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- The most beautiful Loire Valley Castles that can be reached without a car
- Visit the Loire Valley Castles by train
- What is the best city to visit the Loire Valley castles without a car?
- Which castles can you visit without a car in 3 days?
- A 5-day car-free itinerary
- Tourist buses and shuttles: a closer look
- Traveling by train to the Loire Valley castles
- Explore the Loire Valley castles by bike
- Where to stay when visiting the Loire Valley castles without a car
- FAQ and useful information
When people think about visiting the castles of the Loire Valley, they usually think of traveling by car for the sake of flexibility, it seems much easier to go from château to château that way. It doesn’t immediately occur to them that it’s possible to visit these castles by train, bus, or bike, and that it’s almost as easy as going by car.
As we’ll see below, there are plenty of transportation options, and almost all of the most beautiful castles are accessible without a car thanks to a very extensive and truly convenient train and bus network. This is one of the region’s top priorities: reducing traffic on roads that are heavily congested during peak season by promoting train and bus travel.
And honestly, not having a car isn’t a problem for a multi-day itinerary through the Loire Valley castles like this one, you just need to make a few adjustments. But let’s take a look at what you can see without a car 🙂
So here I’ve listed all the castles you can visit, with summary tables, routes, and transportation options… but most importantly, itineraries for exploring the Loire Valley castles without a car!
At a glance
| Best base | Amboise (trains + shuttles) | Bus/shuttle fare | €3.30 per trip |
| Castles reachable | 12+ without a car | Key shuttle | Rémi Line C Tourist |
| Nearest TGV stations | Tours, Angers, Orléans | Useful pass | Pass Rémi Découverte |
The most beautiful Loire Valley Castles that can be reached without a car
It’s super easy, you’ll definitely find the most beautiful Loire Valley castles, as well as a few lesser-known ones, all accessible by train or bus:
- Chambord, accessible by bus from the Blois train station
- Blois, accessible by train on the Orléans-Tours line
- Cheverny, accessible by bus from the Blois train station
- Chaumont, accessible by train on the Orléans-Tours line
- Amboise, accessible by train on the Orléans-Tours line
- Chenonceau, accessible by train on the Tours-Bourges line
- Azay-le-Rideau, accessible by train on the Tours-Chinon line
- Saumur, accessible by train on the Tours-Angers line
- Angers, accessible by train on the Tours-Angers line
And many others. The only notable one for which I haven’t seen a train or bus option is the Château d’Ussé.
| Château | Access | From | Duration | ~Transport cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amboise | On foot | Amboise train station | 5 min | Free |
| Clos Lucé | On foot | Amboise train station | 20 min | Free |
| Château Gaillard | On foot | Amboise train station | 35 min | Free |
| Chenonceau | Shuttle Line C | Théâtre stop, Amboise | 26 min | €3.30 |
| Chaumont-sur-Loire | Train + 2 km on foot | Amboise train station | 15 min train + 25 min walk | ~€4–6 |
| Chambord | Train + Shuttle L.2 | Blois train station | 30 min train + 45 min bus | €3.30 shuttle |
| Cheverny | Train + Azalys Shuttle | Blois train station | 30 min train + 30 min bus | €3.30 shuttle |
| Blois | Train | Amboise train station | 30 min | ~€4–6 |
| Azay-le-Rideau | Train + 20 min walk | Tours train station | 30 min + 20 min | ~€5–8 |
| Chinon | Train | Tours train station | 50 min | ~€6–9 |
| Saumur | Train | Tours train station | 45 min | ~€5–8 |
| Angers | Train | Tours train station | 1h | ~€8–12 |
Une journée en autocar climatisé pour visiter deux châteaux emblématiques de la Loire — Chambord et son escalier attribué à Léonard de Vinci, Chenonceau et ses jardins légendaires — avec dégustation de vin incluse dans les caves voûtées du château.
