The ultimate 6 days itinerary in Amboise, Loire Valley

What does the ultimate 6-day itinerary in Amboise look like?

Amboise is a city in the picturesque Loire Valley where kings and queens built over 300 castles. It is the kind of city you visit for culture rather than hiking or partying. So if you’re a history nerd or a wine lover, I highly recommend Amboise! This trip truly has a “history, gastronomy, and scenic landscapes” vibe.

On the other hand, if you’d much prefer to hike and ski, I suggest you to check out my article on Zakopane instead. If you’d rather sunbathe at the beach, consider Nîmes or Sorrento.

I created for you here the ultimate 6-day itinerary in Amboise, because it is the perfect place for a romantic getaway or a change of scenery. Side note, it is also the very first solo trip I have ever done, and it was perfect. So this is all quite nostalgic for me!

Anya

Hi! I’m Anya, founder of the travel blog Stop Going to Paris which focuses on underrated cities in Europe. I’m a passionate traveler but above all, a passionate adventurer always looking for the hidden gems that deserve more love.

After 10 years and 70+ destinations, I can help you plan your European trip: book a call with me. It includes a full itinerary with unique destinations, transportation, accommodation and activities.

Fun fact, I live in… drumroll… Paris! That’s why the name of the blog is funny.

Things to know before setting foot in France

• How to guarantee a good welcome: The French like it when you make an effort to speak French before switching to English – they are much more inclined to help you after that. The magic sentence is: “bonjour, est-ce que vous pouvez m’aider ? Je cherche…”. They also say bonjour (hello), s’il-vous-plait (please), merci (thank you) and au revoir (goodbye) in every store they enter and leave.
• Money: France is not a cashless country: many stores will have a “no cards below 5/10 euros” policy, so you’ll have to pay in cash there. Have euros on you!
• Transportation: Trains are the most convenient mode of transportation but they’re also the most expensive, so plan your train trips well in advance! In last-minute reservations, you’ll find that flights and busses are much, much cheaper.
  If in a pinch, carpooling is big in France! On the Blablacar app, you can book a trip with a driver already doing the same trip as you and become a passenger in his car.
• What to wear: Weather changes all the time, so wear versatile clothing that can be taken off and put back on comfortably.
• Free water: Water is free in all restaurants, by law. Do not buy bottled water, ask for “a carafe d’eau” and you’re golden.
• Groceries: Supermarkets outside of Paris close early, 8 or 9 pm tops.
• Very important tip before you start this article: chateau in French means castle!

How to get to Amboise

• The comfortable route: take a train from Paris to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, and from there you take a small city train called TER. You can book both trips on the SNCF website.
• The cheapest route: Take a bus from Paris Bercy station to Tours with the following companies: Flixbus, blablacar, alsa. From Tours, you can take a TER to Amboise, booking again on SNCF.
• The convenient way: The best and easiest way, and the one that will allow you to travel further in the Loire Valley is to rent a car. From Paris to Amboise, it’s a 2h journey.
• The adventurous way: try carpooling via Blablacar! I loved it every time I tried it, it’s a great way to meet the locals.

9 things to do during your 6-day itinerary in Amboise

Visit the cities of Amboise and Tours, the heart of the Loire Valley

Amboise is a cute and very small town, of which you could make the tour in 10 min. Since it is more of a historic city, its interest resides rather in the beautiful castles and gardens in it, as well as the Loire River that crosses it. However, the main square behind to the Royal Castle, Place Michel Debré, is very cute and host to many restaurants, ice cream parlors and stores. Very pleasant in summer especially!

You can visit also the neighboring city of Tours, only 25 min away by city train. It is more lively and densely inhabited than Amboise today and, though bigger, remains very walkable too.

Its historic center is one of the best preserved in France, with many buildings dating back to the medieval era, especially around Place Plummereau. The buildings are still made of the classic timber framing of that era, which you can find more often in Germany, Switzerland or the Netherlands. It’s all very beautiful and worth a visit.

My favorite thing to do is to sit back in a bar in Place Plummereau and enjoy some people-watching with my coffee or my glass of wine.  

Visit the Chateau Royal d’Amboise

Built on the banks of the Loire, in the heart of Amboise, the Château Royal (the Royal Castle) stands as an iconic testament to France’s royal history. It served as a favored residence for several French kings, including Charles VIII and Francis I. The blend of Gothic and Renaissance architecture with beautifully cared for gardens creates a captivating masterpiece. There, you’ll find Da Vinci’s final resting place, his burial in the Saint-Hubert Chapel. The famous Algerian revolutionary Emir Abdelkader was imprisoned there for 4 years with his followers,

It is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich culture and regal heritage of the French Renaissance in the Loire Valley.

Did you know that Leonardo Da Vinci lived and died in Amboise? In 1516, he was invited by King François I to live in Château de Clos-Lucé where he spent his final years, the last 3. It is believed that, there, he added the finishing touches of the Mona Lisa. You’ll find many of his scientific inventions built in full-scale size. King François I used to visit Da Vinci every day using a secret tunnel linking the Royal Castle to the Clos-Lucé.

Drink orange juice from the first orange trees in France at Château-Gaillard

Chateau-Gaillard is the self-declared “most Italian castle of France”. When King Charles VII came back from his first war with Italy, he was so impressed by the architecture there that he vowed to build a palace in a similar style to villas found in Italy. And that’s what you’ll find in Chateau-Gaillard, a Florence-style manor with a gorgeous garden of plants, fruits, vegetables and herbs, one of the first of its kind in France. Most importantly, you’ll find an “Orangerie” – zn oranges orchard – where the first oranges of France were cultivated, in 1496. They still sell orange juice freshly pressed from these first orange trees, so you get to enjoy it!

