Cidade Turismo
France

Before you go

Your trip to Amboise.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Amboise – Centro-Vale do Loire Destination Vale do Loire

How to get there

  • Aéroport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) Roissy-en-France · 250 km
  • Aéroport de Tours-Val de Loire (TUF) Tours · 27 km
  • Gare d'Amboise 2 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

From Paris, take the TGV at Montparnasse to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps and change to a regional train (TER) to Gare d'Amboise in about 15 minutes. There are also regional trains between Tours, Amboise and Blois. The station is on the other side of the river, roughly a 20-minute walk from the château.

How many days

One day is enough for the royal château and the Clos Lucé, with the afternoon at Chenonceau. With two days, add the Pagode de Chanteloup, a bike ride along the Loire and a visit to Tours or Chaumont-sur-Loire.

When to go

From April to October, with all sites open and the Clos Lucé park green. In July and August there are more visitors, so it's wise to arrive early at the châteaux. In winter, December to February, days are short and some sites change their opening hours.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Not for the town: the royal castle and the Clos Lucé are 500 meters from each other. Chenonceau has a train from Tours, but from Amboise the simplest way is by bicycle, taxi, regional bus or tour. The Pagode de Chanteloup is about 3 km away, on foot or by bike.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Amboise
  1. Morning
    Château royal d'Amboise

    Arrive at opening time to the royal castle. Visit the logis royal, the Saint-Hubert chapel with Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb, and the terraces overlooking the Loire.

  2. Afternoon
    Clos Lucé

    Have lunch in the centre, near the castle, and walk about 500 meters to the Clos Lucé. See Leonardo’s house and the park with models of the machines he designed.

  3. Late afternoon
    Chenonceau

    Head to Chenonceau, about 12 km away, by car, taxi or bicycle. Cross the gallery over the Cher and stroll through the gardens of Diane and Catherine.

  4. Evening
    Dinner on the banks of the Loire

    Back in Amboise, dine in the centre, at the foot of the castle, or on the streets of the quai du Général de Gaulle. Dinner service usually begins from 7:30 pm.

2 days in Amboise

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Royal castle

    Start at the Château royal d'Amboise, with the chapel that houses Leonardo’s tomb, and enjoy the views from the terraces.

  2. Afternoon
    Leonardo's house

    After lunch, visit the Clos Lucé, with Leonardo’s bedroom, his studio and the models of his inventions in the park.

  3. Late afternoon
    Pagode de Chanteloup

    Go to the Pagode de Chanteloup, 3 km away, and climb the 149 steps to the top floor to see the forest and the valley.

  4. Evening
    Center of Amboise

    Dine in the centre. Try the Touraine-Amboise wine produced in the surrounding area.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Château de Chenonceau

    Go early to Chenonceau to see the gallery over the Cher with fewer people. Walk through the queens' rooms and the kitchens installed on the bridge’s pillars.

  2. Afternoon
    Gardens of Chenonceau

    Have lunch on the estate and walk through the gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, the maze and the kitchen garden.

  3. Late afternoon
    Loire riverside

    Back in Amboise, cross the bridge to the Île d'Or and view the castle on the other side of the river in the late-afternoon light.

  4. Evening
    Last night

    Dine in the centre or take the regional train to Tours, about 20 minutes away, and eat in Vieux Tours.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Paris to Amboise?

By TGV from Gare Montparnasse to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps in about 1 hour, and from there a regional train to Amboise in about 15 minutes. There are also direct regional trains from Paris-Austerlitz on the line that passes through Blois.

Where is Leonardo da Vinci’s tomb?

In the Saint-Hubert chapel, inside the Château royal d'Amboise. Leonardo died in 1519 at the Clos Lucé, a few minutes' walk from the castle.

How to get from Amboise to Chenonceau?

Chenonceau is about 12 km away. Options are car, taxi, bicycle or regional bus; check schedules before you go. By train, access is via the line from Tours to Chenonceaux station.

Is Amboise a good base for the châteaux?

Yes, for those looking for a small, quiet town. It is between Tours and Blois, with trains to both, and close to Chenonceau and Chaumont-sur-Loire.

Can you go on a bike ride?

Yes. The Loire à Vélo passes through Amboise and follows the riverbank to Tours and Blois. There are bike rental shops in town.

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