HOW TO SPEND 5 DAYS IN THE LOIRE

JULY 2026

In May I went back to the Loire. I was very impressed with the Loire the first time I visited in 2021 and always knew I was going to go back. The Loire is only a two hours drive from Paris, so it is very easy to combine the two. This trip we stayed in an appartment in Blois and I heavily researched the area before we went. In this blogpost I combined knowledge from my two trips. I have some recommendations for Blois itself (very good with kids!) and I highlight which castles to visit for which reason. I hope you are going to have an amazing time in the Loire!

Where to stay

If you are visiting the Loire mainly for the castles and gardens, Amboise and Blois are good options to stay. We chose Blois as we found an apartment to our liking and because it is closer to the Netherlands. Another idea is to switch locations halfway during the trip, as this would reduce the travel times to the castles. In the Loire you also have the opportunity to do a stay in or nearby a castle. The hotel right next to Chateau de Chambord seemed amazing! I remember from my last trip that it is also possible to stay in Chateau du Rivau. I preferred staying in a small city, as I was traveling with a small kid. Blois had plenty of playgrounds, gardens and even a small carrousel which was perfect for kids. But if you are looking for romance the Relais Chateau de Chambord seems like a great option.

La Loire a velo

The Loire a Velo is a 900 kilometers bicycle path connecting several castles. If you are looking for a sporty holiday you should definitely check this out. The section between Tours and Orleans has a very high density of castles and points of interest. Most hotels and chateaus have a bicycle parking as this is a popular activity. From Blois you can easily visit Chateau de Chambord and Chateau de Chaumont by bike, as both are within an hour of cycling. Unfortunately, we visited during a heatwave and it would have been too much with a small kid and a senior, so we didn’t join in on the fun. I did bring Hugo’s little bike with us, as in some castle parcs you are allowed to cycle. This brought him so much joy!

Things to do in Blois

As we had Blois as our base for discovering the Loire region, I specifically have some recommendations for Blois:

Guinguette

A Guinguette is an informal restaurant that often has live music. The Guinguette at Blois was very lively during the weekends, make sure to be on time if you want to have some food. Very affordable and popular. Lovely location at the riverside, next to a large playground.

Agl’eau

This is the communal swimming pool of Blois. We were really happy with the outdoor pool and slides as we visited during a heatwave. Make sure to check the opening hours as it seems to close early when there are swimming lessons and classes. I paid € 14 entrance fee as an adult with a kid.

Jardins de l’Évêché

Free and fabulous rose gardens offering great views over Blois. The opening hours seems to vary seasonally, so google before you visit. At the top of the garden, there is another playground for kids, which was mostly shaded.

Escalier Denis Papin

This staircase gets a makeover twice a year and will feature extensive streetart. When we found it on the first day there was no painting yet, but during the weeks the first paintings became visible. I am sure it is stunning when finished.

Castle of Blois

We didn’t get to visit the castle of Blois and its adjoining gardens, but I heard it is a great visit. We passed by at night, when it was closed, and great vibes all around.

Restaurants

The historical city center of Blois is filled with charming restaurants. Unfortunately not all of them opened early, which was a bit of an issue with a kid. But still, there was plenty of choice for us. We enjoyed the lively terrace of Le Clipper. I almost didn’t visit because of the bad reviews, but the food was very good and affordable. No extreme waiting times at the end of May and a very good kids menu. Chez Mamie Annie is famous for its burgers. Le Maryland is slightly more upscale than the average restaurant. A little bit more expensive but very good traditional dishes.

Which castles to visit in the Loire

All of the castles we visited had their own charm and I would recommend visiting them for different reasons. They all have a separate blogpost, which you will find in the links.