The Loire Valley is famous for its beautiful castles, great river landscapes and great wine. Among the most popular castles are Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau de Chambord, Chateau de Villandry, Chateau de Cheverny.

The Loire Valley has something to offer all year round. However, the best time to visit is in the late spring and summer months when the weather is nice and the gardens are in full bloom, especially Villandry's gardens in late spring. During mid May and early June, the chateaux gardens start to come alive with beautiful colors and the days become longer as the weather warms. This is also a great time to go before the significant crowds come in high season over the summer.

The Loire Valley is in full swing from late June to early September, which means light and fountain shows, festivals, and fully blossomed gardens. This time of the year also brings in lots of tourists, so expect longer lines than in the shoulder season. The weather can also get very hot and sometimes unbearable, especially if you are considering cycling through the Loire Valley. The chateaux are also very charming to visit in December when they are all adorned and decorated for Christmas.

Three to four days in the Loire Valley region is a sufficient amount of time to explore the area and see the popular chateaux. There are many castles in between the chateaus worth visiting as well. Visiting about two or three chateaux per day is about the most you’ll want to schedule, more than that can be overkill. There is also plenty more to see in the Loire Valley.

Where to stay in the Loire Valley will depend on your plans while you are here. The region stretches over 170 miles and offers several charming accommodations in and around the Loire Valley.

For ease of getting around with great public transportation, Tours is a perfect spot to base yourself. Tours is near many chateaux located in the west: Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, and Chinon. Many of the guided tours leave from Tours as well. Orleans is another great city to stay where you’ll be nearby to explore some of the lesser known but just as remarkable chateaus such as Meung-sur-Loire, and Chateau of Chamerolles.

For something more peaceful, Amboise or Blois are great options. Both of these towns are centrally located to explore the Loire Valley, and both are very charming. Tours and Orleans are two smaller towns, offering a quiet alternative with lovely accommodations.

If you only have one day and no car, the best option is to book a full-day guided tour to visit the best Châteaux in Loire Valley. These small group guided tours are nicely broken up into several stops and sometimes they include wine tastings (the Loire Valley is also about Loire Valley wines!) and lunch.

If you have a couple days to explore, we recommend visiting the Castles of the Loire Valley by car. Tours, Blois or Amboise are great towns to base yourself and explore one to two chateaux per day. We suggest also taking time to visit the charming towns and wine tastings.

Numerous grand chateaux dot the wooded country immediately south and east of Blois, including Chambord, the grandest of them all, while the wild and watery region of the Sologne stretches away further to the southeast. In addition to the many chateaux, the Loire Valley has a few unique sights, the most compelling are the gardens at Villandry, and the abbey at Fontevraud. The major towns of Angers, Tours, Nantes, Le Mans, and Orleans each have their own charms, from Orleans’ remarkable cathedral to Angers’ energetic nightlife.

Popular Chateaux of the Loire Valley:

-Château d’Ussé (in Rigny-Ussé) - This castle inspired Charles Perrault's Sleeping Beauty fairy tale!

-Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire - This is known as the Cinderella Castle, built around the year 1,000. Today, the chateau holds a grand-scale, summer long garden festival.

-Château de Chambord - This is one of the most iconic Loire Castles and also the most magnificent. Inspired by Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, Chambord was commissioned by Francis I as a symbol of the far-reaching magnitude of his power.

-Château de Cheverny - Cheverny is a fabulous example of the French classical style that blossomed during the reign of Louis XIV and is characterized by symmetry and simplicity. Built by architect Jacques Bougier between 1620 and 1640, it is marked by a central building flanked by two residential wings.

-Château de Villandry - Located in Tours was the last of the Loire Valley castles built in the Renaissance style, all due to Jean Le Brenton, the Finance Minister to Francis I who demolished the original fortress to build the opulent chateau in 1532.

