One Day in Nancy: The Perfect Itinerary

Nancy may not always be the first city that comes to mind when planning a trip to France.

And I’ll admit, it wasn’t for me either.

My first trip to Nancy was in 2023, when I had exhausted all other day trips from Strasbourg and was looking for something new.

I saw photos of Nancy’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Place Stanislas, and wanted to see it for myself.

It didn’t take me long to realize how much more there was to this city than its main square.

Since that first visit, I’ve been five more times, and I focus on exploring a different part of the city on each trip. On my last trip, for example, I did the Parcours Art Nouveau.

In this itinerary, I’ll guide you through my favorite ways to spend one day in Nancy. It’s a collection of my experiences that will give you the best overview of the city.

This is the Porte de la Craffe in Nancy. It's the oldest monument in the old town. It has two towers and three entrances. It's a must visit if you're spending one day in Nancy. — Porte de la Craffe

Table of Contents ▼

Morning

Breakfast at Brasserie Excelsior

This is the inside of the Brasserie Excelsior in Nancy. You can see the table with separators that are decorated with wood carvings. The ceiling also has very detailed carvings. — Inside the Brasserie Excelsior

This is my breakfast from Brasserie Excelsior in Nancy. There is a plate with a jar of jam, one croissant, a piece of bread, and a pain au chocolate. Then, behind the dish, there is a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee. — My Breakfast at Brasserie Excelsior

Brasserie Excelsior is touted as one of the best and most beautiful brasseries in Nancy. And when I heard that, the first thing I thought was tourist trap.

I avoided eating here until my last visit. (Yes, it took me three years to finally muster up the courage.)

I was walking the Parcours Art Nouveau and wanted to see the interior, which was designed by some of the most famous Art Nouveau artists in Nancy.

I had very low expectations, at least for the food.

And as it turned out, I was wrong.

The breakfast was outstanding. The orange juice was freshly squeezed, and the croissant was the right amount of buttery.

The decor was just as impressive. The intricate details and design elements truly captured the essence of the Art Nouveau movement.

Helpful Tip: Look closely at the carvings on the furniture and ceiling. The stained glass windows are also beautiful, but are best viewed outside.

Explore Place Stanislas, Place d’Alliance, and Place de la Carrière

This is Arc Héré in Nancy. It's a triumphal arch with one large entry and two smaller ones on either side. It's decorated with statues painted in gold. — Arc Héré

This is the Hôtel de Ville in Place Stanislas in Nancy. It's a large stone building with windows and a clock at the top. — Hôtel de Ville in Place Stanislas

The main reason I first visited Nancy was to see the famous Place Stanislas.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the most beautiful squares in France, and I would have to agree.

It is surrounded by gilded wrought-iron gates, white stone buildings, fountains, and a triumphal arch, Arc Héré.

I recommend making this your first stop because it gets busy during the day.

Then, head over to Place d’Alliance and Place de la Carrière. These two squares are next to Place Stanislas and won’t take more than a few minutes to visit.

Helpful Tip: Combined, Place Stanislas, Place d’Alliance, and Place de la Carrière make up the UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts

Daum glassware exhibit at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Nancy. There are four vases in view, each decorated with floral designs. Then, behind those, you can see a large collection of vases. — Daum Glassware at the Musée des Beaux Arts

These are the former fortifications of Nancy at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Nancy. They are three stone walls and in the middle there is a large white board with glassware from the Daum factory. — Nancy’s Former Fortifications at the Musée des Beaux Arts

Next, head back to Place Stanislas to visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

This is one of the country’s oldest museums, and you’ll find a lot of impressive artwork here.

But the biggest reason why it’s popular is the Daum glassware collection.

They have several hundred on display, and just seeing all of the vases lined up was impressive.

What really took me by surprise were the city’s former fortifications surrounding the Daum glassware exhibit.

They were built between 1480 and 1670, and as you walk through the Daum collection, you will also see the evolution of these fortifications.

Stroll Through Dominique Alexandre Godron Garden

This is the Dominique Alexandre Godron Garden in Nancy. There is a small wooden chair surrounded by trees, grass, and flowers. — Dominique Alexandre Godron Garden

Most itineraries will include Parc de la Pépinière. It’s the largest park, and it is very beautiful.

But I preferred Dominique Alexandre Godron Garden.

It’s smaller and much quieter.

Plus, they have these little wooden chairs spread throughout the park so you can sit wherever you want.

Afternoon

Lunch at Marché Central de Nancy

This is Marche Central de Nancy in Nancy. There is an aisle and one side there is fresh fruit and on the other a cheese vendor. In the distance people are walking around. — Marché Central de Nancy

This is my chicken teriyaki bowl from Au Petit Japon at the Marché Central de Nancy in Nancy. It's a bowl with chicken, vegetables, and rise. It's on a small round tray with a fork and napkin. — Chicken Teriyaki Bowl from Au Petit Japon

Marché Central de Nancy is Nancy’s big indoor market.

