Brittany - Two Weeks

I’m doing basically the same thing this summer. How many people in your party?

Dinan and the surrounding area is my favorite place. I highly recommend. When we go we stay in the port area as we enjoy walking along the canal. From dinan you can see msm, cancale, San malo etc.

Then going counter clockwise look into staying in Perros Guirec for the rose granite - I’ve been and liked it very much. Then choose a western base. I’ve not been but this summer we are staying in le conquet. I think the consensus choice is near Quimper. Others can provide better guidance on that piece. Then wrap up near Auray. I highly recommend seeing Gavrinis in addition to the Carnac stones and Locmariaque.

Maybe 4,2,3,2 nights? We did 4 nights Dinan and 2 nights Auray in 2017 and that was pretty good. In 2022 we spent 5 nights in Dinan with a long day trip to Perros Guirec. This summer we are doing 3/3/6 between Dinan/Perros/le conquet (then training from Brest to Paris).

Have fun!

Our destination was Normandy, but we took the train from Paris to Rennes. We picked up our rental car at the train station (very convenient) and visited Mont St Michel before heading on to Normandy. Next time...Brittany. Enjoy!

We spent about 10 days in Brittany and Normandy a few years ago and loved the region! Given you have 2 weeks you might want to spend 2 nites in Rennes. It is a college town with a pedestrian-only core, a few small museums, Parc du Thabor is a beautiful place for a stroll. You can visit Vitre for a few hours from Rennes, easily reached by train. We haven't been to Le Mans so I can't contrast that with Rennes. Dinan and Dinard were two favorite places we visited. Vannes has a nice medieval core but if I was doing it again I'd stay instead in a town right on the coast.

For planning your trip Michelin Green Guide for Brittany covers just about every town in Brittany and has suggested driving daytrips. Also request Stu Dudley's Normandy & Brittany itinerary; see https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/normandy-and-brittany-stu-dudleys-updated-itinerary-1670294/ We used these when planning our trip. You can also find walking tour videos on YouTube exploring various towns so you can get a feel for places you are considering.

Hi Anne,
Maybe the below TR/photo essay could be of some assistance in your decision-making? You'll see there that my wife and I stuck to southern Brittany, renting in Quimper then Vannes. Our TR is both photo-dense and looooooong. But I'll bet that something of value awaits...
Bonne chance.
*Note that over on Fodors I go by 'zebec.'
I am done. the end.
https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/lappel-de-mer-a-southern-brittany-tr-also-paris-1723447/#post17573265

I second Quimper for a base in Finistère. The city (or large town, it is not that big) is cute, has lots of restaurants, some good accommodation (it books up quickly in summer!), and plenty of beautiful areas to explore within a one-hour drive: Crozon peninsula, Concarneau, Penmarc'h, Locronan... 3-4 nights would be good.

I second the recommendation to spend some time in Quimper. It has a lovely old section, with a nice cathedral. I do not know about restaurants there, but I am sure they have plenty of choice. It is also a good hub to reach other areas by train, if you choose to do that. Peter

Update: Thank you to everyone for the suggestions. I've locked in my rental car and accommodations however, they are all either refundable or just reserved with payment later. My plan is as follows:
1) Fly to CDG via JFK.
2) Arrive at CDG and take the TGV to Rennes for an overnight stay at a hotel near the station. I'll pick up my rental car in the late afternoon so that I can walk around Rennes in the morning and have lunch before driving to Vannes.
3) Drive to Vannes and spend 3 nights in an apartment overlooking the port (3 free parking lots nearby). Day trip to Auray and/or Quiberon.
4) Drive to Quimper for 3 nights in a top floor apartment in the center of the historic area, with an elevator. There is a gated parking lot on the grounds with a reserved space for my car. I'll day trip to Cancarneau and/or Locronan.
5) Drive to Dinan for 4 nights at an apartment located just steps from Jerzual Street. A reserved parking space is included nearby at Hôtel de Ville. I'll day trip to Dinard and St. Malo.
6) Drive to Mont Saint Michel for one night. I've not decided where to stay. Some say you must stay on the Island and other recommend near the entrance before you cross the bridge. I'll accept any recommendations you have.

7) Drive to Rennes and return the rental car. TGV to Montparnasse and Metro to Paris - Gare de Nord. Store luggage at Gare de Nord. Visit Notre Dame to see the renovations and have dinner in Paris. Pick up my luggage and take the RER to CDG. Spend my last night at the Citizen M by terminal 3.
8) Fly home......

For Mont Saint Michel we stayed just across the bridge and liked it for several reasons. First most hotels provide parking; if you're staying on the island you'll need to park in the remote lot and take the shuttle with your luggage. Second there are frequent shuttle buses on the run from the main tourist lots that stop in the hotel area and take you to the foot of MSM so it's not an inconvenience to be a little ways away. Third the best views of MSM are from off the island, and at the hotels across the bridge that's where you are. It's especially spectacular when it's lit up at nite. Fourth the food on the island is said by many to be pricy and not that good. We had a wonderful dinner across the bridge at a restaurant associated with Le Relais du Roy, although they closed during Covid and I don't know if they're back in operation.

Good plan!
A note on Locronan: it is not a day trip from Quimper. It takes 20 min to drive there, and 1 hour to visit. Maybe 1.5 hours if you really take your time (as in, visit every shop). You can easily continue to the Crozon peninsula for the rest of the day, and I would highly recommend you do so. Pointe de Pen Hir and Camaret-sur-mer would be my main targets there.

I agree that food at Mont Saint Michel itself leaves a lot to be desired. Very touristy, overpriced, mediocre food. You would be happier if you took most meals away from MSM. I have never stayed overnight in the area, but viewing the island at night sounds like it would be incredible. Peter

Re Locronan - While staying in Quimper, we spent maybe a couple of hours in Locronan, but we're pretty thorough and included a stop in a café for much-needed warm-up (in late July!) Same day we went to the Pointe de Crozon and Douarnenez.
Both Vannes and Quimper are great. If you have any interest at all in prehistory and megaliths, Carnac is astonishing.

@Greg

I loved your trip report over on Fodors! You are an extremely talented photographer.

Thank you Wander.
I am done. the end