Visit the Loire Valley Castles by train
I’ve marked the locations of the castles and the nearest train stations on the Loire Valley Castles map, just below the castles themselves. They’re grouped by train line and color-coded for clarity. Let’s take a closer look now. Some castles are accessible from the same station, such as Azay-le-Rideau and L’Islette, or Amboise, Clos Lucé, and Château Gaillard.
This is the overall map of the castles, so you can turn layers on or off to see more or less information.
Summary table of castles accessible by train
Orléans – Tours Tours – Chinon Tours – Angers Tours – Bourges Shuttle / on foot
| Château | Line | Station | From Tours | Last leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meung-sur-Loire | Orléans – Tours | Meung-sur-Loire | 1h15 | 5 min walk |
| Beaugency ⚠ often closed | Orléans – Tours | Beaugency | 1h10 | 5 min walk |
| Blois | Orléans – Tours | Blois-Chambord | 50 min | 10 min walk |
| Chambord | Orléans – Tours | Blois-Chambord | 50 min + 45 min bus | Shuttle L.2 Rémi |
| Cheverny | Orléans – Tours | Blois-Chambord | 50 min + 30 min bus | Azalys Shuttle |
| Chaumont-sur-Loire | Orléans – Tours | Onzain | 45 min | 2 km walk (bridge) |
| Amboise | Orléans – Tours | Amboise | 35 min | 5 min walk |
| Clos Lucé | Orléans – Tours | Amboise | 35 min | 20 min walk |
| Château Gaillard | Orléans – Tours | Amboise | 35 min | 35 min walk |
| Chenonceau | Tours – Bourges | Chenonceaux | 25 min | 5 min walk |
| Azay-le-Rideau | Tours – Chinon | Azay-le-Rideau | 30 min | 20 min walk |
| Château de l'Islette | Tours – Chinon | Azay-le-Rideau | 30 min | 15 min walk |
| Chinon | Tours – Chinon | Chinon | 50 min | 10 min walk |
| Langeais | Tours – Angers | Langeais | 22 min | 5 min walk |
| Saumur | Tours – Angers | Saumur | 45 min | 10 min walk |
| Angers | Tours – Angers | Angers | 1h | 10 min walk |
| Valençay | Tours – Bourges | Valençay (via Gièvres) | ~1h30 | 10 min walk |
The various train lines in the Loire Valley
Along this Tours–Orléans line, you’ll find some really lovely castles all along the Loire River:
- Meung-sur-Loire
- Station of the same name, 30 minutes from Orléans, 1 hour 15 minutes from Tours
- Beangency
- Note: often closed, 40 minutes from Orléans, 1 hour 10 minutes from Tours
- Blois
- station of the same name, 1 hour from Orléans, 50 minutes from Tours
- Chambord
- accessible from the Blois station; take a bus from the station—very easy
- Chaumont
- Onzain station, 1 hour 10 minutes from Orléans, 45 minutes from Tours
- Amboise
- station of the same name, on the other side of the Loire, 1 hour 20 minutes from Orléans, 35 minutes from Tours
- Clos Lucé
- from the Amboise station, a short half-hour walk
- Château-Gaillard
- from the Amboise station, a good half-hour walk
Originally, this small line extended further, all the way to Thouars and even Les Sables d’Olonne, until passenger service was discontinued; fortunately, however, the section up to Chinon has been preserved. Along the way, you’ll find
- Azay-le-Rideau
- train station, a 20-minute walk away, 30 minutes from Tours
- Château de l’Islette
- Azay-le-Rideau station, a 15-minute walk
- Royal Fortress of Chinon
- Chinon station, 50 minutes from Tours, 20 minutes from Azay-le-Rideau
Along this Tours–Angers line, you’ll also find several very interesting castles:
- Tours Castle (of course)
- and its neighbor in Plessis-lez-Tours
- Langeais
- station of the same name, 22 min from Tours, 55 min from Angers
- Saumur
- station of the same name, 45 min from Tours, 25 min from Angers
- Montreuil-Bellay, accessible from Saumur (line heading toward Thouars and Sables d’Olonne)
- station of the same name, 15 min from Saumur
- Angers, of course
So Bourges isn’t exactly nearby, but on this line (which sometimes only goes as far as Vierzon), you’ll mainly find:
- Chenonceau
- at the Chenonceau train station (watch out for the trap!)—25 minutes from Tours
- Montrichard
- the station of the same name, 30 minutes from Tours
- Valençay
- station of the same name, change at Gièvres, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Tours
- Bourges, home to the Palais Jacques Coeur and a stunning cathedral
- station of the same name, 1 hour 45 minutes from Tours
- Loches, from Tours: 1 hour, no transfers
- Vendôme, from Tours: 1 hour, no transfers
- Châteaudun, from Tours: 1 hour and 45 minutes, no transfers. It is also the first castle accessible from Paris, 1 hour and 40 minutes from the Gare d’Austerlitz.
