The Loire Valley is France’s château country, a UNESCO-listed stretch of river lined with Renaissance castles such as Chambord, Chenonceau and Amboise, plus vineyards and gardens. Towns such as Amboise, Tours and Blois make good bases, and hotels and château-guesthouses are usually good value outside summer.
Finding cheap rooms in Loire Valley is easier when you know where to look. We compare live hotel rates across the top booking sites and point you to the neighborhoods where hotels are cheap but the location is still great.
Rooms come in more shapes than hotels — in Loire Valley you can also compare apartments with kitchens, vacation rentals for families, B&Bs and budget hostels in one search.
A riverside town below its château and near Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years — a popular base.
The largest city in the area, with the most hotels, fast trains from Paris and often the best rates.
A historic town with its own château, close to Chambord.
Western Loire towns with castles, cave cellars and sparkling wine.
Zoom and pan the map to compare hotel prices by neighborhood; rates come live from the booking sites.
Spring and September are ideal for gardens and cycling. Summer is busiest; many smaller hotels close or cut hours in winter.
Tours usually has the widest choice and the lowest rates, and it is well placed for many of the châteaux.
Yes. Fast trains reach Tours in around an hour, but staying a night or two lets you see more châteaux.
A car helps, but trains, tour buses and the Loire à Vélo cycle routes connect the main châteaux and towns.