Lucky for us, it is just next to Chateau-Gaillard and the Royal château!

Visit the Châteaux de Chambord and de Chenonceau

I know that’s a lot of castles! They are located further away, so you might not have time to visit them; nevertheless, they remain major monuments in the Loire region, so I felt the need to mention them anyway.

Chambord is majestic with vast hunting grounds, giving us a glimpse into the French Monarchy’s extravagance and opulence. It is difficult to overstate how truly massive this castle is, so trust me it’s worth a look. Supposedly, the double-helix staircases were built by Leonardo da Vinci, too. The premiere of the play Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme by Moliere was played in one of these rooms.

Chenonceau is another kind, smaller but more refined with its elegant arches built over the Cher River. It was the home of many remarkable women of France, such as Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Médicis, Madame Dupin and Madame Pelouze, all of whom you can learn everything about in the exhibits.

Loire Valley wine tasting tour

The Loire Valley is the perfect region for wine tours, as it is renowned for its excellent vineyards and wine offerings. The Loire Valley’s diverse climate and soil conditions contribute to the production of all kinds of wines, red, white, rosé, sparkling, dry, mellow, you name it they have it.

If you want to visit a vineyard, touring with the company Rendez-vous dans les vignes is highly recommended. I personally went with Caves Ambacia, and it was a fantastically interactive wine-tasting tour. They made us smell different scents to get us to detect them, before retelling the history of viticulture in the region. To finish it off, they taught us the proper way to drink wine to taste it fully. Because yes, there is one proper way! As well as the correct cheeses to pair it with, or meats, or fish. We sampled several local wines from vineyards of the Loire to get a feel of the difference in the soil and production. 

Take a hot air balloon ride with a panoramic view of the Loire Valley

The best thing you can do in Tours is probably a hot air balloon tour (or Montgolfiere tour, as the Frenchs call it) over the Loire Valley. When you’re there, don’t forget to take in the views: the gorgeous sights of the river and the surrounding lands, the gardens and castles of the Loire, its rustic towns, its vineyards and fruit orchards.

Book your 3-hour montgolfiere tour here!

Rent a bike and explore the Loire Valley trails

You can rent a bike and follow trails such as this one. Biking is a great way to discover the beauty of the Loire Valley region. It opens up a world of exploration, allowing you to meander through vineyards, picturesque villages, and along the banks of the river.

Book a boat tour along the Loire River

Booking a boat tour along the Loire River is another enchanting way to discover its beauty. It is a more serene and immersive experience in which you will to absorb the beauty of the landscapes and historical sites while drifting on the gentle currents. Recommend!

Where to eat in Amboise

• I suggest eating at L’Ecluse for a fantastic take on French cuisine. It’s a Michelin-star restaurant!
• La Providence and Le Terminus are also great options as well.
• When in Tours, I recommend Le Céci’Bon for affordable yet excellent French cuisine.
• My absolute favorite was L’auberge du Prieuré. Loved the decoration and the period-accurate food, eating like it’s 4 centuries ago!

Where to stay in Amboise

The great thing about Amboise is that it’s full of minor castles and manors… Which allows you to stay in one! So many beautiful ones out there, but I recommend these few:

• Chateau de Perreux, Chateau des Arpentis, Le Manoir Saint Thomas, Chateau de Pray, Le Clos d’Amboise are all wonderful choices.
• Relais Saint Jacques, if you’re looking for something just close to the train station.
• For a more affordable experience, Hôtel Le Blason is a great option.
• If you want to truly go for budget options, hostels like The People – Tours and airbnbs are accessible in Tours, from where you’d have to commute every day to visit Amboise.

Follow this romantic 6-day itinerary in Amboise

And here it is, the full guide to spending the best 6 days in Amboise! I would say 6 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Amboise, to allow you to explore the city and organize day trips. It has all the elements for a change of scenery or for the perfect romantic week to sweep your significant other off their feet. Just follow this daily itinerary:

Day 1, stroll around: walk in the cities of Amboise and Tours.
Day 2, explore: visit the Royal Castle of Amboise, take a boat trip.
Day 3, learn: visit Chateau-Gaillard and Clos Lucé, enjoy a great lunch at L’auberge du Prieuré.
Day 4, be adventurous: rent a bike to visit the surrounding area and organize a picnic.
Day 5, explore further: rent a car and discover, maybe go as far as Saumur, where Richard the Lionheart is buried in the Fontevraud Abbaye.
Day 6, eat well: do a wine tour in the morning and enjoy the view from your air balloon ride to end your trip with a unique experience. Finish the day off with a fine dinner at L’Ecluse.

If you want to make this an exact 7-day trip, I suggest giving either Blois or Cheverny a chance. 

Final thoughts: why Amboise is a perfect romantic destination

The Loire Valley is a wonderful area to visit, one of the most interesting and culturally rich regions of France. Amboise a lovely city with a rich history and culture. While you can choose to make it an extravagant trip, you can also opt for a more budget-friendly trip. The bus tickets are around 20€ roundtrip from Paris, and the castles to visit are cheap (usually free if you’re a European resident under 26), the wine tours as well. You can stay in a hostel for your accommodation. However, if you can afford it, I can only recommend my full Amboise 6-day itinerary!

If you liked this article and would like to read more about European underrated gems, check out my articles on Zakopane, Poland’s winter capital, Nîmes, the French Rome and Sorrento, Italy’s best coast.