Getting Around Nancy: An Overview
Nancy is a compact city in northeastern France, and getting around it is generally straightforward. The historic centre is small enough to explore almost entirely on foot, while a local bus and trolleybus network, a bike-share scheme, taxis, and regional rail links cover the wider Greater Nancy area and connections beyond. This guide explains the main options a visitor is likely to use.
Walking
Walking is one of the easiest and most pleasant ways to get around Nancy. The city centre is very compact, so most places of interest can be reached comfortably on foot, and many streets are pedestrian-only. As a rough sense of scale, the walk from the main railway station to the Porte Sainte-Catherine takes about twenty minutes. If you are basing yourself centrally, you may find you rarely need any other form of transport.
Nancy also sits on the GR 5, a long-distance footpath that links the North Sea to the Mediterranean, so the city is a stopping point for walkers following that route.
Public Transport: STAN Buses and Trolleybuses
The local public transport network is operated by the Service de transport de l'agglomération Nancéienne, known as STAN. Coverage of the city is decent, though it can feel wanting compared with other French cities of a similar size. It is nonetheless useful for moving around Greater Nancy, particularly between the city centre and the suburbs.
Until early 2023 the city had a peculiar "tramway" that was in fact a trolleybus guided by a central rail set into the roadway. It never fulfilled the promises made by its manufacturer and was notoriously unreliable. It has now been replaced by normal trolleybuses, which operate on battery power through most of the city centre.
- Hours: Buses run from around 06:00 to 21:00. Service is poor on Sundays and public holidays, so plan around this if you are relying on public transport.
- Buying tickets on board: You can buy tickets directly from the driver. Note that the only credit cards accepted are European-style cards with a chip, so carry cash or a suitable card as a backup.
- Ticket machines: The ticket machines formerly provided at the old "tramway" stops are still in use.
- Validity: Tickets are valid for one hour.
- Passes: If you will be moving around Greater Nancy a lot, consider a "Pass 10" or a "Pass Découverte 24h". The 24-hour pass is valid for an unlimited number of trips over a 24-hour period.
- Where to get information: There are two STAN offices in the city where you can find maps and timetables, buy tickets, or ask for information about the network. One, Espace Transport, is inside the main railway station (Gare de Nancy-Ville), near the "République" exit. The other, Agence STAN, is on rue du Docteur Schmitt, near the marketplace.
Cycling and Bike Share
Cycling can be an excellent way to get around during spring and summer, though much less so in winter. The city has a bike rental system called VélOstan, offering both short- and long-term rental.
- Short-term (VélOstan'lib): This works much like bike-share schemes in other French cities. You can pick up and drop off bikes at points around the city. You need a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or French CB) to use the service. A one-day ticket gives you free use for the first 30 minutes of each ride, with charges applying thereafter; a seven-day ticket works on the same fare structure. Thirty minutes is generally more than enough if you stay close to the city centre.
- Watch your range: There are very few stations outside the city centre, so be careful not to ride too far, as you may not find a station to return your bike to and could then be overcharged. There are plans to cover the whole Greater Nancy area.
- Long-term (VélOstan'boutic): This service lets you rent bikes and accessories for up to a year, with prices ranging from a half-day rate up to an annual rate. Reductions may apply in certain cases. There are several shops around the city, including one in the main railway station (exit Place Thiers).
- Buying your own: If you stay long enough to want your own bike, the Atelier Dynamo, a small collective workshop near the St-Epvre basilica in the old town, sells cheap used bikes, and membership can be inexpensive.
Driving and Parking
The streets of the city are narrow and not adapted to mass traffic. Local authorities actively discourage driving in the historical centre and have created many pedestrian-only streets along with a labyrinth of one-way streets. Surface parking is rare and expensive. If you can avoid driving within the city, it is worth doing so.
If you do drive, there are several underground car parks in the centre, as well as park-and-ride car parks on the outskirts of the city. The park-and-ride facilities are managed by STAN.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxi fares are fixed by the authorities and can vary depending on your destination or the time of day. Taxis cannot be hailed on the street, so you need to go to a taxi station or call for one. Major taxi companies include Taxis de Nancy (Association Artisanale des Taxis de l'Agglomération Nancéienne) and Taxi ServiTrans 54, which operates around the clock.
Arriving by Train
Nancy is served by two major railway stations, and understanding the difference matters for planning your arrival.
- Gare de Nancy-Ville: The historical station, right in the heart of the city, and a major hub for national (including TGV) and regional trains (TER Métrolor). It is the convenient arrival point if your destination is the city centre. Note that there are washing machines at the station, but no baggage room and no lockboxes, so do not count on left luggage there.
- Gare Lorraine-TGV: Located north of Nancy, this station is served only by TGV high-speed trains on the TGV Est line linking Paris to Strasbourg, with destinations including Bordeaux, northwest France, Lille, and various TGV stations around Paris such as Charles de Gaulle Airport. Because of local political disputes, the station was built halfway between Nancy and Metz, in the middle of nowhere. It can only be accessed by road (the A31 motorway). The station includes a taxi station, and a shuttle operated by SNCF connects it to Gare de Nancy-Ville.
For schedules, fares, and bookings, see the SNCF website.
Arriving by Plane
Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport is a small regional airport located north of Nancy. It hosts only regional flights, serving destinations such as Lyon, Toulouse, and the Mediterranean coast. Access to and from the city is provided by road via the A31 motorway, or by shuttle. The shuttle is the simplest option for most visitors arriving without a car.
Arriving by Long-Distance Bus or Boat
International bus services are operated by Flixbus, and coaches usually stop at the Porte Sainte-Catherine, near the marina.
Nancy is also crossed by the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, which is open to navigation for small boats and péniches. The Port de Nancy Saint-Georges offers dockage to visiting boats and sits on the eastern edge of the city centre, close to the place Stanislas. The Harbour Master's Office (Capitainerie) is at the port on Boulevard du 21e Régiment d'Aviation, near the Division de Fer tramway station.
Practical Summary
- Best for the centre: Walking. The core is compact and largely pedestrianised.
- Best for the suburbs: STAN buses and trolleybuses, with single tickets, a Pass 10, or a 24-hour Pass Découverte.
- Best in warm weather: Cycling, via VélOstan'lib for short trips or VélOstan'boutic for longer rentals.
- To avoid: Driving in the historical centre; use a park-and-ride or underground car park instead.
- Taxis: Book ahead or use a taxi station; you cannot hail one on the street.
- From the airport: Road via the A31 or the airport shuttle.
- From Gare Lorraine-TGV: Take the SNCF shuttle or a taxi to reach Gare de Nancy-Ville.