Blois Travel Guide: Plan Your Perfect Trip
By Matt Cuckston, Founder & Travel Technology Expert at TixLayer
Sitting at the heart of the Loire Valley, Blois is one of France's most rewarding towns for history lovers, château hunters, and anyone who appreciates good wine and unhurried travel. As a base for exploring things to do in Blois and the wider Loire Valley, it punches well above its size. The town has a royal castle right in the centre, a steep medieval quarter tumbling down to the river, and some of the most famous Renaissance châteaux in Europe within a 30-minute drive. This guide covers everything you need to plan a great trip, from getting there and getting around to where to eat and what not to miss.
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Getting There
By Train
Blois is well connected by rail. Direct TGV and Intercité trains run from Paris Austerlitz in around 1 hour 15 minutes. From Tours, the journey takes about 35 minutes. The train station sits at the bottom of town, a short walk from the old centre and the château. This is comfortably the easiest way to arrive if you're coming from Paris.
By Car
Blois sits on the A10 motorway between Paris and Tours, making it straightforward to reach by car. The drive from Paris takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes depending on traffic. Having a car is genuinely useful once you're here, as several of the best châteaux are not easily reached by public transport.
By Air
The nearest major airports are Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly, both around two hours away by a combination of train and transfer. Tours Val de Loire Airport is closer but has limited international routes. Most visitors fly into Paris and take the train.
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Getting Around
The town centre is compact and walkable. The château, the old quarter, the cathedral, and most restaurants are all within comfortable walking distance of each other.
For day trips to the châteaux, your options are:
- Car rental: The most flexible choice. Pick up from Blois station and you can visit Chambord, Cheverny, and Chaumont in a single day.
- Organised tours: Several operators run minibus tours from Blois, typically covering two or three châteaux per day. Worth considering if you don't want to drive.
- Cycling: The Loire à Vélo cycling route passes through Blois. Bikes can be rented in town, and some of the flatter routes to nearby châteaux are well suited to a leisurely ride.
- Bus: Local buses serve some châteaux seasonally, but schedules are limited. Don't rely on buses as your primary transport option.
For staying connected while you navigate, an Airalo France eSIM package is a practical way to keep maps and transport apps running without worrying about roaming charges.
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When to Visit
Best months: May, June, and September
Late spring and early autumn offer the most pleasant conditions. Temperatures are comfortable, the Loire Valley is green and photogenic, and the crowds at major sites are manageable. June is particularly good for the Son et Lumière light shows at the Royal Castle.
July and August
Summer is peak season. The châteaux get busy, accommodation prices rise, and the heat can be intense. If you visit in summer, book accommodation and château entry well in advance and plan to arrive at major sites early in the morning.
October and November
Autumn brings golden light, harvest season in the vineyards, and noticeably thinner crowds. Some smaller attractions begin to reduce their hours from November onwards, so check opening times before you go.
December to February
Winter is quiet. Many tourist facilities operate on reduced hours or close entirely. That said, if you enjoy having famous monuments largely to yourself and don't mind the cold, it can be a rewarding time to visit.
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Best Neighbourhoods
The Old Town (Vieux Blois)
The historic quarter climbs steeply from the Loire up to the château. It's full of half-timbered houses, narrow lanes, and staircase streets. This is the most atmospheric part of town and the best area to stay if you want to be close to the main sights and restaurants.
Around the Train Station
The lower town around the station is more practical than picturesque. It has a good range of mid-range hotels and is convenient for early departures. Less character, but useful.
Along the Loire
The riverside area has been smartened up in recent years. There are cafés, a pleasant promenade, and good views back up towards the château. A nice area for an evening walk.
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What to See and Do
The Royal Castle of Blois is the obvious starting point. It's one of the few châteaux in France that contains four distinct architectural styles in a single building, spanning Gothic, Flamboyant Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical. The François I staircase is genuinely remarkable. The Son et Lumière evening shows in summer are worth staying for.
Château de Chambord
About 20 kilometres east of town, Chambord is the largest and arguably most dramatic château in the Loire Valley. The double-helix staircase, supposedly inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, is the centrepiece. You can book a guided tour of the Château de Chambord for proper context, or go independently with an entrance ticket to Chambord Castle and explore at your own pace. Either way, arrive early.
Château de Chenonceau
Chenonceau is about 40 kilometres from Blois and is one of the most visited châteaux in France, largely because it spans the River Cher on a series of arches. The gardens are exceptional. A Chenonceau Castle admission ticket gives you access to the château and grounds.
ZooParc de Beauval
If you're travelling with children, ZooParc de Beauval is one of the best zoos in Europe and sits just 40 kilometres from Blois. It's home to giant pandas, white tigers, and thousands of animals across beautifully landscaped grounds. Book your entrance ticket for ZooParc de Beauval in advance during school holidays.
Hot Air Balloon Flight
For a genuinely memorable perspective on the Loire Valley, a hot air balloon flight over Chambord, Chenonceau, Cheverny, and Blois takes you above the châteaux and forests at sunrise. Flights typically last around an hour and are followed by a traditional champagne toast. Book well ahead in summer.
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Where to Eat
Blois has a solid restaurant scene for a town of its size. The old town is the best area to look.
- Les Banquettes Rouges: A reliable bistro in the old town with good-value set menus and classic French cooking. Popular with locals.
- L'Orangerie du Château: Upscale dining in a Renaissance building near the château. Best for a special occasion meal.
- Market at Place Louis XII: The Saturday morning market is one of the best in the region. Cheese, charcuterie, local wines, and seasonal produce. Go early.
- Wine bars: The Loire Valley produces excellent Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc. Look for bars specialising in local appellations like Touraine and Cheverny.
Budget expectations: Blois is genuinely affordable by French standards. A lunch menu at a bistro typically runs 14 to 18 euros for two courses. Dinner at a mid-range restaurant will cost around 30 to 45 euros per person with wine. Château entry tickets range from around 8 to 15 euros depending on the site.
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Practical Tips
Book château tickets in advance
Chambord and Chenonceau in particular get very busy in summer. Booking online before you arrive saves time and occasional disappointment.
Carry cash
Most restaurants and shops accept cards, but some smaller producers at markets and a handful of local cafés still prefer cash.
Learn a few words of French
Blois is not heavily geared towards English-speaking tourists in the way that Paris is. A basic effort with French goes a long way in restaurants and shops.
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Insider Tips
Visit Chambord on a weekday evening
The château stays open until 9pm in summer, and visitor numbers drop significantly after 5pm. The light in the late afternoon is also better for photographs than the harsh midday sun.
Take the staircase streets
Blois has a series of steep staircase streets, called montées, connecting the lower town to the château quarter. Most visitors stick to the main roads. The montées are quieter, more atmospheric, and give you a better sense of the medieval town.
The Maison de la Magie is worth your time
Directly opposite the château, this museum dedicated to magic and illusion is often overlooked in favour of the châteaux. It was founded in honour of Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, a Blois-born magician who inspired Harry Houdini's stage name. It's especially good if you're visiting with children, but genuinely entertaining for adults too.
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Final Thoughts
Blois rewards travellers who take their time. It's not a place that announces itself loudly. The appeal builds gradually: a good lunch, a quiet corner of the château at dusk, a long drive through the forests to Chambord with no particular schedule. Use it as a base, explore widely, and don't rush.
