Where would you stay if you were spending two weeks in Brittany. (I have already visited Nantes and not including in this trip.) I will fly into CDG and thinking I will take the train to either Le Mans or Rennes for my first night where I will pick up a rental car. I will spend my last night at CDG. This gives me 11 nights in Brittany. I'd prefer 2-4 night stays at a location and places where I can walk to restaurants for dinner. What places would you use as bases and for how many nights each? I'm traveling alone and love food, wine, history, water views, churches....just about everything. Thank you in advance!
Posted by
Somerville, MA
653 posts
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!
Posted by
910 posts
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!
Posted by
USA
401 posts
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 to Brittany a few years ago. You can also find many videos on YouTube exploring the area.
Posted by
677 posts
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