They have a large variety of vendors selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to meats and cheeses.

There are also quite a few restaurants inside.

Helpful Tip: There are lots of restaurants to choose from. My top three are Au Petit Japon, Au P’tit Bio, and L’Impromptu.

On my last visit, I stopped at Au Petit Japon. There was a huge line of locals, and the seating area was nearly full. I ordered a chicken teriyaki bowl, and it was delicious.

The servers were also exceptionally friendly.

Helpful Tip: If you prefer a traditional restaurant, check out my dinner recommendation below.

Visit the École de Nancy Museum

This is the École de Nancy Museum App. I am holding my phone and the screen shows the different tours you can do at the museum. — École de Nancy Museum App

This is an furniture exhibit at the École de Nancy Museum. There is a table surrounded by chairs and behind it is a cabinet with two statues and a lamp. — Furniture at the École de Nancy Museum

This is my favorite museum in Nancy.

It features rooms decorated with furniture, glassware, lamps, stained-glass windows, etc., in the Art Nouveau style.

There’s also a large exhibit on the works of Émile Gallé, who was one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement.

But what made this museum particularly interesting for me was the self-guided tour.

There’s an app that you can download, and each exhibit has an audio guide that covers the artwork on display. (You can even do themed visits.)

Helpful Tip: The École de Nancy Museum is a 35-minute walk from downtown Nancy.

Wander Down Rue Félix Faure

This is an Art Nouveau Building on Rue Felix Faure in Nancy. It's a while building with seven windows and one door. There are decorations around the windows with different color bricks. — Art Nouveau Building on Rue Félix Faure

Not far from the École de Nancy Museum is the prettiest street in town, at least in my opinion.

Here you’ll find rows of houses designed in the Art Nouveau style.

I loved the intricate details and colors of each building.

It is a residential street, so you can’t visit inside any of the houses, but they are still worth admiring.

Stop by Maison des Soeurs Macarons

This is a box of Macarons de Nancy from Maison des Soeurs Macarons in Nancy. It's a square box and there are six cookies. — Macarons de Nancy from Maison des Soeurs Macarons

After visiting the area around the École de Nancy Museum, you’ll head back to see the rest of Nancy’s Old Town.

Along the way, I recommend stopping by Maison des Soeurs Macarons to try one of my favorite local specialties – the Macarons de Nancy.

It’s a meringue-type cookie with an almond base. They are light and not as sweet as some of the others you’ll find in France.

Helpful Tip: Maison des Soeurs Macarons is the oldest producer of macarons in Nancy, and those are the ones I tried.

Discover the Old Town

This is a set of colorful buildings along Rue du Duc Raoul in Nancy's Old Town. There are five buildings in a row and each is a different color. — Rue du Duc Raoul

Nancy’s Old Town is full of cobbled streets lined with beautiful medieval and Renaissance architecture.

There are lots of must-see sites, including the Nancy Cathedral, Porte de la Craffe, the Palais des Ducs de Lorraine, and the Musée Lorrain.

Helpful Tip: My last visit to Nancy was in February 2026, and the Nancy Cathedral was undergoing massive restorations. Only the section by the altar was open.

But my favorite area was between Rue de la Source and Rue des Dames.

There are tons of colorful buildings, like the ones on Rue du Duc Raoul (pictured above).

Evening

Dinner at Le Bouillon Rousselet

This is the Beef Bourguignon I ate at Le Bouillon Rousselet in Nancy. It's a round plate with beef and sauce on top of pasta. — Beef Bourguignon at Le Bouillon Rousselet

This is the Baba Lorraine that I ate at Le Bouillon Rousselet in Nancy. It's a madeleine soaked in rum in a round dish. — Baba Lorraine at Le Bouillon Rousselet

There is a large selection of restaurants in Nancy, but my go-to is Le Bouillon Rousselet.

Helpful Tip: This restaurant was recommended to me by the Tourist Office.

They have a menu with a lot of regional specialties like Quiche Lorraine as well as traditional French dishes.

For the main dish, I really enjoyed the beef bourguignon, and for the dessert, the baba Lorraine was my favorite (the profiteroles were also very good).

Light Show in Place Stanislas

From mid-June to mid-September and during the Christmas market, the city puts on a spectacular light show every evening.

The show changes every year, but you can expect something that combines history, heritage, and artistic innovation.

The event is open-air and free, so add it to your itinerary if you can.

Conclusion

Nancy is a charming city that doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

The architecture, history, and museums are my personal favorites.

If I had only one day in this beautiful city, this itinerary is how I would spend my day (and how I have on some of my trips).

Now, I recommend checking out my complete eastern France itinerary to see how you can add Nancy as part of your trip.