What is the best city to visit the Loire Valley castles without a car?
I’d say there are two main options:
- Amboise, which is a really pretty little town, convenient because it’s well-connected, and full of charm! It also has plenty of cute little places to stay. I think it’s the perfect base for visiting the castles.
- Tours, a larger city, at the crossroads of all train and bus lines. It’s super convenient but it’s also pretty! It’s just bigger and more urban, so you’ll want to enjoy its very cute downtown area.
I’m still leaning more toward Amboise because there are three castles you can reach on foot right in town, which is really convenient since it saves you from wasting too much time on transportation! Of course, there’s the Royal Castle of Amboise, the famous Château du Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s final residence, and the lesser-known Château Gaillard. But also:
- The Rémi Tourist Line C shuttle goes directly to Chenonceau (26 min, €3.30).
- A direct train to Blois (30 min) to access the Chambord and Cheverny shuttles.
- A train to Chaumont-sur-Loire (15 min) from the Amboise train station.
- A charming town in its own right, with restaurants, cave cellars, a hot-air balloon…
Which castles can you visit without a car in 3 days?
That’s the most important thing. You don’t have a car, so you’ll be getting around by train or bus. That means you need to plan your trips efficiently and avoid too many trips in a single day, especially between castles (like having to change trains twice).
Just like in my 3-day itinerary for the castles, I’m suggesting something similar, namely:
First off, for these 3 days, I recommend staying in Amboise, which is super central for this itinerary. Here are a few suggestions:
- The Château de Perreux for the treat of sleeping in a castle
- or the magnificent Manoir Saint Thomas with excellent amenities (and not particularly expensive in the off-season!)
Here is the recommended route
- Day 1: Chambord, Cheverny, and Blois in the evening
- Day 2: Chaumont and Amboise
- Day 3: Chenonceau and Clos Lucé
I’ll go into more detail below!
Day 1
Chambord + Cheverny — A full day by shuttle from Blois
| 8:15 am | Train Amboise → Blois Train 30 min · ~€4–6 · frequent departures in the morning |
| 9:00 am | Shuttle Blois → Chambord Shuttle L.2 Rémi Platform 3, 100m to the left as you exit the station · 45 min · €3.30 |
| 10am–12:30pm | 🏰 Visit Chambord Allow at least 2h30. Head up to the rooftop terraces for the view over the chimneys — that's where it really becomes something special. |
| 12:30 pm | Shuttle Chambord → Cheverny Shuttle 30 min · €3.30 · check the exact timetable at remi-centrevaldeloire.fr before you go |
| 1pm–3:30pm | 🏰 Visit Cheverny Exceptional furnished interiors, immaculate gardens, and the famous pack of hunting dogs. One of the most complete châteaux in the region. |
| 4:00 pm | Shuttle Cheverny → Blois + Train Blois → Amboise Shuttle Train Shuttle 30 min + train 30 min · ~€6.60 total |
