Things to do in Metz, capital of the Moselle department, fit into one or two days: a Gothic cathedral with record-breaking stained glass, medieval squares, a fortified gate over the Seille river, an imperial district built during the German annexation and the Centre Pompidou-Metz, opened in 2010 near the station. What to see in Metz, how to plan your visit and when to go based on official Météo-France normals: here are the essentials.
With 122,572 inhabitants in 2023, Metz is the most populous town in Lorraine. It grew up where the Moselle meets the Seille, on the site of the Celtic oppidum of the Mediomatrici, which became Divodurum in Roman times. Capital of the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia in the 6th century and annexed by the German Empire from 1871 to 1918, it blends medieval, classical and Germanic architecture.
Our travel deals for Metz
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Metz.Compare flights- Tickets and toursTiqetsEntry tickets and guided tours to book online; compare with the official price.See tickets
- Audio guidesWeGoTripSelf-guided audio tours on your phone.See audio tours
Metz: key facts
- Location: Moselle (Grand Est region), where the Moselle meets the Seille
- By train: Metz-Ville station, served by TGV inOui and Ouigo high-speed trains on the Paris-Est line
- Nearest airport: Metz-Nancy-Lorraine
- Getting around: on foot in the centre; Mettis bus rapid transit (since 2013)
- Highlights: Saint-Étienne cathedral, Porte des Allemands, Place Saint-Louis, Temple Neuf, imperial district, Centre Pompidou-Metz
- Entry: see entry requirements for US and UK citizens below
- Ideal length: 1 to 2 days
What to see in Metz: the highlights
Saint-Étienne cathedral
This is the city’s major monument. Begun around 1235-1240, largely completed around 1525 and consecrated in 1552, the cathedral has a nave vault about 41.7 m (137 ft) high, behind only Beauvais and Amiens among French cathedrals. It has nearly 6,500 m² (70,000 sq ft) of stained glass, the largest glazed surface of any cathedral in France; hence the nickname « the Good Lord’s lantern » it has carried since the 19th century. The Gothic windows are joined by 20th-century works by Jacques Villon, Roger Bissière and Marc Chagall, then by Kimsooja in the 21st century. The Tour de la Mutte, the former municipal belfry topped by a Flamboyant Gothic spire (1478-1481), got its bell back in 2015.
Place Saint-Louis
At the foot of the Sainte-Croix hill, this medieval square is lined with some sixty arcades. In the 13th century, Lombard money changers built their houses on the foundations of the Roman wall; in the 14th century around sixty money changers worked here and the square was the city’s main marketplace. Long used for parking, it has been pedestrianised since late 2007 and the arcades still house shops.
The Porte des Allemands
East of the centre, this fortified bridge-gate spans the Seille. Its towers, rising about 28 m (92 ft) above the river, were built and strengthened between the 13th and 16th centuries; the gate remained in use as a passage until the early 20th century. Renovated in 2013-2014, it gives public access to two Renaissance halls, the north towers and a terrace, and hosts cultural events. Check opening times with the city.
The Temple Neuf and Place de la Comédie
On the Petit-Saulcy island, on the Moselle, the Temple Neuf is a Reformed Protestant church in the Rhenish neo-Romanesque style, designed by Conrad Wahn and inaugurated in 1904. It faces the classical Place de la Comédie, in striking contrast. You can walk along the Moselle banks from here.
Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains
Built at the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 4th century, this church, later an abbey church, is described as one of the oldest churches in the world. It stands near the Arsenal, a former neoclassical military building from the Second Empire turned cultural venue.
The imperial district and the station
After the medieval ramparts were demolished in 1898, the German authorities built a « new town », the main phase of which began in 1902. Historicist styles dominate (neo-Romanesque, neo-Renaissance, neo-Baroque), with touches of Art Nouveau, in local stone such as pink sandstone and Jaumont stone. Buildings to see include Metz-Ville station, in Rhenish neo-Romanesque style, built from 1904 to 1908, whose passenger building is more than 300 m (984 ft) long; the central post office (1905-1911); the Governor’s Palace; and the villas on Avenue Foch. The « Royal and imperial Metz » bid has been on France’s tentative list for World Heritage since 2014; the city is not inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The Centre Pompidou-Metz
Opened on 12 May 2010 between the station and the Parc de la Seille, on former railway land, the Centre Pompidou-Metz was the first regional branch of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Its roof, designed by Shigeru Ban, Jean de Gastines and Philip Gumuchdjian, is a timber frame with a hexagonal mesh covered by a membrane, hung from a 77 m (253 ft) mast. The museum stages several temporary exhibitions each year, drawing in particular on loans from the Centre Pompidou collection: check the programme before you go.
