PlizioGo

Saint-Malo

Plizio editorial teamData Sources
City
PlizioGo—°10106
Saint-Malo (France)
ℹ️

Practical info — Saint-Malo

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • A walk around the complete city wall (Remparts) features the best views. Start your stroll at Porte Saint-Vincent.
  • Parking inside the old town (Intra-Muros) is expensive and scarce. Use the large harbor car parks or a Park-and-Ride service.
  • The island of Grand Bé, featuring Chateaubriand's tomb, is only accessible on foot at low tide. Strictly observe the returning tide times!
  • The narrow streets of the historic center are cobbled. It's best to leave high-heeled shoes in your suitcase.

🍽 Food

🍽
Breton Butter Biscuits

Try these thick, crumbly biscuits made with lightly salted butter. Found in traditional bakeries within Intra-Muros.

🍽
Oysters from Cancale

Although from the neighboring town, Saint-Malo serves excellent fresh oysters. Visit a coastal brasserie to enjoy them.

🍽
Salted Caramel

Salted caramel is omnipresent here, as ice cream, spread, or in crêpes. Try it at a sweet shop or gelateria in the old town.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Rue de l'Orme

A bustling street in the old town known for its culinary specialties, cheese shops, and delicatessens.

🛍
Breton Striped Shirts

Look for classic blue-and-white striped Breton sailor shirts in the fashion boutiques within Intra-Muros.

🧘
Parc de la Briantais

A large English landscape park just outside the center, offering expansive views over the Rance river estuary.

🧘
Plage de l'Éventail

A beach right against the fortress walls. It is wonderfully peaceful here, especially early in the morning.

Highlights of 2026

10

Saint-Malo is a historic walled port city located on the Emerald Coast in Brittany, renowned for its massive granite ramparts that enclose the Intra-Muros district. Originally established on a rocky island, the city rose to prominence during the 17th and 18th centuries as a stronghold for privateers, or corsairs, who raided merchant shipping under royal commission. The Saint-Vincent Cathedral, featuring a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, serves as the centerpiece of the old town, which was painstakingly reconstructed after being 80% destroyed in 1944. The Bay of Saint-Malo experiences some of the highest tides in Europe, with water levels fluctuating by as much as 13 meters between high and low tide. During low tide, various offshore landmarks such as the Fort National and the island of Grand Bé, where the writer Chateaubriand is buried, become accessible on foot. Today, Saint-Malo is a premier ferry terminal and a major hub for international sailing events, maintaining its reputation as one of France's most prestigious maritime destinations.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jul–Sep.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C6681013161818161396
Rain mm716057455649505044778283

Live webcam – Saint-Malo

See what it looks like near Saint-Malo right now.

Saint-Malo › North: National Fort - Grande Plage du Sillon · 0.3 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com

Geography

Population
50,676
Coordinates
48.64930, -2.02490

Facts

  • The granite ramparts of Saint-Malo stretch for approximately 1.7 kilometers around the old town.
  • During the liberation in 1944, nearly 80 percent of the Intra-Muros district was destroyed.
  • The influential writer François-René de Chateaubriand was born here in 1768.
  • Tidal ranges in the bay can reach up to 13 meters, among the highest in Europe.
  • The 14th-century Solidor Tower was originally built to defend the entrance to the Rance River.
  • Jacques Cartier set sail from Saint-Malo in 1534 to explore and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Saint-Malo (10)

Ramparts of Saint-Malo🛡️ fortress

The famous granite walls surround the old town and offer dramatic views of the sea and the harbor.

Saint-Vincent Cathedral⛪ religious

This historic cathedral blends Romanesque and Gothic styles and is the religious heart of the walled city.

Fort National🛡️ fortress

A fortress designed by Vauban on an island, accessible by foot from the beach only at low tide.

Le Grand Bé🏺 historical

A small uninhabited island where the lonely tomb of the famous writer Chateaubriand is located.

Saint-Malo Castle🛡️ fortress

The medieval castle now houses the city museum, showcasing the history of corsairs and great explorers.

Sillon Beach🌿 nature

Famous for its wooden breakwaters, this long sandy beach stretches along the coast of Saint Malo. The dramatic tides give the location a fascinating, ever-changing atmosphere. It is an excellent place to go for a walk and watch the natural spectacle of the tidal range. Caution is advised when walking along the shore during high tide.

Solidor Tower🏺 historical

A striking 14th-century triple tower that once guarded the mouth of the Rance river in Saint-Servan.

Microzoo👨‍👩‍👧 family

This microzoo in Saint Malo gives a unique opportunity for families to see small animal species up close.

🕒 Nov-Mar Mo-Su 10:00-18:00; Apr-Jun Mo-Su 10:00-19:00; Jul-Au💶

Grand Aquarium - Saint-Malo👨‍👩‍👧 family

The large aquarium in Saint Malo takes the whole family into an impressive underwater world.

Piscine de Bon-Secours👨‍👩‍👧 family

This swimming pool in Saint Malo is a convenient place for families to enjoy a day in the water.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to park in Saint-Malo?
Use the 'Paul Féval' parking lot outside and take the free shuttle bus (Navette) to the Intra-Muros area.
Can you visit the city walls for free?
Yes, the approximately 2 km walk on the ramparts (Les Remparts) is free and provides impressive views.
What should you know about the tides?
Tides are extreme here. Check the schedule before walking to the Grand Bé or Petit Bé islands.
Is there a boat connection to Dinard?
Yes, the 'Bus de Mer' (sea bus) connects Saint-Malo and Dinard in just 10 minutes.
What is a 'Demeure de Corsaire'?
It is a 18th-century privateer's mansion, now a museum showcasing the history of the Saint-Malo corsairs.
Saint-Malo: where is it located?
Saint-Malo is located in Bretagne, France.
Saint-Malo: what is there to see?
Highlights include Ramparts of Saint-Malo, Saint-Vincent Cathedral, Fort National.
Saint-Malo: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jul, Sep.
Saint-Malo: why is it worth visiting?
Saint-Malo is a historic walled port city located on the Emerald Coast in Brittany, renowned for its massive granite ramparts that enclose the Intra-Muros district.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → Most beautiful beaches → OpenStreetMap →
Europe
Explore with Plizio Discover more places in Europe
More places in France →

Nearby cities