Two Wonderful Days in Amboise, France
Amboise, France is an excellent jumping off point for exploring the eastern part of the Loire Valley. From Amboise, you have convenient access to some of the region’s best châteaux and vineyards. What really makes it work as a home base, though, is its own two chateaux and many cafes for you to explore without stepping in a car.
Whether you’re in Amboise, France just to relax or here to sightsee around the Loire countryside, this post should give you a good idea of what Amboise has to offer.
Updated November 2024
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Château d’Amboise
Hours | Hours vary depending on the time of year. Generally, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
Length of Visit | 1.5-2 hours |
Cost | €16.40 |
Highlights | chapel, views of Amboise, gardens |
Château d’Amboise is the main attraction in Amboise for reasons that are obvious as soon as you enter town. It’s a literal towering presence over the town. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you only observe it from the town.
A visit to Château d’Amboise takes you to Leonardo da Vinci’s rumored resting place, through rooms with impressive period tapestries and out on to the ramparts where you’re treated to amazing views of Amboise. It’s also an important part of French history during the 15th century for you history buffs.
Café du Château
After you’re done at Château d’Amboise, it’s time to kick back with some wine at a few different spots around town. Fortunately, you have plenty of options to choose from right outside the chateau gates.
Our first stop was Café du Château. It’s pretty standard French café fare: plenty of outdoor seating, reasonably priced wine and good people watching. It’s also directly across from Château d’Amboise, giving it a bit of an edge over the rest of Amboise’s cafes (though to be fair, none of them are much farther).
Service was a bit slow, but Café du Château was our first café experience in France, so we weren’t yet sure what to expect. Still, it was slower than other cafes we would eventually visit during our time in France. Nevertheless, this fact didn’t really detract from our experience as we were content with taking our time after touring the Château d’Amboise.
Le Shaker
Sitting on Amboise’s L’ile d’Or in the Loire River, Le Shaker is worth checking out for a drink and a meal. The reason for this is because of the stunning views Le Shaker offers of the bridge and Château d’Amboise.
The menu was fairly standard fare. I had the croque monsieur. It was alright but nothing special. It seemed as if Le Shaker relied more on their location to draw people in.
And they can do that for good reason. Le Shaker is open throughout the day, but you should really try to visit at night if possible. The château is lit up in the evening creating a fairytale scene for you to admire while sipping on some wine. It’s a wonderful way to end a day in Amboise.
Go for an Early Morning Run (or Walk)
Morning runs are one of my favorite ways to see new places. It may be just a quick look, but you get to see so much more of the area with far fewer people than you otherwise would.
My Amboise run took me through some of the residential areas south of the touristy town center and along the river. The trail along the river was quite lovely. It wasn’t quite up there with my runs along the Seine in Paris, but it certainly is worth checking out.
It’s always nice going through a town center when no one is around early in the morning, too. You don’t realize how pretty these areas can be when they’re crowded with people, and Amboise is no different. Take time to admire the château on the hill and some of the café facades as you make your way along Rue Victor Hugo.
Explore the Loire Valley
Amboise is great, but this is the real reason for staying here. You should plan to do any exploring on your second day so you have as much of the day as needed to see the sights.
The two châteaux listed here are by no means a definitive list. We chose these two because of their proximity to Amboise and each other, and because they each offer slightly different experiences. We liked the fact they were all close to each other because it allowed plenty of time to tour at our leisure and still have time to relax in Amboise after.
However, there are plenty of other places worth visiting if you want to go farther afield. The châteaux in Blois, Cheverny and Chambord are particularly beautiful in pictures and have great reviews.
You can also add in some vineyards if that is more your style. We opted to only visit châteaux since we were getting plenty of wine in Amboise and I wanted to see some European castles.
Château de Chenonceau
My Full Review | A Visit to Château de Chenonceau |
Hours | Hours vary depending on the time of year. Generally, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
Length of Visit | 2 – 3 hours |
Cost | €17 for general admission €22 with audio guide |
Highlights | Gardens, chapel, the Grand Galerie |
Château de Chenonceau was our first stop. It’s only about 25 minutes away from Amboise via car on easily drivable roads.
This château is considered one of the best in the Loire region. As you make your way up the tree-lined path and the château comes into view, you quickly realize why it is so highly regarded. It’s one of those places that lives up to the expectations you set in your mind and then manages to exceed them.
Beyond the building itself, there are two different gardens and a number of manicured paths to explore. The inside of the château is equally beautiful, with room after room offering impressive design and decor.
Château de Chenonceau is the perfect combination of gorgeous panoramic views and exquisite intricate detail. Take your time seeing all it has to offer!
Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire
My Full Review | What to Know About Domaine Chaumont-sur-Loire |
Hours | Opens at 10:00 throughout the year, closing time varies based on season, check before your visit for exact times |
Length of Visit | 2 – 3 hours |
Cost | €15 – €20 depending on time of year |
Highlights | The château itself, International Garden Festival, chapel, Council Chamber, the King’s Room |
There are other grander châteaux in the region than Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire. Nevertheless, I demanded we see this one because I wanted to see one epic “castle” while in France, and this was it.
If you grew up playing with toy knights and castles, Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire looks like something from your childhood imagination. In fact, I’m almost positive I had a Lego set that looked very similar to this château.
In addition to the fantastic exteriors, there is also a wondrous garden worth exploring called the International Garden Festival. This garden is unique from the more traditional château gardens throughout the Loire Valley in that it not only changes yearly, but it also has more modern themes. Truth be told, it’s more of an art exhibit than a garden.
Unfortunately, the interiors left a little to be desired. The artistic theme carried over into the château with the chapel having a modern art exhibit in it and much of the upper floor being dedicated to exhibits from a Japanese artist. I actually quite liked these exhibits, but I would have preferred seeing the rooms in their original state.
I didn’t regret my visit because the exteriors and gardens made up for everything else. If neither of those tickle your fancy, you may want to consider a different château.
Caveau des Vignerons d’Amboise
This small wine bar sits right under Château d’Amboise along Rue Victor Hugo. They have a variety of local wines to meet whatever palate walks in. You can also purchase local cheeses and meats to pair with your wine.
The real allure of this wine bar is its location carved into the rock the château sits on. Because of this, it has great atmosphere for a wine bar.
There’s not much else to say about Caveau dex Vignerons d’Amboise. If you want a fun little wine bar with knowledgeable staff in the side of a rocky cliff, add this to your itinerary!
La Florentine
La Florentine is one of several cafés located across from Château d’Amboise. We chose it essentially at random but could not have been more pleased with the experience.
The prices were reasonable compared to the rest of the restaurants along Rue Victor Hugo (the main road through Amboise), and we were able to get seated quickly. These were the two main reasons we chose La Florentine.
The food was excellent! We shared a pasta and pizza. Unfortunately, I don’t remember exactly what we had so I can’t give a recommendation. I will recommend getting one of each to share like we did so you can sample both.
It’s worth mentioning that when I researched information for this article, some recent Yelp reviews mention rude staff. I can assure you this was not the case when we visited in 2019. I have no qualms recommending La Florentine based on my experience. Every person’s experience is unique, though, so I can’t speak to what is said on Yelp reviews.
Other Attractions in Amboise, France
In addition to the attractions I described above, here are two other popular things to do in Amboise that Michelle and I didn’t get to. There are also many other cafes to have regional wine while people watching if you just want more time to relax and take in the views.
Château du Clos Lucé
Château du Clos Lucé isn’t as epic in scale as Château d’Amboise, but it does pack some interesting local history.
During the latter stages of his life, Leonardo da Vinci was invited to live in Amboise by King Frances I in 1516. da Vinci accepted and was named the “Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of the King.” He went on to live there until his death in 1519.
Now, the château houses exhibits showcasing da Vinci’s life, art and various inventions. You can also walk through the house to view rooms as they were decorated when da Vinci lived there. As an added bonus, there are hands-on exhibits and a playground making this chateau ideal for families with young children.
Advanced tickets are recommended. Tickets are €19.
More Château Content You Might Enjoy: Day Tripping to the Ornate Versailles Château from Paris
Caves Ambacia
Just a short distance east along the Loire River from Château d’Amboise, Caves Ambacia is a wine experience for the oenophiles out there. These caves have been in use for various purposes over the past five centuries but have been used for storing wine since 1874.
They offer several different experiences for your visit ranging from a tasting with a sommelier to an audio-visual tour of the caves.
Visit their website for more information and to purchase tickets in advance.
Where to Stay in Amboise, France
Amboise has several hotels to choose from for your stay. We opted for an Airbnb right in the center of town because of its great location and price.
We booked our stay with Raphael. Raphael has several rentals located right next to the Tour de l’Horloge (the clocktower). His rentals are just minutes away from many of Amboise’s top destinations.
This is the specific rental we stayed in while we were at Amboise. We picked this one because it has a washer/dryer unit (it was the middle of a two-week trip to England and France) and air conditioning.
Just be warned, everything is in French (or was when we visited) so it was a learning curve figuring out how to use the appliances. In fact, come to think of it, we never did learn how to turn on the air conditioning…
Resources to Book Your Trip to Amboise
Whether you’re looking for tours, hotels or flights, here are some tools to help get you started planning your trip to France!
Look for activities and tours offered through GetYourGuide or Viator!
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Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out my travel essentials pages for more of my recommendations.