Itinerary: Metz in 1 or 2 days
| Time | Day 1: historic centre | Day 2: German and modern Metz |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Saint-Étienne cathedral, Place d’Armes | Metz-Ville station, imperial district, Avenue Foch |
| Midday | Place Saint-Louis and pedestrian streets | Centre Pompidou-Metz |
| Afternoon | Porte des Allemands, Seille riverbanks | Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains, Arsenal |
| Evening | Temple Neuf, Place de la Comédie, Moselle banks | Back through the streets of the centre |
When to go to Metz
From May to September for mild weather: average highs reach 20.0 °C (68 °F) or more from May to August and peak at 25.8 °C (78 °F) in July. June and September are a good compromise. Winter is cold: 5.4 °C (42 °F) in the afternoon in January, 0.0 °C (32 °F) at night, and an average of 15.4 frost days in January. Rain is spread throughout the year (713.5 mm (28.1 in) a year), with a peak in December (76.5 mm (3.0 in)) and a low in April (45.1 mm (1.8 in)). December is also the month of the Christmas markets, promoted by the tourist office (dates on its website).
| Month | Avg max | Avg min | Rain | Rainy days | Days ≥ 25 °C (77 °F) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.4 °C (42 °F) | 0.0 °C (32 °F) | 61.9 mm (2.4 in) | 11.1 | 0.0 | ❌ Cold, frost |
| February | 7.1 °C (45 °F) | 0.1 °C (32 °F) | 56.0 mm (2.2 in) | 10.0 | 0.0 | ⚠️ Cold |
| March | 11.6 °C (53 °F) | 2.4 °C (36 °F) | 51.1 mm (2.0 in) | 9.9 | 0.0 | ⚠️ Cool |
| April | 16.0 °C (61 °F) | 4.9 °C (41 °F) | 45.1 mm (1.8 in) | 8.3 | 1.1 | ✅ Mild, driest |
| May | 20.0 °C (68 °F) | 9.0 °C (48 °F) | 56.9 mm (2.2 in) | 9.6 | 5.2 | ✅ Pleasant |
| June | 23.6 °C (74 °F) | 12.3 °C (54 °F) | 56.1 mm (2.2 in) | 9.1 | 11.2 | ✅ Ideal |
| July | 25.8 °C (78 °F) | 14.4 °C (58 °F) | 59.8 mm (2.4 in) | 8.9 | 17.0 | ✅ Warmest |
| August | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 14.0 °C (57 °F) | 59.3 mm (2.3 in) | 9.0 | 16.0 | ✅ Warm |
| September | 20.9 °C (70 °F) | 10.4 °C (51 °F) | 61.5 mm (2.4 in) | 8.4 | 5.5 | ✅ Mild, ideal |
| October | 15.4 °C (60 °F) | 7.2 °C (45 °F) | 64.8 mm (2.6 in) | 10.3 | 0.4 | ⚠️ Cool |
| November | 9.4 °C (49 °F) | 3.6 °C (38 °F) | 64.5 mm (2.5 in) | 11.4 | 0.0 | ❌ Cold, grey |
| December | 6.0 °C (43 °F) | 1.0 °C (34 °F) | 76.5 mm (3.0 in) | 12.2 | 0.0 | ⚠️ Cold, Christmas markets |
Is Metz colder than Paris?
Yes, especially in winter. Comparing the 1991-2020 normals for Metz-Frescaty and Paris-Montsouris (Météo-France), afternoons are 1.7 to 2.2 °C (3.1 to 4.0 °F) cooler in Metz from November to February (January: −2.2 °C (−4.0 °F)), while in summer the gap disappears (July: +0.1 °C (+0.2 °F)). Metz gets 714 mm (28.1 in) of rain a year against 634 mm (25.0 in) in Paris, and has 118 rainy days against 109. Destination de Voyage calculation.
| Month | Max Metz | Max Paris | Difference | Rain Metz | Rain Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.4 °C (42 °F) | 7.6 °C (46 °F) | −2.2 °C (−4.0 °F) | 61.9 mm (2.4 in) | 47.6 mm (1.9 in) |
| February | 7.1 °C (45 °F) | 8.8 °C (48 °F) | −1.7 °C (−3.1 °F) | 56.0 mm (2.2 in) | 41.8 mm (1.6 in) |
| March | 11.6 °C (53 °F) | 12.8 °C (55 °F) | −1.2 °C (−2.2 °F) | 51.1 mm (2.0 in) | 45.2 mm (1.8 in) |
| April | 16.0 °C (61 °F) | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | −0.6 °C (−1.1 °F) | 45.1 mm (1.8 in) | 45.8 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 20.0 °C (68 °F) | 20.2 °C (68 °F) | −0.2 °C (−0.4 °F) | 56.9 mm (2.2 in) | 69.0 mm (2.7 in) |
| June | 23.6 °C (74 °F) | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | +0.2 °C (+0.4 °F) | 56.1 mm (2.2 in) | 51.3 mm (2.0 in) |
| July | 25.8 °C (78 °F) | 25.7 °C (78 °F) | +0.1 °C (+0.2 °F) | 59.8 mm (2.4 in) | 59.4 mm (2.3 in) |
| August | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 25.6 °C (78 °F) | −0.1 °C (−0.2 °F) | 59.3 mm (2.3 in) | 58.0 mm (2.3 in) |
| September | 20.9 °C (70 °F) | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | −0.6 °C (−1.1 °F) | 61.5 mm (2.4 in) | 44.7 mm (1.8 in) |
| October | 15.4 °C (60 °F) | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | −1.1 °C (−2.0 °F) | 64.8 mm (2.6 in) | 55.2 mm (2.2 in) |
| November | 9.4 °C (49 °F) | 11.1 °C (52 °F) | −1.7 °C (−3.1 °F) | 64.5 mm (2.5 in) | 54.3 mm (2.1 in) |
| December | 6.0 °C (43 °F) | 8.0 °C (46 °F) | −2.0 °C (−3.6 °F) | 76.5 mm (3.0 in) | 62.0 mm (2.4 in) |
How many rainy days over a 3-day stay?
