Where to stay in Nîmes: the complete guide to choosing your accommodation
Planning a weekend or a holiday in Nîmes and wondering where to unpack your bags? Between the historic centre, the Costières countryside and the villages around, there is plenty of choice. Here is our complete guide to where to stay in Nîmes for your budget, your plans and the season.
Which area is best for staying in Nîmes?
Nîmes has two rhythms. The first is the Écusson, the historic centre: you sleep a few steps from the Nîmes Arena (Arènes) and the Maison Carrée, everything is on foot, and the café terraces come alive in the evening. It is ideal for one night or a city break, but in summer the heat builds quickly between the stone walls and finding a parking space can be an ordeal.
The second rhythm is that of the Costières de Nîmes countryside, south of the city. Here you swap traffic noise for the sound of cicadas, park your car for free, enjoy a garden and often a pool, and the Arena is still only 15-20 minutes away. It is the best of both worlds for a stay of several nights, as a couple or with family. This is exactly where you will find Mas Bois Fontaine, on the road to the beaches.
Holiday rental, hotel, gîte or B&B: which type of accommodation in Nîmes?
The type of accommodation changes everything about a trip. To help you choose:
- A holiday rental (gîte, mas, furnished studio): the most independence and space, a fully equipped kitchen, often a pool and parking. It is the best value from two nights, and the top choice for families or groups.
- A hotel: handy for one night in the very centre, but with smaller rooms and prices that soar in high season.
- A B&B (chambre d’hôtes): contact with your hosts and breakfast included, in a friendly atmosphere.
At Mas Bois Fontaine, you can choose from our independent, charming rentals, from studios to a 200 m² loft. And if you dream of travel-inspired décor, the La Madone du Mas studios take you to Bali, Marrakech or the Camargue, just a short walk away.
Where to stay near the Nîmes Arena?
The Arena, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, is in the heart of the city. To visit it, you have two options: stay in the Écusson and walk there, or choose the nearby countryside and drive in a few minutes, enjoying the peace and quiet the rest of the time. From Mas Bois Fontaine, allow 15 to 20 minutes to reach the Arena, the Maison Carrée and the Jardins de la Fontaine.
Where to stay during the Nîmes Feria?
Twice a year, at the Feria de Pentecôte and the Feria des Vendanges, Nîmes buzzes day and night with bodegas, abrivados and bullfights. It is a unique festival, but the city centre never sleeps. Our advice: book several months ahead, and choose accommodation in the countryside so you can come home to some peace after the party. You enjoy the atmosphere without sacrificing your nights, and there is a pool to recover by. Check availability for your Feria dates as early as you can.
Staying in Nîmes with a pool, with family or with a pet
In the countryside, special wishes are easy to meet:
- With a pool: at Mas Bois Fontaine, only Le Loft has a fully private pool (La Maison dans les Arbres has a private spa); at La Madone du Mas, one pool is reserved for its studios and is always very quiet.
- With family: space, a garden, a tennis court free for guests and accommodation for up to five guests: children have room to run around safely.
- With your pet: your four-legged companions are welcome in all the Mas Bois Fontaine rentals (€20 per pet per stay; not at La Madone du Mas), a welcome flexibility in Nîmes.
And for food lovers, the guinguette (open-air bistro) La Maison MH, open in the summer season, is right on site and serves breakfasts, local cuisine and concerts under the string lights.
What is there to do from your accommodation?
Staying in the Costières also makes day trips easy: the Camargue and its horses 30 minutes away, the beaches of Grau-du-Roi and Espiguette in under 40 minutes, and the Pont du Gard, Arles, Avignon and Aigues-Mortes all within a day trip. We have put all the ideas together on our Services & Area page.
Book direct: the smart way to pay less
One last tip, and not the least: book direct with the host rather than through a platform. You avoid commission fees (often close to 15%), you talk directly to the owners, and you get the best rate. At Mas Bois Fontaine and at La Madone du Mas alike, booking direct shows real-time availability and guarantees you the best price.
Frequently asked questions · Where to stay in Nîmes
Where should I stay in Nîmes to visit the Arena?
The Arena is in the centre of Nîmes. You can stay in the Écusson (the historic centre) to do everything on foot, or choose the Costières countryside, 15-20 minutes away by car: you get peace and quiet, free parking and often a pool, while staying only minutes from the amphitheatre. Mas Bois Fontaine, for example, is 15-20 minutes from the Arena, on the road to the beaches.
What is the best area to stay in Nîmes?
For atmosphere and sights on foot, choose the Écusson, the historic centre around the Arena and the Maison Carrée. For peace, nature and better value, choose the Costières de Nîmes countryside, south of the city, among vines and olive trees.
Where should I stay during the Nîmes Feria?
During the Feria de Pentecôte and the Feria des Vendanges, the city centre is lively day and night. Book several months ahead. To enjoy the festival and still sleep in peace, accommodation in the countryside, a few minutes away by car, is ideal: you head back to the greenery after the bodegas.
Can I stay in Nîmes with a pool?
Yes. In the countryside, plenty of rentals have a pool. At Mas Bois Fontaine, only Le Loft has a pool, fully private and next to the house, and La Maison dans les Arbres (a house among the trees) has a private spa; at La Madone du Mas, one pool is reserved for its studios, so it is always very quiet.
Holiday rental, hotel or B&B: which should I choose in Nîmes?
A holiday rental (gîte, mas, studio) gives you the most independence: a fully equipped kitchen, space, often a pool and parking, at a better price for a stay of several nights or with family. A hotel suits one night in the city centre; a B&B suits those who want contact with their hosts and breakfast included.
How can I book a stay in Nîmes at the best price?
Book direct with the host rather than through a platform: you avoid commission fees (often close to 15%) and get the best rate. At Mas Bois Fontaine, booking direct on the website is guaranteed at the best price, with real-time availability.
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