Nimes for under £100 a night: a budget guide to exploring ‘The Rome of France’
Nîmes, a city in the south of France, is an attractive destination for a short break
Nîmes is home to Roman ruins and a world-class collection of contemporary art and architecture.
There is an easily walkable old town with narrow streets and cozy squares with cafes, making this southern French city attractive for a short break.
Where to stay
Appart’City Nîmes Arenes
A five-minute walk from Nîmes Center train station, this grand 19th-century mansion – formerly the town’s post office – has been a comfortable aparthotel since 2016. Rooms are decorated with modern furnishings – some have original features such as fireplaces and parquet floors. All rooms have a kitchenette. Double rooms from £83 (appartcity. com).
Nîmes has an easily walkable old town with narrow streets and cozy squares with cafes. Base yourself at Appart’City Nimes Arenes, which is a five-minute walk from Nimes Center train station
Appart’City Nimes Arenes is housed in a grand 19th-century mansion that used to be the town’s post office
Square Hotel
Aside from being spotlessly clean and having spacious rooms for up to four people, the main attraction of this three-star hotel, on the eastern side of the old town, is its fourth-floor rooftop terrace.
It’s a great place for breakfast or an evening drink, although you’ll need to bring your own as there’s no bar. Doubles from £57 (squarehotel-nimes.com).
Hotel des Tuileries
Check in at the Hotel des Tuileries, around the corner from the Philippe Starck-designed Abribus bus stop (above). Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
A homely hotel, run by a British couple, on a residential street around the corner from the Abribus bus stop designed by Philippe Starck.
Ask for a room with a small balcony so you can sit outside and enjoy a craft beer or wine from the bar on the ground floor. Breakfast bread and pastries come from the neighboring bakery. Doubles from £65 (hoteldestuileries.com).
Hotel de l’Amphitheater
Created from two adjoining 17th and 18th century mansions, this 11-room hotel near the Roman Arena has been renovated in a minimalist, southern French style. There’s no elevator to get to the top two floors, but at least you’ll work off the made-to-order breakfast. Double rooms from £78 (hoteldelamphitheatre.com).
What to see and do
Rome around
Nîmes is a former Roman colony and has attractions such as Maison Carree, a well-preserved temple, and the amphitheater (£11.40, arenes-nimes.com). For floor mosaics, head to the Musee de la Romanite (from £7.90; museedelaromanite.fr).
Admire the floor mosaics at the Musee de la Romanite – tickets cost from £7.90
Fun in denim
The Musee du Vieux Nimes (£4.40; Place aux Herbes) has an exhibit on the history of denim, which is believed to have originated in Nîmes.
Great modern art
It’s the 30th anniversary of the Carre d’Art, designed by Norman Foster and featuring a modern art collection (from £7. carreartmusee.com).
See the modern artworks in the Carre d’Art, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year
Admire the market
Les Halles de Nimes, an indoor market, has stalls brimming with tempting local produce (leshallesdenimes.fr).
Where to eat
Le Bistrot de Tatie Agnes
You’ll need to be quick to get one of the few tables at this lunch-only, hole-in-the-wall, in an alleyway just south of Maison Carree. Try a salad: ‘La Nimes’ consists of tapenade (olive spread), anchoiade (anchovy dip) and brandade (salted cod mixed with olive oil and cream) for £9 (lebistrotdetatieagnes.eatbu.com).
Le Napo
This pistachio-colored café, with a monumental painted and molded ceiling, has been a popular meeting place for locals since 1813. Pop in for a coffee (£3.25) and cake (£3.70) or for lunch or dinner. There is a plat du jour for £9.50 and snacks such as terrine (coarse pâté) with bread from £5.70 (le-napo.fr).
Le Nicholas
Le Nicolas is a family run restaurant serving ‘good regional food’
Run by the same family for 62 years, this cozy restaurant with exposed beams, stone walls and brightly tiled floor serves good quality regional dishes such as gardiane de taureau – bull meat slow cooked in red wine – from £13 (restaurant-nicolas-nimes.com).
Gard O Vin
Tucked away on Place du Marche, this wine bar is the place to sample the local AOC, Costieres de Nimes (from £3.50 a glass). It opens at 5pm. Take a seat on a bench in the vaulted cellar or sit on a stool outside to sample cheese and charcuterie; a plate of sausage slices costs £4.40.
Accessibility
Flights from Stansted and Edinburgh from £12.99 one way (ryanair.com). The shuttle bus between the airport and Nîmes costs GBP 6 one way (tangobus.fr). Or take the train from London St Pancras, changing at Lille or Paris, from £75 one way (thetrainline.com).
A two-day Nîmes City Pass (nimescitypass.com) gives you access to the main attractions for £25.50 (nimes-tourisme.com).