How to Spend 24 Hours in Nîmes

Nimes from the rooftops
Nimes from the rooftops | © Joshua Morley / Flickr

Nestled in the South of France, Nîmes is a Mediterranean city with a strong Roman heritage. Explore the city’s ancient ruins and much more within 24 hours.

Morning

Start the day at Kitchenette Food Store
A lazy breakfast to start your day in Nîmes is a must – you’re in the South of France after all. Now, since we’ve got a more traditional affair for dinner, Kitchenette Food Store is the perfect choice if you’re looking for something more than just a croissant and coffee – although those are quite tasty as well. Situated in the old town with a few chairs street-side and a sweet terrace out back, Kitchenette Food Store is open from 9am every day, except Sundays. The owners serve up authentic, healthy breakfast dishes at a reasonable price.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Kitchenette Food Store in Montpellier

Explore Nîmes old town

One of the joys about 24 hours in Nîmes is that – unless you’re very unlucky – the weather should be balmy, if not crisp blue skies in winter. This is perfect ambling weather, which in an historic city like Nîmes gives you time to explore the charming streets and independent shops. Streets like Avenue du Général Perrier are great for shopping the French high-street brands, or you could try Rue de la Trésorerie for some independent stores. Head a couple of streets north and you’ll come to Porte Auguste, the first Roman road linking Italy to Spain, which is still incredibly in tact.

Pro tip: head to the south of the old town to see another of the old gates of the Roman city, Porte de France.

Nîmes old town is delightful

Pick up light lunch at Les Halles de Nîmes

The covered marketplaces in France are an institution. They’re where locals buy their morning bread, stock up on spices, fruits and vegetables, dine on the weekends, or stop for a morning espresso. Wander the aisles of Les Halles de Nîmes to taste flavours of the south, from regional produce to local delicacies. At lunchtimes and weekends especially, the small eateries in the market are buzzing with diners, although people are also shopping for ingredients to cook at home.

Pro tip: Lunch dining hours are quite set in France, usually between 12 – 2pm. To get a table make sure you head over to Les Halles as close to 12 as you can.

Afternoon

Walk off lunch in the Jardins de la Fontaine

Jardins de la Fontaine lies on the north-western edge of Nîmes‘ old town and is the perfect place to walk off whatever tasties you’ve indulged in at Les Halles. Dating back to the17th century, this impressive park was designed by King Louis XV, who wanted the city’s many Roman ruins and ancient remains to be displayed in a natural setting. So the park is a bit of an oasis in the heart of the city, with sweeping plane trees reaching toward the sky, ancient sculptures, as well as pathways and staircases linking all the different corners. Don’t miss another Roman highlight; the Temple de Diane.

Jardins de la Fontaine in Nimes

La Tour Magne
At the north of Jardins de la Fontaine is La Tour Magne, an 18-metre watchtower that was once part of the Roman city wall. There are incredible views from the top of the tower – there is a fee to climb to the top – but also from its foot as the building sits on an elevated spot in the city. Approach the tower by foot through the park by car on the Rue de la Tour Magne.
Visit Maison Carrée
When you’ve descended back down into the centre of Nîmes, final stop before diner is the incredible Maison Carrée. This Roman temple boasts one of the best-preserved facades of its kind and is still as impressive and imposing today as ever before. At the back of the temple, visitors can watch a short history of the temple, which makes its preserved state that bit more amazing. If you’ve still got some time before kicking off the evening, then amble across the square to the Norman Foster-designed Carré d’Art-Musée d’art contemporain. This modern art museum couldn’t be better placed, sitting opposite such an historic site, a juxtaposition of the city, old and new.

Pro tip: The Carré d’Art-Musée contains quite an extensive bookshop if you’re keen on buying any reading material on what you’ve seen so far in Nîmes.

The imposing Maison Carrée in Nimes

Evening

Dine at the Brasserie Le Napoléon

There are many fantastic restaurants in Nîmes to choose from, but for a 24-hour stint we’d have to pick the historic Brasserie Le Napoléon as the place to dine. The brasserie ran from 1813 to 2014 with almost no interruption – only closing for two years for extensive renovations. The new styling shows respect for the building’s history and its splendour of years gone by with the Second Empire architecture, including mouldings, gilding, and large mirrors throughout. It is a real monument in Nîmes, and there’s not a better place to dine for your whirlwind date with the city.

Attend a concert at the historic Arènes de Nîmes
Don’t worry, we weren’t forgetting the most iconic landmark in Nîmes: its amphitheatre. Built around 70 AD and then later remodelled for bull fighting, this Roman amphitheatre is really one of a kind. Now this is time-dependent, of course, but if you can, the best way to view this incredible and historic monument is by attending one of the many concerts held in it throughout the year. You’ll be able to explore the arena on a guided tour in the daytime, too, but there is something magical about the concerts at the Arènes de Nîmes.

Pro tip: There is also the Feria de Nîmes – Spanish-style bullfighting – held each year some time in May, which is another way to view the amphitheatre.

The historic amphitheatre in Nimes

Have a drink on the Boulevard Victor Hugo

End your day on the Boulevard Victor Hugo, one of the bustling avenues in the city where the whole stretch is lined with cafe after cafe. It’s just a stone’s throw away from the arena and to be honest you’re in the south of France – so sit back with a glass of rosé in hand and watch the world saunter off into the night.

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