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30 Comments
Barry
This is certainly “chateau country” and it looks like you got your fill of them! I never knew Leonardo d’Vinci is buried in Amboise. You don’t mention it, but did you get to see his grave/tomb? It’s a ciy I know very little about, although I know of Tours nearby as the city in the UK where I was born and grew up in is twinned with it.
Being on the banks of the Loire you were certainly well placed for some great wine growing areas and the cafes and eateries sounds fab. Lots of info here to make to most of travelling around this area.
paulpassingthrough
We saw his supposed grave in the chapel of Château d’Amboise but it’s not confirmed. I forget the whole story off the top of my head. I’ll write more about that château in the future and cover its history so it’ll be in there!
Sydney Brown Travels
Another great post, Paul! I’ve never thought of visiting Amboise but now I would love to make a visit one day and use it as a base for chateau exploration (and also indulging in wine from nearby vineyards).
paulpassingthrough
Great! I’ll be writing a few more posts specific to each château in the next month or so, so hopefully that’ll give you more planning help. Tours is the other recommended city to stay in for the western part of the region.
Jamieadstories
I travel to see castles and that one is on my list after that. Great travel blogging!
paulpassingthrough
Thanks, Jamie! I’ll provide more details on each château in the future so I hope that’ll help you out even more.
Molly Transatlantic Notes
What a beautiful region with so much history; it looks and sounds like you can do/see a lot without it being too overwhloming or tiring and you can actually take time to appreciate your time away. Great post!
paulpassingthrough
That was one of the best parts, especially for my wife! We always try to have plenty of time like mid afternoon and then the evening to just relax.
Peggy
As usual, fantastic post, Paul. I love your writing style. Amboise looks like a great stop on your trip. I didn’t know anything about it prior to reading this. I’d love to see a layout of your entire 2-week itinerary!
paulpassingthrough
Thank you for the positive feedback! I’m going to work on getting some more info on this trip out there, but I have so much to write about!
JoJo Hall
Loved the details and information you were able to provide for this region! Would love to get the chance to go back to France to visit the region
Graham Crosby
Excellent post. It looks and sounds absolutely lovely. Le Shaker sounds great. And I’m a big fan of an early morning run around different places myself.
Thanks for sharing.
paulpassingthrough
Thanks for visiting and for the feedback! I’m glad you enjoyed the read.
paulpassingthrough
I think if we ever go back to France we’d probably visit the region again so it’s definitely worth it. We’d probably do the western side though.
Wanderingkellers
Great post. Sounds like a great place to visit. I also love to see a new place with an early morning run. Often sets the tone for where I eat and explore later that day.
paulpassingthrough
My next article is going to be all about running while traveling. Should be a good one!
Nick
Definitely want to come and spend some time relaxing here. Seems like a great place to unwind.
paulpassingthrough
We were pretty busy while here, but the time we had to just sit and relax was great. You’re totally right!
Mitch - Very Tasty World
Great post and lots of info about some very interesting places to visit. The chateaux look wonderful. We would love to travel to the area one day. We do like a tipple, so the wine experience at Caves Duhard would also be of interest. We’re not runners but are always up for an early morning walk!
paulpassingthrough
If you go, you’ll have to let us know how it is. It sounds fun from reading reviews. I wish I could remember why we didn’t go!
Chalk and cheese travels
Wow that Castle what a striking building and a beautiful region to visit. Would of tested the vineyards of the Loire region myself but sounds like a great trip
paulpassingthrough
If we ever return, we’ll probably do some vineyards. We wanted to focus more time on Paris since we had never been before or else we would have seen vineyards on that trip.
kasia
I think I stopped briefly in Amboise when I did the Loire Valley tour years ago. I would love to go back and explore it (and the castles) some more.
paulpassingthrough
It’s worth either a long stay or a couple trips. I’d like to go back to see more of what it has to offer!
Vanessa Shields
Ambiose looks so beautiful and quaint! Walking out and seeing that clock tower every morning would be a treat. It looks like a wonderful town to explore with Château d’Amboise at the top of the list! The other chateaus are stunning and ones I’d love to see one day. Oh and experiencing the wines caves would be a must too!
paulpassingthrough
I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of AirBnB but being right next to that clock tower was pretty cool. The chateaux are lovely and definitely the highlights of a trip to the Loire Valley. I hope you get to visit!
Mind Beauty Simplicity
i’ve always wanted to go to France – hopefully in the near future. the archetecture of the castles and churches are beyond beautiful. 🙂 thanks for sharing your travels & including such wonderful photos.
paulpassingthrough
Thank you! I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too hyped about France. It was really more my wife’s idea but I ended up loving it!
kmf
Amboise, France sounds like the perfect homebase for exploring the eastern part of the Loire Valley. I’ve never been to this part of France before so would love to explore.
paulpassingthrough
I hope you get to visit some day soon! It’s beautiful country.