Tours divides naturally into distinct neighborhoods, each with a different character and practical advantages depending on whether you prioritize nightlife in half-timbered medieval squares, quiet residential streets near the botanical gardens, or walk-to-everything convenience next to the train station. The Vieux Tours (Old Town) is the obvious choice for first-time visitors, but the surrounding districts offer better value and a more local experience without sacrificing access to the city center. This guide covers the five neighborhoods that matter for visitors, with typical hotel price ranges, restaurant density, and who each area suits best. For detailed hotel picks by area, see our Where to Stay in Tours guide.
Best Neighborhoods in Tours: Vieux Tours (Old Town)
The pedestrianized old town is the postcard Tours of Place Plumereau, half-timbered houses, and narrow medieval lanes lined with wine bars and creperies. Bounded roughly by Rue Nationale to the east, the Loire to the north, and Boulevard Heurteloup to the south, Vieux Tours contains most of the city’s historic attractions: the cathedral, the basilica, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and Place Plumereau itself. Restaurants and bars are densest here, and the area stays lively until midnight on weekends. The downside: street noise from bar terraces can be an issue on Rue du Grand Marché and around Place Plumereau until 1:00 to 2:00 AM in summer. Hotel rooms in Vieux Tours run EUR 100 to EUR 250 per night. Best for first-time visitors who want to step outside their hotel into the historic center. Single travelers and couples will find the most choices here; families may prefer quieter areas a few blocks away. For additional planning, see our Tours weather by month.
Best Neighborhoods in Tours: Quartier Colbert / Cathédrale
The area around Rue Colbert and the cathedral, immediately east of Vieux Tours, is the old town’s quieter sibling. You are still within a 5-minute walk of Place Plumereau but on streets with far less foot traffic and no bar noise. The neighborhood centers on the cathedral and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, with Rue Colbert itself lined with antique shops, bookstores, and independent bakeries rather than tourist restaurants. The covered market Les Halles sits at the northern edge of this district. Hotels here are mainly converted townhouses with 10 to 20 rooms, priced at EUR 80 to EUR 150 per night. Best for couples and older travelers who want old-town charm without old-town noise. Also the best choice for food-focused visitors who want Les Halles on their doorstep. For additional planning, see our best time to visit Tours.
Best Neighborhoods in Tours: Quartier Gare / Jean Jaurès
The area around the Gare de Tours (train station) and Boulevard Heurteloup is the most practical location for travelers using Tours as a base for day trips to Loire Valley châteaux. The station offers direct TER trains to Chenonceau (25 minutes), Amboise (20 minutes), Blois (30 minutes), and Saumur (45 minutes). Bus tours to châteaux also depart from the station forecourt. The neighborhood is less picturesque than Vieux Tours but more affordable, with chain hotels and apartment rentals clustered within 300 meters of the station. It is a 10-minute walk to Place Plumereau and 5 minutes to Les Halles. Hotel rates here run EUR 55 to EUR 120 per night, the lowest in central Tours. Best for travelers planning multiple day trips by train, solo travelers on a budget, and anyone arriving late on the TGV from Paris who wants to drop bags and walk 2 minutes to their hotel. For additional planning, see our things to do in Tours.
Best Neighborhoods in Tours: Prébendes / Jardin Botanique
This residential district south and west of the city center is built around the Jardin des Prébendes d’Oé, a formal 19th-century park with a bandstand, pond, and mature tree canopy, and stretches toward the Jardin Botanique along the Cher River. The architecture is predominantly 19th-century stone townhouses and Belle Époque apartment buildings with wrought-iron balconies. Restaurants and cafes are sparser than in Vieux Tours, concentrated on Avenue de Grammont and around Place Choiseul. It is a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute tram ride (Line A) to Place Plumereau. Accommodation is mainly self-catering apartments and small B&Bs at EUR 65 to EUR 110 per night. Best for families who want park access and quiet streets, and for longer stays where cooking facilities and neighborhood boulangeries matter more than doorstep nightlife. For additional planning, see our Tours events and festivals.
Best Neighborhoods in Tours: Saint-Symphorien / Tours Nord
On the north bank of the Loire, connected to central Tours by the Pont Wilson (a 10 to 15-minute walk), Saint-Symphorien is a former village absorbed into Tours that retains a distinct small-town feel with its own church square, weekly market, and independent shops. It offers the best value in Tours proper, with hotels and B&Bs at EUR 50 to EUR 90 per night, and several excellent neighborhood restaurants that cater to locals rather than tourists (try L’Atelier des Augustins for modern French cooking at EUR 25 to EUR 35 for three courses). The downside is the 15-minute walk across the bridge to the old town, which can feel long on a rainy November evening. The area around Place de la Liberté has a cluster of cafes and a small cinema. Best for budget travelers, cyclists (the Loire à Vélo path runs along this bank), and anyone who prefers neighborhood authenticity over tourism-center convenience. For additional planning, see our Tours travel tips and FAQ.