Day 2
Chaumont-sur-Loire in the morning + Château d'Amboise in the afternoon
| 8:45 am | Train Amboise → Onzain/Chaumont Train 15 min · ~€3–4 · no shuttle to worry about, just a train |
| 9:10–9:35 am | Walk station → Château de Chaumont On foot 2 km · 25 min · crosses the bridge over the Loire — one of the most beautiful approaches on foot in the whole region, with the château perched above the river. |
| 10am–1pm | 🏰 Chaumont-sur-Loire + Festival des Jardins Allow 2h30–3h. The Festival des Jardins (May–November) is one of a kind in France — each year brings new installations by international artists. The château itself is beautiful and far less crowded than Chambord or Chenonceau. |
| 1:30 pm | Return train Onzain → Amboise Train 15 min · an easy ride back, lunch in Amboise |
| 3:00 pm | 🏰 Château Royal d'Amboise On foot 5 min from the town centre · 1h30 visit · the terraces offer a breathtaking view over the Loire and the rooftops of the old town. |
| 5:00 pm → | Old town + Loire riverbank On foot Wander through the backstreets, then head down to the riverbank at sunset. This is where Amboise really comes into its own — far from the château crowds. |
Day 3
Chenonceau in the morning + Clos Lucé in the afternoon
| 9:00 am | Shuttle Line C → Chenonceau Rémi Shuttle Stop: Théâtre Beaumarchais, av. des Martyrs de la Résistance · 26 min · €3.30 |
| 9:30am–12pm | 🏰 Visit Chenonceau Arrive early — the crowds really take over from 10:30am. Before that, the galleries over the Cher are almost deserted. It's the most visited château in France after Versailles, and it earns it. |
| 12:15 pm | Return shuttle Chenonceau → Amboise Rémi Shuttle 26 min · €3.30 · watch the timetable carefully, return services are infrequent — check before you go |
| 1pm–3pm | Lunch in Amboise Take the time to unwind and have a relaxed lunch in the old town before the last visit of the trip. |
| 3:00 pm | 🏰 Clos Lucé — Leonardo da Vinci's residence On foot 20 min walk from the town centre · Allow at least 1h30. The gardens with life-size reproductions of Leonardo's machines are fascinating, and the atmosphere is far more intimate than the grand châteaux. My full article on Clos Lucé. |
| 5:00 pm → | Loire riverbank + end of the trip On foot The late-afternoon light on the Loire from the Amboise quays is a perfect way to close out a stay among the châteaux. |
A 5-day car-free itinerary
Because yes, it’s definitely possible to keep the momentum going for another two days! To do that, we’ll head west. It’s best to change accommodations and spend the next two nights in Tours. Ideally in the old town, which is absolutely stunning! I particularly recommend:
- the Hôtel Colbert right in the center—it doesn’t look like much but offers excellent value for money
- the absolute best in the superb Demeure des Trésorières
And here’s what’s in store for you over the next two days:
- Day 4: Azay-le-Rideau and the Château de l’Islette
- Day 5: A wonderful day in Saumur, exploring the fortress and vineyards!
