Is Nancy Worth It? A Quick Guide to the Pros and Cons

After years of living and traveling in France, I’ve found that some of the most memorable places aren’t always the most famous.

And that’s where Nancy comes in.

It doesn’t have the global recognition of Paris or Nice, but there’s quiet elegance here that can’t be found elsewhere.

It’s why I keep coming back every year.

But is Nancy really worth visiting?

The short answer is – Yes, Nancy is worth visiting.

Its stunning 18th-century architecture, fascinating museums, and UNESCO World Heritage site are just some reasons to visit.

Like any city, however, Nancy has its pros and cons. So, before you pack your bags, here’s my honest guide to help you decide if you should add it to your itinerary.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Place Stanislas in Nancy. It's a square stone building with decorative sculptures. It's one reason why Nancy is worth visiting. — Musée des Beaux-Arts in Place Stanislas

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6 Pros and Cons of Visiting Nancy

1. Pro: Beautiful Architecture

This is Arc Héré. It's an entry point into
Place Stanislas. It's made of stone and decorated with stone and gold painted statues. It has three entrances. — Arc Héré

This is the top of one of the buildings alone Rue Félix Faure in Nancy. It has colorful flowery designs around the windows. — Rue Félix Faure

When I think of Nancy, the first thing that comes to mind is its architecture.

The most striking is Place Stanislas. It was built in the mid-18th century and looks like a square designed to welcome the most prestigious guests.

Its gates are made of gold-painted iron, and on the northern end, there is the triumphal arch, Arc Héré. Then, inside the square, you’ll find gorgeous white stone buildings, including the Musée des Beaux Arts.

Helpful Tip: Place Stanislas, along with Place d’Alliance and Place de la Carrière, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

But those are the main tourist sites.

The architecture that really stood out to me was the Art Nouveau buildings along Rue Félix Faure.

Here, the colors and shapes used to decorate the buildings are very different from traditional French architecture I am used to.

2. Con: Opening Hours are Not Always Clear

This is the of Basilica of Saint Epvre in Nancy France. There is the steeple and stained glass windows. Then, the outside is decorated with intricate stone sculptures. — Basilica of Saint Epvre

The one thing I found hard about planning a trip to Nancy was that the opening hours of some attractions are not always clear.

I’ve been several times, and every time, I had to navigate a change in opening hours that wasn’t indicated anywhere.

Some museums were closed for renovations, while others were free (but I had already bought a ticket online).

Then, for whatever reason, I can’t find the correct opening times for a few of the cathedrals, like the Basilica of Saint Epvre (on three out of four visits, it was closed).

In all honesty, I am used to it now, and I have learned to go with the flow.

But it can be irritating if you’re visiting Nancy only for a day and miss out on something you wanted to see.

3. Pro: Big Cultural Scene

This is the exterior of the Musée de l'École de Nancy. It's a building decorated with blue lines and shapes. — Musée de l’École de Nancy

This is a glass-work exhibit by Émile Gallé at the Musée de l'École de Nancy. There are five different vases all with different flowery designs. — Exhibit by Émile Gallé at the Musée de l’École de Nancy

Nancy is really a city for people who love learning about French culture.

First, there are tons of museums.

My favorite is the Musée de l’École de Nancy. It recreates the spirit of the Art Nouveau movement and showcases work from those artists who were a part of École de Nancy, like Émile Gallé.

Then, there are the museums like Musée des Beaux-Arts, showcasing an impressive collection from the 20th century, and Musée Lorrain, which highlights local history.

There are also several festivals throughout the year, my favorite being the Saint Nicolas Christmas markets.

So, if you like these kinds of cultural activities, I recommend adding Nancy to your itinerary over nearby cities like Metz.

4. Con: A Short-Stay Destination

This is an exhibit at the Musée Lorraine in Nancy. There is a statue with several angles and behind there are told plated artifacts from the Dukes of Lorraine. — Musée Lorraine

One downside, depending on how you look at it, is that Nancy is a short-stay destination.

This means that while there are plenty of things to do, you may not need more than a day to see the highlights.

However, this can also be seen as a pro. It’s easy to fit into itineraries that focus on eastern France, or you can make it a day trip from cities like Paris or Strasbourg.

5. Pro: Not as Popular as Other Cities

This is Place Stanislas without any people. I took this photo during the Saint Nicolas Christmas market and it's one of the most famous entrances to the square. There are the iron gold-painted entrances and the Hôtel de Ville on the left and Grand Café Foy on the right. — Place Stanislas without Crowds

The reason I like Nancy is that it’s not as well-known or popular as other cities in France.

I have never had to fight through hordes of tourists or plan my trip around peak tourist seasons.

I know that when I go to Nancy, I can explore the city at my own pace without feeling overwhelmed.

Nancy has managed to retain its authenticity, and it’s why I keep going back.

6. Con: Out of the Way

This is the front of Nancy's train station Gare de Nancy. There is one entrance and people are walking around. — Gare de Nancy

I will start by saying that Nancy is easy to get to, even without a car. Its train station serves high-speed TGV trains and regional TER trains throughout the day.

Helpful Tip: I recommend purchasing your train tickets on the official website, SNCF-Connect.

However, it is out of the way. If you want to visit Nancy, then jet down to Marseille or Dijon, you’ll need to go to Paris or continue to Alsace (and go through the entire region).

It’s hard to work into a trip that doesn’t focus on eastern France.

That being said, if you do find yourself in this part of France, take a detour and visit Nancy. I’m sure you will fall in love with it as I have.

Conclusion

Nancy perfectly combines history, architecture, and art to create a fun cultural experience.

But what I love most is that it has remained authentic to its roots and hasn’t tried to create a popular tourist destination.

Nancy is indeed an underrated gem in France.

Hopefully, with this guide, you have gained some insight into what makes it so special.

I hope you enjoyed my post and found it useful. Here are some other articles that I think you might find interesting.