Brest

Well, Sally, I've never been to Brest, but, looking on Google, I can point some things:

• Neolithic sightseeing in Carnac (2h by car on Google Maps, but it seems unacessible by bus or train, close to 5h with a couple of connections);
• Saint Malo (3h30);
• Rennes (2h15);
• Hikes and green scenery at Huelgoat (2h15);
• Medieval center of Dinan (3h15);
• Small village of Locronan (2h15);
• Walls of Vannes (2h20);
• Nantes (3h35);
• Lorient (2h) and some references from the East India Company;

Again, I've never been to Brittany, neither researched it deeply enough for a travel myself, all of this is just a quick Google search and Rome2Rio for estimate time.

I think I might stay a little closer for a day trip. Do some research into Morlaix, Quimper, Concarneau, Guimiliau (if interested in the traditional parish closes of Brittany). No train, but bus will take you to Le Conquet, a lovely seaside town, and nearby Pointe Saint-Mathieu, which is very scenic and has the ruins of an old abbey along with a modern (relatively speaking) lighthouse - unique place.

Since Brest is a cruise port for some lines, you should be able to find some group day trips from there, just google Brest Tourism.

As Nancy wrote, there are beautiful places to reach for day tours from Brest, without having to go for 4 hour transport over the day (for a future trip to Brittany, you could base on the north east (St Malo) or south coast (Vannes) of Bretagne.
Close to Brest, you may add the peninsula of Crozon on your list, especially for great panoramas.

Hi,

If I had two days in Brest and were devoting one of them to a day trip, I would go to St Malo, Nantes or Lorient, (based on the list), depending how desperate you are spending 3.5 hrs max just to get to a place. For these places esp Lorient and St Malo, I am exactly that...desperate to see and visit them. For St Malo there are cultural and historical reasons, if you are into French lit at all.