End of Day 3: Train Amboise → Tours (35 min · ~€5) · Check in to Tours for the last 2 days · Le Vieux-Tours is well worth an evening stroll 🌆
Day 4
Azay-le-Rideau + Chinon — The Tours–Chinon line in a single journey
| 9:00 am | Train Tours → Azay-le-Rideau Train Tours – Chinon line · 30 min · ~€5–7 · get off at Azay, not Chinon |
| 9:20–9:40 am | Walk station → Château d'Azay-le-Rideau On foot 20 min · flat and pleasant path along the Indre river |
| 10am–12pm | 🏰 Visit Azay-le-Rideau One of the most beautiful Renaissance châteaux in the Loire, set right on the Indre. Far fewer crowds than Chenonceau, and a much more peaceful atmosphere. Allow 1h30–2h. My full article on Azay-le-Rideau. |
| Option | 🏰 Château de l'Islette On foot 15 min walk from Azay · A little-known private château with a stunning setting and almost no visitors. Worth it if you have time before the train to Chinon. |
| 12:30 pm | Train Azay-le-Rideau → Chinon Train Tours – Chinon line · 20 min · ~€3–4 · same line, keep heading west without backtracking to Tours |
| 1pm–2:30pm | Lunch in Chinon The medieval town of Chinon is magnificent — a few good spots around Place Jeanne-d'Arc, and the local Chinon wines to go with it. |
| 2:30pm–5pm | 🏰 Forteresse Royale de Chinon On foot 10 min walk from the station · A vast medieval fortress towering over the Vienne — completely different from the Renaissance châteaux, which makes for a real change of pace. Breathtaking views over the valley. |
| 5:30 pm | Train Chinon → Tours Train 50 min · ~€6–9 · direct return, evening in the Vieux-Tours |
Day 5
Saumur — Château, troglodyte caves and the Loire riverbank
| 9:15 am | Train Tours → Saumur Train Tours – Angers line · 45 min · ~€5–8 |
| 10am–12pm | 🏰 Château de Saumur On foot 10 min walk from the station · The château dominates the Loire from its rocky promontory — one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the valley. Inside, a fine decorative arts museum. |
| 12pm–2pm | Lunch + Loire riverbank Saumur is a pleasant town with a lovely centre — a riverside terrace if the weather plays along. |
| 2pm–4pm | 🍷 Troglodyte caves of Saumur On foot The tuffeau cliffs around Saumur are honeycombed with kilometres of tunnels — wine cellars, mushroom farms, and even entire homes carved into the rock. A side of the region that often gets overlooked in favour of the châteaux. |
| Option | 🏰 Château d'Angers Train Train Saumur → Angers (25 min · ~€4) to see the medieval fortress and the famous Apocalypse Tapestry. Worth adding if you're heading home from Angers. |
| 5:00 pm | Train Saumur → Tours (or Angers depending on departure) Train Saumur → Tours: 45 min · Saumur → Angers: 25 min · Both have good TGV and Ouigo connections. |
The most beautiful gardens in the Loire Valley — three terraced levels with a kitchen garden, ornamental garden and water garden, immaculately maintained since the 16th century.
- Access to château and formal French gardens
- Kitchen garden, ornamental garden and water garden
- Awarded Remarkable Garden status
This is where Joan of Arc recognised Charles VII in 1429 to announce her mission. A medieval fortress perched on a rocky spur with breathtaking views over the Vienne river.
- Visit with the Histopad in 7 languages
- Access to towers and riverside park along the Vienne
- Site of Joan of Arc's meeting with Charles VII
Tourist buses and shuttles: a closer look
The Remi network for visiting the châteaux of the Loire Valley by bus
The Remi network isn’t just about regional trains; it also includes a large, comprehensive bus network. You’ll find roughly the same stops, the same castles, and the same prices. Fares start at €3 and increase in €3 increments depending on the distance, but they’re still very reasonable.
On their website, you can find all the routes, schedules, and interactive maps—it’s convenient and well-designed.
There are passes for multiple people and for multiple days that offer unlimited access to the network; check them out depending on your plans, but if there are more than two of you, it becomes a really good deal. Especially since you can also access Parisian train stations. More details on this page.
Tourist Line C Rémi — Tours / Amboise / Chenonceau / Montrichard
| Route | Tours → Montlouis → Amboise → Chenonceaux → Montrichard (and back) |
| Frequency | ~2 departures/day — varies considerably by season (term time / school holidays / summer) |
| Fare | €3.30 per trip (Rémi 2025 rate) |
| Amboise stop | Théâtre Beaumarchais, avenue des Martyrs de la Résistance |
| Amboise → Chenonceau | ~26 minutes |
| Bikes | Accepted on reservation (1 April – 2 November) · Book the day before before 5pm on 0 806 70 33 33 |
| Timetables | remi-centrevaldeloire.fr or PDF on the Amboise city website |
Shuttle Blois – Chambord – Cheverny – Beauregard
That’s not bad at all! Since some of the really nice castles are quite far from the train stations and have poor public transportation access, the region has set up a shuttle service to get there.
With this shuttle, you can do the full loop: Blois, Chambord, Cheverny, Villesavin, and Beauregard.
