🇫🇷 Tours, France
Novotel
📍 15 Rue Edouard Vaillant, TOURS, 37000
Photo: official website
Your stay — Novotel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Tours.
The Property — Novotel
This Novotel is the efficient, predictable end-of-day anchor for a car-based Loire itinerary; think functional modernism, a reliable buffet breakfast and a small outdoor pool. It sits on the ring road near the Vinci Congress Centre, so the lobby feels airy but corporate, filled with business travellers and families who want clean rooms and free parking over character. Best for those who need a comfortable base for driving to châteaux, not for a romantic city break.
Chronicles of Tours
Tours was the capital of Touraine, a historic province, and served as the de facto capital of France during the 15th century when the royal court fled Paris. Its medieval heart was largely rebuilt after devastating fires in the 16th century, leaving a mix of timber-framed houses and elegant 18th-century mansions. The city's cathedral, Cathédrale Saint-Gatien, took nearly 400 years to complete, blending Gothic, Flamboyant and Renaissance styles. Today Tours anchors the Loire Valley wine region, with a university-driven café culture that livens up the pedestrianised old town.
Best Time to Visit
Full Tours guide →Best months
June and September: long daylight hours, average highs of 23-25°C, and fewer crowds than July's peak tourist season.
Peak / festival surge
July and August: school holidays pack the châteaux and city centre; hotel prices in Tours jump 30-40%, driven by families and the annual Tours Jazz Festival (mid-July).
Budget shoulder season
May and early October: hotel rates drop by 20%, weather is still pleasant (18-22°C), and the vineyards and gardens are beautiful with fewer people.
Weather & packing
July in Tours is typically warm (22-28°C) but can swing into a heatwave (35°C) or a cool, rainy day. Pack a light rain jacket and layers, plus comfortable walking shoes for cobbled streets.
Live City Briefing — Tours
- Tours tram line B extension is now operational, linking the city centre more directly to the Vinci Congress Centre and the Novotel's area – check for stops near the hotel.
- The city is rolling out new pedestrian zones in the old town (Vieux Tours) as of summer 2026, with café terrace expansion and traffic restrictions on Rue Nationale after 10am.
- Several châteaux (Chenonceau, Chambord) introduced timed-entry tickets for 2026 to manage crowds; book at least a week ahead for July stays.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Novotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard (not the street). These are high enough to avoid ground-level bustle but not too far up if the lift breaks; the courtyard side buffers the Rue Edouard Vaillant traffic noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor facing the street – you’ll hear foot traffic and early deliveries. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; the lift whine carries in modern chains.
Best views
The front rooms on floors 4–5 have a clear view over the rooftops towards Tours cathedral, if the building orientation allows. Otherwise, the courtyard view is green and private.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 5 are the quietest – street noise dissipates and the courtyard keeps things calm.
🔊 Noise notes
Rue Edouard Vaillant is a secondary artery with bus routes and delivery vans, so main road noise from 7am–9pm. The adjacent street has a tram line – check if your room faces that side.
Insider tips
1. Use the underground public car park ‘Parking Tours Centre’ (Rue Edouard Vaillant) – cheaper than hotel parking and a 3-min walk. 2. Request a room on the 4th floor courtyard for the best sleep; the lift is small, so ask for a quiet time if you have heavy luggage.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Novotel
Free standard Wi-Fi (up to 10 Mbps) for all guests; premium paid tier (25 Mbps, 5 EUR per 24h) available
One lift serves all floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital press via PressReader on tablets in lobby; no printed newspapers
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop from 07:00; late check-out until 13:00 for 20 EUR, after 13:00 charged as half-night rate
Free for same-day arrivals and departures; secure luggage room
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; lift to all floors; one accessible room with roll-in shower. No structural limitations reported.
On-site underground garage: 15 EUR per night (height limit 1.9 m). Nearest public car park: Parking Gare de Tours (rue Edouard Vaillant) at 12 EUR per night. 2 EV charging points (Type 2, 7 kW): 0.30 EUR per kWh
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1.10 EUR per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Credit card guarantee required; at check-in, a pre-authorisation of 50 EUR per night for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: CristoVive (285 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Église Saint-Étienne (619 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Couvent des Dominicains (648 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Oratoire de la Sainte-Face (666 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Magasin Le Printemps;Printemps — 484 m · ~6 min walk
Square de la Préfecture — 448 m · ~6 min walk
Musée des Beaux-Arts — 809 m · ~10 min walk
Auditorium Descartes — 364 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
SG — 288 m · ~4 min walk
Pharmacie Vinci — 277 m · ~3 min walk
Carrefour City — 373 m · ~5 min walk
Tours — 249 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Exchange money at banks or La Banque Postale; avoid airport and tourist office bureaux for poor rates.
Cards widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and public transport; contactless and Apple Pay are common.
