The Genuine 2-day Saint Malo Travel Guide

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Tall granite walls surrounding an old port city in Brittany. Saint-Malo was once a stronghold for privateers. Saint Malo Travel guide…
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Introduction: Saint Malo Travel Guide

Saint-Malo is located in Brittany, west of France. Famous for being once a stronghold for privateers (pirated approved by the king), the old city is protected by tall granite ramparts. The complete site of the old Saint-Malo is a beauty to explore and offers amazing strolls.

Saint-Malo is one of the best places to visit while in Brittany.

Table of Contents

Mapping the day

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Getting to Saint Malo

As always for such trips, doing a road trip would be the easiest and would allow to fully enjoy it.

Another option would be to take a train from Paris to Rennes and then another to Saint-Malo.

Moving Around Saint Malo

Car would be the best option and also the easiest, you won’t need to master French to do so. But regular buses are also driving from Saint-Malo to Dinard or Cancale.

When to Visit

The best time to Visit Saint Malo is during Spring and late summer. When the weather will be the freshest and the town not as crowded as during the peak season of July and August.

Though, it is possible to visit it all year round. And as a coastal city, even in winter the temperatures don’t drop that much.

Where to Stay

There are various options to stay here, you can either stay in town or around.

In Saint-Malo:

In Dinard:

What to Eat

A must to do is eating Oyster Freshly from Cancale, a small town near Saint-Malo. We would recommend “Le bout du Quai” for a great view or “Côté Mer” for a fancier option. For those reservation must be made. If not, any restaurant along the port serve great seafood.

Things to do

Stroll in the old pirate’s town

Get lost in the street of Saint Malo is one of the best things to do. Stop to eat a crepe and drink a cider and kept on to the smaller street.

Saint-Malo Cathedral

Along your road, stop at the Roman gothic cathedral built in 1146 and many times restored through the ages.

Walk on the ramparts

Then, enjoy the views toward the see and the beaches around Saint-Malo by walking on its rampart and going on its towers.

Phare Môle des Noires

Walk till the lighthouse to get an impressive view toward the city. The lighthouse is located on small peer facing Saint-Malo.

Beaches

Pick on the beach around Saint-Malo and chill under the sun while waiting the low tide to come to be able to reach the fort around the city.

Fort National

Reachable on feet at low tide, the fort can be visited if you see the French flag hanging over it. Built in 1869, it was protecting the rampart.

Fort du petit Bé

Also reachable on feet at low tide or by small ferry boat, the fort can be visited for free all year round. There is presented the defense system of Saint Malo.

History Museum of the city

Located in the Castle of Saint-Malo, you will be having access to expositions as well as the visit of the castle.

Etoile du Roy

Visit an old wooden ship to discover how it was to be at the sea during the pirate time! Or go on a cruise with it.

Things to do Around

Dinard

Explore the small town of Dinard, pass by the beach and walk along the coast until the Crique de la Roche Pelée.

Cancale

Go visit the small but renowned village of the Oyster. At low tide, go see its Oyster park and then go eat some of them along the port street which is full of restaurants. From there you can even see the Mont Saint-Michel.

Itinerary

We would recommend staying at least 2 days in Saint-Malo:

Day 1:

  • Stroll in the old medieval town
  • Saint-Malo Cathedral
  • Walk on the ramparts
  • Phare Môle des Noires
  • Beaches
  • Fort National
  • Fort du petit Bé

Day 2:

  • History Museum of the city
  • Lunch at Cancale
  • Stroll around Dinard

“Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir” …

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Meet Alex & Tina

Alex & Tina

We are a French-Serbian couple who met in China in 2014, where we lived for three years. Since then, we’ve traveled to over 44 countries, sharing our adventures on TheDailyPackers blog. Here, we offer travel guides, reviews, and share parts of our personal journey.

In early 2023, we began vlogging on YouTube to capture our life and travels for our son, Poppy, who was stillborn on November 25, 2023—one of the hardest days of our lives.

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