Ancienne Ville · Cathédrale & Temple Neuf · Porte des Allemands · Place St. Louis
A Weekend In
Magical Metz
Gothic spires, glowing stained glass and streets that turn a little more majestic every time you round a corner — a slow, easy weekend in Lorraine.
3 Days · 2 Nights
May – Oct · Dec Markets
Mid-Range
Train or Car
4 Areas to Explore
Duration
3 Days · 2 Nights
Best Season
May – Oct · Dec Markets
Budget
Mid-Range
Stays
1 Accommodation
Getting Around
Train or Car
About This Trip
Metz at Your Own Pace
Metz is the perfect size for a weekend getaway — small enough to cover on foot, but full of surprises. Explore the charming streets of the Ancienne Ville, wander into the Cathédrale Saint-Étienne for some of the most beautiful stained glass in France, and let the city's architecture catch you off guard — turn almost any corner and something more majestic appears than you expected.
Give yourself two full days and a Sunday to ease out. Mornings are for wandering and sightseeing, evenings are for the terraces — Place St. Louis and the riverside get properly lively after dark. Just plan around Sunday closures: most shops shut, so save the museum and outdoor spots for your last day.
The Route
Four Areas Worth Lingering In
Old Town
Ancienne Ville
Cobbled streets packed with cute little shops worth ducking into — this is where you'll do most of your wandering between sights.
Landmark
Cathédrale & Temple Neuf
The cathedral's stained glass is stunning by day; Temple Neuf, reflected in the Moselle, is even more beautiful after dark.
Fortified Gate
Porte des Allemands
A medieval gate straddling the river, with towers you can climb and a lovely walk along the old fortified walls.
Evening Hub
Place St. Louis
An arcaded square packed with restaurant terraces — come evening it's full of life, with music and dancing spilling into the street.
The Route, Day by Day
Your Itinerary
A suggested flow across your weekend — built around wandering, cathedral light and evening terraces.
Day 1 · Arrival
Arrival, Cathedral & Evening Wandering
Land, check in, and ease into Metz with the Ancienne Ville and the cathedral before letting the evening carry you toward Place St. Louis.
Day 1
Midday
Arrive & Check In
Arrive by lunch and settle into your hotel — Novotel Metz Centre sits right in the shopping district, about a 10-minute walk from both the cathedral and the train station (which is a sight in itself, well worth a look even if you're not catching a train).
Novotel Metz CentreMetz-Ville Station
The station is considered one of the most beautiful in France — built during the German annexation, with striking Romanesque architecture. Give it a proper look on your way in.
Day 1
Afternoon
Wander to the Cathedral & Old Town
Wander the Ancienne Ville's cobbled streets and cute little shops, then step into the Cathédrale Saint-Étienne. It's stunning inside and out — the stained glass is some of the best you'll see anywhere in France, so take your time under it.
Ancienne VilleCathédrale Saint-Étienne
The cathedral is free to enter — no need to rush. Architecture around here has a habit of surprising you, so let yourself get a little lost between shops.
Day 1
Evening
Place St. Louis & Temple Neuf by Night
Head to Place St. Louis for dinner — the arcaded square's restaurant terraces were packed with an amazing atmosphere, salsa dancing spilling out into the street. Afterward, walk down to Temple Neuf; lit up and reflected in the Moselle at night, it's one of the most beautiful sights in the city.
Place St. LouisTemple Neuf
No specific restaurant recommendation needed here — just pick a terrace on Place St. Louis and soak in the atmosphere. It's the evening that makes the memory.
Day 2 · Full Day
Streets, Gates & Local Flavours
A full day to cover the rest of the city — from the fortified Porte des Allemands to more shop-lined streets and a proper Lorraine lunch.
Day 2
Morning
Porte des Allemands
Walk out to the Porte des Allemands, the fortified medieval gate straddling the river. Climb the tower if it's open and take a walk along the old walls beside the water — a quieter, more atmospheric side of Metz.
Porte des Allemands
Check opening hours before you go — the tower keeps limited afternoon hours.
Day 2
Afternoon
Lunch & More Wandering
Head back toward the old town for lunch — Les Arts et Métiers (Brasserie Metz) is a good, reliable spot. This is prime time to try Quiche Lorraine and wine served in ceramic jugs, and to poke into the eclectic little shops around town — Metz has some fun combinations, like a hairdresser doubling as a wine bar.
Les Arts et MétiersRue Taison
Quiche Lorraine is the dish to order here — you're in its birthplace.
Day 2
Evening
Dinner Near the Old Town
For dinner, Canada 'Venture makes a fun, cosy stop — a little taste of home if you're Canadian, though it's worth seeking out local Lorraine cooking at least once while you're here too.
Canada 'Venture
Book ahead on weekends — this one's popular and the dining room is small and cosy.
Day 3 · Sunday
Sunday Museum Day & Departure
Most shops close on Sundays in Metz — plan around it by saving Centre Pompidou-Metz and the outdoor sights for your last morning.
Day 3
Morning
Breakfast, Then Centre Pompidou-Metz
Sunday mornings are quiet — most shops are shut, but you can still find places open for breakfast (just not early). Head to Centre Pompidou-Metz afterward; it's one of the few major sights that stays open on Sundays, and the building itself is worth the visit as much as what's inside.
