If you’re planning a Brittany travel adventure, or just curious about what to see (and eat!) in Brittany France, you’re in the right place. In our last post, we shared the Normandy part of our road trip and mentioned a few spots just across the border in Brittany that we think are absolutely worth a visit. But in this post, we’re diving into everything we did, saw, and of course, ate in Brittany!
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Best Places to Visit in Brittany France
Vitré
Vitré felt like stepping into a fairytale. The town is full of cobblestone streets, old stone houses, and colorful shutters and window trim. And we loved walking But the highlight was the Château de Vitré.
It reminded us of a castle a disney princess would live in, with a moat, towers, and little details everywhere. Our favorite part was this tiny red door right in the center of one of the towers.
Entry is 7€, and as far as we could tell, you can only buy tickets at the castle itself, so make sure you don’t show up when it’s closed.
Saint-Malo Brittany
Saint-Malo was one of the spots we were most excited about, and it didn’t disappoint.
Where we had the best galettes in Brittany – Atelier de Crêpes
Before even walking into the old walled city, we came across a place called Atelier de Crêpes, right where we parked. We were curious, so we went in. It turned out to be a crepe and galette restaurant and workshop space. They also sell regional products like cider, salted caramel, and fleur de sel. Plus, you can buy ingredients to make crepes and galettes, like flour and crepe pans.
The place had a clean, modern industrial style. Even though we waited 20 minutes for a table, it was worth it. We ordered their lunch menu. It includes a galette, a sweet crêpe, and local cider or apple juice from Val de France. We also tried the Kir Breton, which is cider with blackcurrant flavour, and it was amazing. If you prefer sweeter drinks, definitely order that instead of the cider that comes with the menu.
The food was great, and the service was super friendly and professional. It was a perfect experience overall. So definitely book ahead if you’re planning to go.
Intra-Muros of Saint Malo
Once inside the walls (the area called Intra-Muros) we walked around the old streets and explored.
We found a bakery selling Kouign-Amann, a traditional Breton pastry that’s flaky, buttery, sweet, and caramelized. Definitely try it if you see it.
Then we stepped inside one of the most unique cathedrals we’ve ever seen, Saint-Vincent Cathedral. The layout felt more like secret passageways than one big open space, which made it even more interesting. Unfortunately, my phone died right before we went in. So the photos don’t do it justice, but it’s worth a stop.
After that, we walked along the top of the city walls for the full loop. You get amazing views of the beach and the port. Saint-Malo, like much of Brittany, has this medieval Celtic vibe. In fact, Brittany is one of the six recognized Celtic nations. The others are Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man.
Dinard France
We didn’t get to see much of Dinard, unfortunately. The weather was rough: rainy, cold, and windy. So, we stayed mostly in the car.
But Dinard is just across the bridge from Saint-Malo, and you can even see it from the city walls. If you go, we still recommend driving through the town and walking along the beach if the weather’s nice.
There are beautiful, big houses by the water, and you can tell it would be stunning on a sunny day. It’s just a shame we didn’t get that part of the trip.
Rennes Brittany
We didn’t go to Rennes on this trip, but we have visited before and wanted to include it because it’s the capital of Brittany and the closest major city to most of the other places we’ve mentioned.
It’s known for its mix of medieval half-timbered houses and modern buildings, and there are lots of cafés, parks, and museums.
We had an amazing tartine there (which is basically an open-faced sandwich, usually on rustic bread) and we’ve written a full blog post about what to do, where to stay, and where we ate.
Fougères France
Fougères is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Brittany. With cute little squares, vintage shops and the most beautiful streets.
The main highlight here is the Château de Fougères, a 12th-century fortress that stood strong through all kinds of invasions during the Hundred Years’ War. You can visit it for €10, and you can get your tickets here, in case you want to check it out or book your tickets ahead of time.
For an absolutely gorgeous view of the château and the whole valley, make sure to stop by the public garden next to Église Saint-Léonard. The garden itself is full of flowers, ponds and gazebo. Trust us, you’ll be sorry if you miss it!
Dinan
Just about an hour from Fougères is a cute little town called Dinan.
Dinan is known for its beautiful half-timbered and stone houses, and it’s full of medieval charm. One place you have to visit is the Basilique Saint-Sauveur. From the outside, it might look like just another church. But trust us, the inside is gorgeous!
For the best view in town, head to the St. Catherine Tower viewpoint. You’ll get an incredible look at the old bridge, the port, and the river below. It’s seriously stunning.
And of course, we had to try some local pastries. We stopped by Yann de Bretagne and loved the lemon and apple tarts (the berry one was okay, but not our fave). They also sell tons of regional products, so naturally, we grabbed a jar of their salted caramel (because we cannot resist salted caramel in this family!).
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