Scaling each month’s average number of rainy days (≥ 1 mm) to a three-day long weekend gives about 0.8 rainy days in April and 1.2 in December. The difference between seasons is small: pack an umbrella all year round. As for heat, Metz averages 17.0 days at 25 °C (77 °F) or more in July, including 6.3 at 30 °C (86 °F) or more. Destination de Voyage calculation based on Météo-France.
| Month | Expected rainy days over 3 days | Days ≥ 30 °C (86 °F) in the month |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| February | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| March | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| April | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| May | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| June | 0.9 | 2.8 |
| July | 0.9 | 6.3 |
| August | 0.9 | 5.6 |
| September | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| October | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| November | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| December | 1.2 | 0.0 |
Getting there and around Metz
- By train: Metz-Ville station is the main transport hub of the area. It is served by TGV inOui trains (Paris-Est – Metz/Thionville – Luxembourg) and Ouigo trains (Paris-Est – Metz – Strasbourg), as well as TGVs to Strasbourg, Lyon and the south. Timetables on the SNCF website.
- By air: the regional Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport is near the Lorraine TGV station. Check its website for current routes.
- In town: the historic centre is easy to explore on foot. The Mettis bus rapid transit line, opened in 2013, complements the bus network.
- For a weekend: ideas and tips in our guide to travelling by train and our weekend ideas.
Where to stay
The station area is convenient if you arrive by train and for visiting the Centre Pompidou-Metz and the imperial district. The historic centre, around the cathedral and Place Saint-Louis, puts most monuments within walking distance. On Christmas market weekends, book early.
If you… then…: choosing your trip
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| only have half a day | cathedral, Place Saint-Louis and Temple Neuf, all on foot |
| love architecture | imperial district, Metz-Ville station, Porte des Allemands |
| love modern art | Centre Pompidou-Metz and the Chagall windows in the cathedral |
| are coming in December | Christmas markets: check the dates on the tourist office website |
| are heading north | continue to Luxembourg |
| are heading east | cross into Germany |
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens: you may enter the Schengen area, including France, for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa; your passport should be valid at least three months beyond your period of stay (six months recommended), and immigration officers may ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025).
- UK citizens: no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist; your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented: fingerprints and a photo may be taken at the border, free of charge (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026).
- Health and emergencies: UK travellers need a GHIC or valid EHIC for medically necessary state healthcare; everyone should have travel insurance covering medical costs. Emergency numbers: 112 (European emergency number, with some English-speaking staff) and 15 (medical emergencies) (GOV.UK; travel.state.gov).
Practical tips for Metz
- Tourist office: Inspire Metz, on Place d’Armes next to the cathedral; opening hours vary with the season (check its website).
- Label: Metz is a UNESCO Creative City of Music.
- Mobile data: check your home carrier’s roaming charges before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Metz?
One day is enough for the historic centre (cathedral, Place Saint-Louis, Porte des Allemands, Temple Neuf). Allow two days to add the imperial district and the Centre Pompidou-Metz.
What is the best time to visit Metz?
May to September, when highs reach 20.0 °C (68 °F) or more; July is the warmest month (25.8 °C (78 °F)). April is the driest. Source: Météo-France, Metz-Frescaty, 1991-2020.
Why is Metz cathedral called « the Good Lord’s lantern »?
Because of its stained glass: nearly 6,500 m² (70,000 sq ft), the largest glazed surface of any cathedral in France.
Where can you see Chagall windows in Metz?
In Saint-Étienne cathedral, which combines Gothic stained glass with 20th-century works by Chagall, Villon and Bissière.
Is Metz a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
No. The « Royal and imperial Metz » bid has been on France’s tentative list since 2014. Metz is, however, a UNESCO Creative City of Music.
Our sources
- Météo-France, climate sheet for Metz-Frescaty (57039001), 1991-2020 statistics, accessed 23 October 2026
- Météo-France, climate sheet for Paris-Montsouris (1991-2020), for the comparison
- Inspire Metz (tourisme-metz.com), tourist office, accessed 23 October 2026
- Wikipedia (French edition): « Metz », « Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Metz », « Centre Pompidou-Metz », « Gare de Metz-Ville », « Porte des Allemands », « Temple Neuf de Metz », « Quartier impérial de Metz », « Place Saint-Louis (Metz) », accessed 23 October 2026
- Destination de Voyage calculations: differences with Paris, rainy days over a 3-day stay
- Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, France country information (last updated August 11, 2025) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for France (updated 22 October 2026)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
To extend your trip, see our guides to France and Reims, and our destinations in Europe.