It costs €3 per trip (so if you go from Blois to Chambord, Chambord to Cheverny, and Cheverny to Blois, that comes to €9), which is very reasonable for a day of travel.
However, the schedule is quite limited; you can find much more information on this website.
| Chambord | Rémi Line 2 year-round · Platform 3, 100m to the left as you exit Blois station · ~45 min · €3.30 |
| Cheverny | Azalys shuttle from Blois station · 1 morning departure · ~30 min · €3.30 |
| Chaumont | Shuttle from Blois (morning departure) or train to Onzain + 2 km walk |
| Full day combo | Blois → Chambord → Cheverny → Blois = 3 × €3.30 = €9.90 transport for the day |
| Timetables | chambord.org and bus.azalys.agglopolys.fr |
The Rémi Discovery Pass: If there are several of you (up to 5 people), this pass offers unlimited access to Rémi trains and buses for 2 or 3 days—including from Paris. For groups of more than 2 people, it becomes a great value. More on remi-centrevaldeloire.fr.
Shuttle Tours – Amboise – Chenonceau
This is a super convenient bus route, especially for connecting Amboise to Chenonceau, which is a bit isolated.
You can travel between the two once or twice a day. But you can also get to Tours fairly quickly (and more cheaply than by train).
Be aware that the schedules change frequently depending on the holiday season. You can find the PDF schedule here.
And I’ve included the schedule below.
Traveling by train to the Loire Valley castles
It’s very easy to get to the Loire Valley castles by train, as there are several major stations—Angers, Tours, and Orléans—that are accessible via TGV and regional trains. For Angers and Tours, the Ouigo service also runs there, which is very convenient. However, depending on where you’re coming from, it’s not always that easy, so it’s best to choose your destination station carefully. I’ve included the prices and travel times (approximate) for a trip from some major cities as examples.
| Departure | Destination | Duration | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | Tours (Ouigo) | 1h | from €10 |
| Lille | Tours (Ouigo) | 3h | from €10 |
| Bordeaux | Tours (Ouigo) | 1h50 | from €10 |
| Nantes | Angers | 38 min | ~€8 |
| Lyon | Tours | 4h15 | ~€50 |
| Marseille | Tours | 5h40 | ~€50 |
| Toulouse | Tours | 5h | ~€38 |
| Paris | Angers (Ouigo) | 1h35 | from €10 |
Explore the Loire Valley castles by bike
The Loire à Vélo offers 900 km of bike paths stretching from Nevers to the Atlantic. The section between Amboise, Chaumont, and Blois is particularly scenic and accessible. Chenonceau is about 15 km from Amboise by road—a flat route that’s easily manageable in a morning.
Several bike rental shops are available in Amboise: Cycles Richard, Locacycle, Loire Bikes, and Rouelib on Quai du Général de Gaulle. This is a great option for combining train/shuttle and bike travel depending on the day and the weather.
Alternatively, you can easily take the train with your bike and set off along the Loire from Orléans or Amboise—it’s truly THE ideal route!
Where to stay when visiting the Loire Valley castles without a car
Obviously, without a car, you won’t have access to a lot of accommodation options. So I suggest you be strategic and stay in places with excellent train and bus connections, so you can get around very easily.
Basically, I see two places that are perfect for this:
- the pretty little town of Amboise, full of charm and with several castles to visit, plus trains and buses. In fact, in the following article, I’ll point out the best places to stay in Amboise.
- Tours and its medieval center—really nice, and it’s bustling! All the train lines depart from there, and so do the buses.
These are two super central towns; it’s really easy to get around from there 🙂
In Amboise, off the top of my head, I’d recommend:
- Château de Perreux for staying in a castle
- Le Charme Rabelaisien for a charming guesthouse
- a fantastic cave house!