No mandatory tipping; round up to nearest euro in cafés, leave 5-10% for great service at restaurants, small change for hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A coffee at a café counter costs around €1-1.50; cheaper than at tables.
A sandwich or salad bar lunch will run about €7-9.
A main course at a mid-range restaurant is roughly €12-16.
Rue du Commerce and the area near Place des Halles have several kebab, crêpe and food-truck stalls.
Common chains: Carrefour City, Lidl, and Super U in the neighbourhood.
High-street shopping along Rue Nationale and Rue du Commerce; occasionally markets on Place Plumereau.
Single bus/tram ticket €1.80; day pass €4.50; from Tours airport take the bus line 11 into town (€1.80).
Eat the formule (set menu) at lunch for better value; walk or bike everywhere as the city is compact; use the free walking map from the tourist office.
Good to know — Tours
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Tours, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Novotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · SG — 288 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie Vinci — 277 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Aéroport Tours Val de Loire (bus stop 'Aéroport') → Gare de Tours (train station—200m walk to hotel)
💡 Buy a ticket at the automated machine near the stop (coins only) or via the Fil Bleu app. The bus drops at Gare de Tours: walk down Rue de la Gare—the hotel is opposite the station entrance.
Gare de Tours (tram stop 'Gare de Tours') → Various spots across Tours (e.g., Université, Charcot, Vaucanson)
💡 The tram is the best way to reach the old town (stop 'Place Jean Jaurès'—10 min walk) or the Palais des Congrès. Buy a 10-trip Carnet (€14.40) if staying multiple days—valid on bus and tram. Validate your ticket in the machine onboard.
Main French cities (e.g., Paris Montparnasse, Bordeaux, Lyon) → Gare de Tours (directly opposite the hotel)
💡 TGV from Paris Montparnasse takes 1h05—book at least 2 weeks ahead for €15–30 fares. The hotel is literally across the street from platform 1 exit. Avoid the slow TER regional trains from Paris (3 hours).
Tours Val de Loire Airport → BestWestern Plus L'Artist Hôtel (1 Rue de la Gare, Tours Centre)
💡 Fixed-rate taxi stand outside arrivals; confirm price before getting in. The hotel is 10 minutes from the airport by the D910 road.
About Tours
Wikipedia ↗
Tours ( TOOR; French: [tuʁ] ) is the largest city in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the prefecture of the department of Indre-et-Loire. The commune of Tours had 138,668 inhabitants as of 2022 while the population of the whole metropolitan area was 526,370. Tours sits on the lower r...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Novotel?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the inner courtyard (not the street). These are high enough to avoid ground-level bustle but not too far up if the lift breaks; the courtyard side buffers the Rue Edouard Vaillant traffic noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Novotel?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor facing the street – you’ll hear foot traffic and early deliveries. Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor; the lift whine carries in modern chains.
Is Novotel noisy?
Rue Edouard Vaillant is a secondary artery with bus routes and delivery vans, so main road noise from 7am–9pm. The adjacent street has a tram line – check if your room faces that side.
Which rooms have the best views at Novotel?
The front rooms on floors 4–5 have a clear view over the rooftops towards Tours cathedral, if the building orientation allows. Otherwise, the courtyard view is green and private.
What are insider tips for staying at Novotel?
1. Use the underground public car park ‘Parking Tours Centre’ (Rue Edouard Vaillant) – cheaper than hotel parking and a 3-min walk. 2. Request a room on the 4th floor courtyard for the best sleep; the lift is small, so ask for a quiet time if you have heavy luggage.
What time is check-in at Novotel?
Check-in at Novotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Novotel have Wi-Fi?
Free standard Wi-Fi (up to 10 Mbps) for all guests; premium paid tier (25 Mbps, 5 EUR per 24h) available
Is there a city or tourist tax at Novotel?
1.10 EUR per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Novotel?
A sandwich or salad bar lunch will run about €7-9.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Novotel?
Single bus/tram ticket €1.80; day pass €4.50; from Tours airport take the bus line 11 into town (€1.80).
When is the best time to visit Tours?
June and September: long daylight hours, average highs of 23-25°C, and fewer crowds than July's peak tourist season.
Top Attractions in Tours
💡 Skip the tourist-trap crêperies near the fountain. Head to 'Le Vieux Mûrier' on the north side for a decent galette at €10. The square is busiest between 19:00 and 21:00.
💡 Step behind the altar to see the 13th-century 'Tree of Jesse' window. Climb the north tower for a view of the Loire (small fee, but the nave is free).
💡 Go to the crypt (free) to see the original tomb. The Sunday morning mass at 10:30 includes a small choir—worth timing your visit.
💡 Visit in spring when the magnolias are in bloom. The greenhouse is only open on weekend afternoons.
💡 The permanent collection is free every first Sunday of the month. The garden's cedar of Lebanon, planted in 1804, is worth a look.