotels.

Follow the River Loire, and the Cher, a tributary, and you’ll pass some of the best-known châteaux in the whole of France. The castle in Saumur stands tall and proud, watching over the town like a king on his throne, while the Château de Chenonceau straddles the river in an optical illusion of reflected archways, windows and towers. In the midst of this historic countryside is Tours, where you’ll find elegant renovations, cosy guesthouses and even a Moroccan-style riad, all providing a royal night’s sleep.

1. Les Portes de L'Orient

Guesthouse, Riad

Lounge space at Les Portes de LOrient with sofas, two coffee tables and a large mirror
Courtesy of Les Portes de L'Orient / Expedia

Each of the four suites in this Moroccan-style riad transports you to a mystical land. Drift off in the Pamukkale Suite, where white marble sets off gilded fixtures in the bathroom, and layers of sheer curtains bathe the bedroom in a soft light. Or travel up to the Atlas Mountains in the Timimoun Suite, where ochre walls mimic smooth tadelakt and ornate lanterns cast a little mysticism over your dreams. Breakfast on msemen, traditional Moroccan pancakes, and dine on steaming tagines and couscous.

2. La Maison Jules

Guesthouse

Room at La Maison Jules with a wooden floor, patterned rug, white bookshelves with books and a daybed
Courtesy of La Maison Jules / Expedia

La Maison Jules offers the refinement of a hotel with the laid-back comfort of a guesthouse in the heart of Tours. Indulge in a game of chess or play the piano in the salon, or head for the library and dig out a good book. Your hosts can arrange bike rental and cooking classes, wine-tasting tours and castle visits, or the historic wonders of Tours are just moments away.

4. Central Parc

Apartment

Room at Central Parc with a bed, table, chair and kitchen area
Courtesy of Central Parc / Expedia

Looking for a more long-term rental in Tours? The eight studios and apartments of Central Parc, spanning a 19th-century building and a modern wing, are available to rent nightly, weekly and even monthly. Varying in size, all apartments have a warm home-from-home feel, featuring fully equipped kitchens and views over the Jardins des Prébendes d’Oé next door. There’s also a private garage if you’re arriving by car, or the train station is just a short walk away.

5. Le Clos Marie

Guesthouse

Terrace at Le Clos Marie with patterned tiles, a table, two red loungers and a red chair
Courtesy of Le Clos Marie / Expedia

From the homemade croissants at breakfast to the restaurant-standard dinner, everything is prepared with love and care at this idyllic guesthouse, just half an hour outside Tours. Drinks by the pool? Sausages for breakfast? Nothing is too much trouble for your hosts. The house sits in the lush Touraine countryside, and from your private terrace, you can watch the horses and donkeys trot about in the paddocks next door.

6. Hôtel Château Belmont

Boutique Hotel

Grand lounge at Belmont Tours with a painted ceiling, ornate light fixture, red carpet and sofas and chairs
Courtesy of Hôtel Belmont Tours / Expedia

Treat yourself to a stately stay at Château Belmont, a four-star hotel set on 2.5ha (6 acres) of wooded parks on the Loire side of Tours. The 65 rooms and suites are simple yet elegant; all have a kitchenette and minibar, while some come with a private terrace and garden view. The restaurant serves Touraine specialities such as roasted Sainte-Maure goat’s cheese, paired with a crisp Loire Valley white wine. The spa comprises an indoor pool, hammam and sauna, as well as beauty treatments using naturally luxurious Cinq Mondes products.

7. La Héraudière

Bed and Breakfast

Garden at La Héraudière Bed & Breakfast with a large lawned area, shrubs and trees and a few tables and chairs
Courtesy of La Héraudière / Expedia

The entrance to this tranquil Tours bed and breakfast takes you through a stone arch draped in wisteria and up a shady tree-lined drive. The airport is five minutes away and the city centre only 10, yet once you’ve settled yourself into an attic room – with exposed beams, old stone walls and views over the orchards and gardens – you’ll feel as if you’re staying in a quiet country retreat. Breakfast is not to be missed, with fresh-from-the-oven croissants and homemade yoghurts and jams.

8. Hôtel du Cygne

Hotel

Grand room at Hôtel du Cygne with dark-green walls, gold mirror and three beds with mustard throws
Courtesy of Hôtel du Cygne / Expedia

Choose from cosy attic rooms and colour-clashing ensuites at this stylishly renovated 18th-century hotel in the historic centre of Tours. The Quadruple room has the biggest wow factor, where teal walls are set off by gold trimmings, while 3D wall art, rattan pendant lamps and velvety bed throws add texture. Situated between Rue Colbert, which is line with the best restaurants in the city, and the antique heaven that is Rue de la Sellerie, this budget-friendly base is perfect for a weekend of bar-hopping and shopping in Tours.

9. Oceania L'Univers, Tours

Spa Hotel, Luxury

Indoor pool at Oceania LUnivers, with potted plants and a woman about to enter
Courtesy of Oceania L'Univers / Expedia

Since it opened in 1846, this luxury spa hotel in Tours has provided a top location at a surprisingly low cost. Ensuite rooms feature cloud beds, mood lighting and Rituals bath products, while La Touraine, the on-site restaurant, serves French cuisine with a twist – think crunchy snail spring rolls and stir-fried lobster. After-dinner entertainment comes in the shape of regular live jazz nights at the bar. For total relaxation, don’t miss the hotel spa, with an intriguing list of treatments including crystal healing and pink-coral and white-quartz body scrubs.

10. Appartement La Coupole

Apartment

Cosy lounge space at Appartement La Coupole with a sofa, table, framed prints and a 3D wooden sign reading Cuisine
Courtesy of Appartement La Coupole / Booking.com

Couples will love this one-bed studio on a quiet pedestrian street in the centre of Tours, just steps from the train station. It’s decked out in monochrome chic and comes with a well-stocked kitchen and widescreen TV – as well as toiletries in the bathroom. Rent a bike from the shop across the street to explore the Loire à Vélo, 800km (500mi) of cycling trails through the beautiful Loire Valley countryside, vineyards and châteaux.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article