Metz
Metz is a city in northeast France whose cathedral holds the largest expanse of stained glass in the world, and whose Centre Pompidou-Metz was designed by Shigeru Ban.
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Metz is a city in northeast France, in the Lorraine region, where the Moselle and Seille rivers meet. It is the prefecture of the Moselle department and lies near the tripoint of France, Germany and Luxembourg. The city is known for its yellow limestone buildings and its Gallo-Roman past as Divodurum. Its cathedral, Saint-Stephen, is a 13th-century Gothic church with about 6,500 square meters of stained glass, the largest such expanse in the world. Metz is also called the Green City for its open grounds and public gardens.
Go for the cathedral, the Centre Pompidou-Metz, a modern and contemporary art museum designed by Shigeru Ban and opened in 2010, and a food scene built on quiche, potée lorraine and mirabelle plums. Trains from Paris Gare de l'Est take about 82 minutes to Metz Railway Station. Summers are warm, with July days averaging about 25 °C, and the Mirabelle Festival in August lasts about two weeks.
Metz in five
- Start at the cathedral's stained glassSaint-Étienne has a huge amount of glass, including 20th-century windows by Chagall. Go in morning light, and check visiting hours, which change on services and holidays.
- Allow a half day for Centre Pompidou-MetzThe museum sits by the station, a short walk from the old center. Check current exhibitions, opening days and timed tickets on its site before you plan the day.Tours and tickets
- Walk in from Metz-Ville stationThe neo-Romanesque station is 10–15 minutes from the center on foot. Most hotels are within that walk, so you rarely need a taxi or a bus.
- Pair Metz with Nancy, not both as day tripsThe two Lorraine cities are about 35–50 minutes apart by regional train. One night in each works better than racing both in a day.Nancy travel guide
- Go in December for the marketsThe Christmas markets run through the old center in the weeks before Christmas, and hotels fill at weekends. Book a few weeks ahead and check dates on the city's site.
Things to do in Metz
See all attractions in Metz
Need to know
- Airport
- Metz-Nancy-Lorraine (ETZ), small; most visitors use trains
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est about 1.5 hrs; Luxembourg about 40–50 min
- Getting around
- Walkable center, city buses and a short walk to the station
- Best base
- Near the cathedral or the station
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with Nancy
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low0°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Cold, greyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cool, dampMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, damp
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Spring, freshAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Mild, terracesMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, terraces
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, terracesJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, terraces
- AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Mirabelle fêteAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mirabelle fête
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, harvestSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, harvest
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Cool, goldenOctoberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, golden
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cold, dampNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, damp
- DecemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low2°Christmas marketsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Metz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Metz
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Metz
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°3°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue9°2°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed9°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°2°8%Friday: Fog. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat9°3°9%Saturday: Fog. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun12°4°23%Sunday: Rain. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 06:20 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Nancyabout 35–50 min by trainPlace Stanislas and Art Nouveau houses, a short hop south.Read the guide
- Strasbourgabout 1.5 hours by trainA bigger city with a cathedral and canal quarter, better as a night than a day.Read the guide
- Luxembourg Cityabout 40–50 min by trainA different country on a direct line. Carry your passport or ID.Read the guide
Before you go to Metz
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Rules for Metz, checked
- Check the entry rules for your passport on France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr) before you fly, since visa-free entry depends on your nationality.
- Metz applies local law (droit local), created in 1919, alongside French law. Check service-public.fr for whether a local rule affects your stay.
- Customs limits on goods you bring into France are set by the customs service. Check douane.gouv.fr before you travel and before you shop.
- The emergency number across France is 112. Police can be reached on 17 and the SAMU ambulance service on 15.
Plan around Metz
Regions, cities and entry rules
Read the guideNancy travel guidePlace Stanislas, 35–50 min by train
Read the guideAlsace and LorraineWine villages, markets and forts
Read the guideStrasbourg travel guideCathedral and canals, about 1.5 hrs east
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleHow long you can stay in France
Read the guideMetz FAQ
Is Metz worth visiting?
Yes for a short stop: a cathedral famed for its glass, a major modern art museum and a calm center. It is a quiet city, not a headline destination, so most people pair it with Nancy or Strasbourg.
How many days do you need in Metz?
One day covers the cathedral, the old center and the Pompidou. A second day is useful if you add Nancy or the Christmas markets. Skip a third unless you are touring Lorraine.
Metz or Nancy: which is better?
Nancy for grand squares and Art Nouveau; Metz for the cathedral and the art museum. If you can only choose one, choose the one that fits your interests. Both are small and a short train apart.
How far is Metz from Paris by train?
About 1.5 hours by TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est. Book early for the best fares, and check the timetable on weekends and holidays.
Can you visit Luxembourg from Metz?
Yes, about 40–50 minutes by direct train. It works as a day trip. Carry a passport or ID card because border checks can be reinstated at short notice.