Transportation in NANTES
Bus & Tram
Nantes has 3 tramway lines and several bus networks. Commerce is the main transfer point, where you will definitely pass by. You can buy tickets using your smartphone, on the bus or at the ticket machines present at the tram stops. The price depends whether you want to buy a single ticket, which costs €1,60, or a package with 10 tickets which will cost you €14.50. Either way, each ticket lasts for 1 hour during which you can hop on and off as much as you want. If you bought the Nantes Pass, you can use the public transportation for free and you will not have to buy another ticket. You can also register for a monthly ticket at 32 euros (if you are under 26 years old). With this ticket you can travel unlimited around Nantes. To save money and if you stay one year you should register for an yearly ticket for 240 euros.
If you want more information, or need a map or timetable of one line or to buy your ticket:
Espace TAN – 2 Allée Brancas (Tramway line 1, 2, 3, Stop at Commerce)
02 40 44 44 44
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday: from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Bike rental
Nantes is a particularly bike-friendly town, with many bike lanes and trails. Bikes are available for rental through three different companies:
1: Bicloo:
Just as in other big cities, Nantes has a shared bicycle system. The idea is that you can take a bike at wherever TAN station in the city you want and you drop it off at one of the other 102 stations somewhere else in the city center. The price of the bikes will depend on the time you used them. The first 30 minutes are free, the next half hour will cost you €0.50, between an hour and 90 minutes will be €1,50 and over 90 minutes will cost you €2. Be aware the to rent a bike, you must create an account with the service and add money to your account. For more information go to Espace TAN, 2 Allée Brancas (Tramway line 1, 2, 3, Stop at Commerce).
2: Vélocampus:
It is an association of the University of Nantes that lends bikes to students only for one semester (35 euros) or for one year (September to June for 55 euros). You book a bike you have to have a paper proving that you are living in Nantes, your Students Card, your ID car and a deposit of 170 euros. You can find this association in front of "petit port" swimming pool so 3, chemin de la Censive du Tertre. It is open Tuesday to Friday between 2-6pm. For more information. www.velocampus.net
3: NGE:
You can lend bikes through the City of Nantes. Rates range from 10€ per day to 30€ per month for a short rental time. If you need a long term rental (3 months: 20€/month, 1 year: 10€/month) If you have the TAN card, you can ask for a 25% discount. For more information: Parking Commerce, Place du commerce - 44000 NANTES. Monday to Saturday: 8:15 am to 8pm. www.velos-nantes.fr
Also be aware that each September in Nantes there is one stock exchange bicycles day or you can try to find a bike in a Carboot on Sunday (look at http://brocabrac.fr/index.php?dept=44 to know where are the carboots).
Taxi
Taxis are present all around the city, if you do not find an empty one driving around in the streets, you can go to a waiting station for taxis. There is one at commerce and at the North and South entrance of the train station.
Another option is to call the taxi companies directly. The 3 main companies are listed below:
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Allo Taxi Nantes Atlantique à Tél : 02 40 69 22 22
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Oh-Taxi à Tél : 02 28 00 00 82
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ABC Taxis à Tél : 02 40 65 59 00 ou 06 08 01 05 39
Car rental
If your driver’s license is valid in France, you may rent a car. If you only need to rent a car for a short trip, consider using the Marguerite car rental service. It is managed by the city of Nantes and allows you to rent by the hour or by the kilometre. Their rental stations can be found at www.imarguerite.com
You can also choose to rent a car from a private company:
Avis: www.avis.fr/Locationvoiture/Europe/France/Nantes
Europcar: www.europcar-atlantique.fr
Ucar: www.ucar.fr
Super U: https://www.magasins-u.com/u-location?