In Tours, here are 3 recommended places to stay:
- A beautiful apartment in Old Tours
- The super convenient Central Parc residence
- Château Belmont, really nice
FAQ and useful information
Transportation Summary Table
| Transport | 2025 fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rémi bus / shuttle (single) | €3.30 | One way, any distance |
| Rémi bus / shuttle (return) | €6.60 | |
| Train Amboise – Blois | ~€4–6 | TER Rémi, ~30 min |
| Train Amboise – Onzain/Chaumont | ~€3–4 | TER Rémi, ~15 min |
| Train Tours – Azay-le-Rideau | ~€5–8 | 30 min |
| Train Tours – Saumur | ~€5–8 | 45 min |
| Pass Rémi Découverte (2–3 days) | check website | Up to 5 people, includes Paris–Loire |
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Is it really possible to visit Chambord without a car?
Yes, absolutely. And I hope I’ve shown you that. Since March 2024, the Rémi Line 2 has been serving Chambord year-round from the Blois train station. Just take a Rémi train to Blois (from Amboise, Tours, or Orléans), then the shuttle from platform 3. The trip takes about 45 minutes from Blois and costs €3.30.
-
What is the best season?
You can visit the Loire Valley castles any time of year, but keep in mind that in summer it gets quite crowded and public transportation can be packed. Plan to arrive early at the most popular castles; this should be factored into your transportation schedule.
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How to get from Tours to Chenonceau without a car?
Two options: the direct train (Tours–Bourges line, Chenonceaux station in 25 min—note that the spelling of the village differs from that of the château) or the Ligne C Touristique Rémi shuttle from Amboise (26 min, €3.30). If you’re based in Amboise, the shuttle is by far the most convenient.
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What’s the best base town for visiting the castles without a car?
Amboise, without a doubt. Three castles within walking distance, a direct shuttle to Chenonceau, and a fast train to Blois (Chambord/Cheverny) and Chaumont. The town is also charming in its own right, with good accommodation options for all budgets. Tours is nice too! But it’s bigger.
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How much does the Loire Valley castle shuttle cost?
The Rémi fare is €3.30 per trip as of January 1, 2025, or €6.60 round-trip. For a day trip from Blois → Chambord → Cheverny → Blois, expect a total of €9.90 for transportation. That’s very reasonable, especially compared to gas and parking during peak season.
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How many castles can you visit in 3 days without a car?
Realistically, 6 to 7 castles: Chambord, Cheverny, Chenonceau, the Royal Castle of Amboise, the Clos Lucé, Chaumont-sur-Loire, and Château Gaillard. By visiting two castles a day and not spreading yourself too thin, it’s perfectly doable without ever feeling like you’re rushing. The most important thing is to choose castles that are close to each other on the same day.
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Is cycling a good option for visiting the castles?
Yes, for routes between nearby castles. Cycling to Chenonceau from Amboise (15 km on flat terrain) is a wonderful experience. To get to Chambord from Blois, it’s about 20 km—doable but more of a workout. You can also combine cycling with the Rémi shuttle on the Tourist Line C, by reservation.
Conclusion
Before writing this article, I didn’t realize how easy it was to visit the Loire Valley castles without a car. I had clearly imagined the trips to be more complicated and thought there were fewer castles to visit. Who would have thought! As we’ve seen, whether by train or bus, it’s very easy to get from one to the next. Plus, it’s pretty easy and not too expensive to travel by train or bus, stopping in Angers, Tours, or Orléans—all three of which are easily accessible from major cities.
So clearly, if you don’t plan on visiting castles that are too off the beaten path or too far out, or touring cellars that aren’t served by public transit, coming without a car is a very viable option.
⭐️ Here are all the blogposts about the Loire Valley Castles !
Here are more information about the Loire Valley Castles
Here are a few articles that I hope will help you plan your visit to the Loire Valley castles:
- First, discover the most charming towns to stay in the Loire Valley
- To save time, here’s your itinerary for the best Loire Valley castles in 3 or 5 days
- I’ll tell you which castles are must-sees
- New! Download the free travel guide to the Loire Valley Castles
- To help you find your way, the most useful map for exploring the Loire Valley Castles
- What to do at the Château de Chambord