-Château de Blois - The Loire’s finest in-town chateau, the residence of Kings and Queens. Composed of four wings that surround the courtyard, the chateau is famous for its spectacular rooms, night light and sound show and the cute little town. The architectural style spans from the 13th and the 17th centuries.

-The Château of Azay-le-Rideau - considered one of the Loire Valley’s most magical castles, is on the Indre River and not on the Loire, as often thought. The exterior is reflected in the beautiful water mirror below.

-The Château D’Amboise - Dominates the town of Amboise with its position high on a hill overlooking the Loire river and the village of Amboise. The views from the château are amazing and you must see the small, charming chapel where Leonardo Da Vinci was buried.

Along with the remarkable chateaux of the Loire Valley, the region is also dotted with many lesser known, yet equally as beautiful privately owned castles. Many of these have been converted into hotels and restaurants but some still function as tourist sites, however, much less visited, which makes them all the more charming.

Be sure to check out the floral towns and villages, otherwise known as les Villes Fleuries et les Villages Fleuris in French. Each year the most captivating villages and towns are awarded this title after a competition takes into consideration landscape and plant heritage, floral displays and respect for nature. There are dozens in the Loire Valley so for a change of pace of exploring castles, seek out these fabulously charming villages.

Go Wine tasting! The Loire Valley produces some fabulous wines. Driving through the valley, you’ll pass several vineyards which sell locally produced wine from passionate connoisseurs. Many of the wines in this region are world renown, especially known for its whites such as Sancerre, Chenin Blanc and Vouvray.

Discover the Loire Valley on a bicycle. The region is relatively flat making it the ideal place to cycle. The area is packed with serious cycling enthusiasts who use bikes as their only mode of transport. The castles are a fair distance apart but cycling between them is definitely manageable if you’re feeling energetic.

Take a ride on a hot air balloon. Seeing the Loire Valley from a birds eye view is a magical way to discover the region. Hot air balloons go up at sunrise and sunset and offer breathtaking views over the region and its castles.

The Loire Valley is more rural which means it is less common to find people that speak English. Most often English (or broken English) may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist area, but not everywhere. We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook or app and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

The Loire Valley is world-famous for its wines but the area also produces some delicious dishes to accompany the wine. Try one of the local goat’s cheeses, including Crottin de Chavignol, Sainte Maure de Touraine and Valençay. Rilletes de porc from Tours are just as popular as those from Le Mans and andouillette sausage cooked in Vouvray wine is a popular dish. Other specialties include truffiat (a puff pastry filled with potatoes and cheese) and one of France’s best-known desserts, tarte Tatin, which originated in the Centre-Val de Loire region.

The eating options in the Loire Valley are endless, with plenty of vineyards and towns/villages to visit all offering a change of scenery. Make sure to check out the restaurant options in the heart of chateau country (between Tours and Amboise). Here you'll find charming restaurants offering up some of the most impressive après-dinner cheese carts in the region, as well as excellent breads, pastries and wines.

The currency of France is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airports and train stations. For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in France by clicking here.

-Make a list of the castles you want to visit, and plan your trip accordingly. Loire Valley is a vast region, so planning ahead is key. Try to group castles that are geographically close to each other.

-Always ask for a special discount pass when you visit a castle. The entry price is typically between 5 and 20 euros usually, but you'll save money with a pass (e.g. Pass'Châteaux which gives special discounts for the main castles, or Pass' à l'Ouest for castles located in the Western Loire Region).

-Don't do too much during the same day. You'll want to take your time and enjoy the view. Each castle takes between 1 and 2 hours to visit (if you take the audio guide). Try to mix castles, gardens, outdoor activities, and/or a wine visit.

-Check opening hours! In France, museums, castles, and a bunch of other places tend to be closed on certain days of the week (typically on Sundays, Mondays, or Tuesdays), or during certain seasons. Always check the visiting hours prior to your visit.

-Try to avoid peak season (July-August), as the crowds of people can be overwhelming.

In an emergency dial 112 is the general emergency services number or 114 for hearing assistance.