Centre Pompidou-Metz
This is the move for a Sunday specifically — save it rather than visiting earlier in the trip, since so much else is closed that day anyway.
Day 3
Afternoon
Last Wander & Departure
Spend your last hours outdoors — a final loop through the Ancienne Ville, one more look at the cathedral, or a slow riverside walk before heading to the station. If you have more time, Metz makes a natural jumping-off point into Luxembourg and Germany, following the Moselle toward Trier.
Metz-Ville Station
Thinking about extending the trip? Metz links easily into a Luxembourg & Moselle valley route — ask about combining them.
"Metz rewards the unhurried — turn any corner and the ordinary becomes gothic, glowing, and completely unexpected."
Where to Eat & Drink
Eat, Drink & Be Merry
Try the Quiche Lorraine, order wine served in ceramic jugs, and don't skip an evening on Place St. Louis — here are a couple of solid stops to anchor your meals around.
Les Arts et Métiers
€€€
A reliably good lunch (or dinner) spot for classic brasserie dishes — including a Quiche Lorraine worth ordering, given you're in its birthplace.
Canada 'Venture
€€
A cute, cosy spot with Canadian decor and flavours — a fun little taste of home if you're Canadian. Local Lorraine cooking is worth seeking out too while you're in town.
Ogre Bistro Lorrain
€€
A modern, seasonal take on Lorraine cooking right on the square — fresh, local ingredients and a short, well-loved menu. One of the best mid-range tables in town.
Closed Sundays and Mondays — plan around it.
La Popote
€€
A cosy, historic little bistro serving generous, traditional French cooking — consistently rated among the best eats in Metz. Reserve ahead, it's small and always full.
Place St. Louis Terraces
€€
Any terrace under the arcades works — the square was packed with restaurants and salsa dancing spilling into the street, and the atmosphere was the whole point.
Go for dinner and stay for the evening — this square comes alive after dark.
Where to Stay
Accommodations
€ Under 100€ · €€ 100–200€ · €€€ Over 200€.
Novotel Metz Centre
Place St. Louis area · Great price, great location — about a 10-minute walk to both the cathedral and the train station, right in the shopping district
€€
All Recommendations, Mapped
Explore the Spots
Filter by area and category · ⭐ = in the itinerary · Click any card to find it on the map
Sights
Eat & Drink
Where to Stay
In the itinerary
Must-Do
Top Picks
The moments worth planning your trip around. Don't leave without them.
1
Cathédrale Saint-Étienne
Stunning inside and out — the stained glass is some of the finest in France. Free to enter.
2
Temple Neuf by Night
Lit up and reflected in the Moselle — one of the most photographed, and most beautiful, spots in Metz after dark.
3
Porte des Allemands
A medieval fortified gate straddling the river — climb the tower and walk the old walls alongside it.
4
Centre Pompidou-Metz
Your best move on a Sunday, when almost everything else is closed — the building alone is worth the trip.
5
Place St. Louis at Night
Packed arcaded terraces, music and dancing spilling into the street — the best evening in the city.
6
Quiche Lorraine & Wine in Ceramic Jugs
A local food ritual worth building a meal around — you're in the birthplace of the dish.
Must-See
- Cathédrale Saint-Étienne
- Temple Neuf
- Porte des Allemands
- Centre Pompidou-Metz
- Place St. Louis
Restaurants
- Ogre Bistro Lorrain
- La Popote
- Les Arts et Métiers
- Canada 'Venture
- Place St. Louis terraces
Try This
- Quiche Lorraine
- Wine in ceramic jugs
- Rue Taison's fun little shops
Extend the Trip
- Luxembourg City
- Trier, Germany
- Along the Moselle
Getting Around
How to Move Through the Route
Metz is easy to reach and easy to get around once you're there — the whole route in this guide is walkable, so the only real transport decision is how you arrive.
🚆 Getting There by Train
Fast from Paris and other centres
Metz has excellent train access from Paris and other major centres. The station itself — Metz-Ville — is beautiful and worth a proper look, built during the German annexation with striking Romanesque architecture.
🚗 Arriving by Car
Just as easy
Driving in is straightforward too, if you'd rather have a car for the weekend or are combining Metz with a longer road trip.
🇱🇺 Link Into Luxembourg & Germany
A natural extension
Metz sits close to Luxembourg and the German border — consider extending your trip along the Moselle toward Trier if you have the extra days.
🗓️ Sunday Closures
Plan around them
Most shops close on Sundays in Metz. Centre Pompidou-Metz stays open, and you can still find breakfast and lunch spots — just not much open early in the morning.
Planning Tips
📅 When to Go
May – October, or December for the Christmas Market
A mid-September visit found the city lively — likely tied to students returning. If you'd rather visit in winter, Metz's Christmas Market is a big draw.
🎟️ What to Book Ahead
Your hotel in the central shopping district
Stay near Place des Paraiges or the cathedral — it puts you within an easy 10-minute walk of everything, including the train station.
💡 Value / Logistics Tip
Plan around Sunday closures
Most shops close on Sundays — save Centre Pompidou-Metz and outdoor sightseeing for that day. Breakfast and lunch spots stay open, just not early.
🗺️ Local Tip
Eat and shop like a local
Try the Quiche Lorraine, order wine in ceramic jugs, and browse the fun little combination shops around town — like a hairdresser that doubles as a wine bar.
