The Perfect Weekend in Brittany (Suggested 3 Day Itineraries)

Last Updated on 22nd August 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Three days in Brittany a must for anyone who spends a longer stint in France than a simple sojourn in Paris. Whether you’re looking for medieval towns, coastal walks, or a quiet place to visit, we have you covered. Here are perfect itineraries for a weekend in Brittany.

Since we’ve covered Brittany (Bretagne in French) so many times on the website, we’ve actually got two different suggested itineraries for the Western French regions. While one covers the Westerly point, Morbihan, the other covers the more populated part of the region and focuses on medieval towns.

So if you prefer wild coastline, be sure to check out the first itinerary. If medieval towns speak to you more, then be sure to check out the second itinerary for 3 days in Brittany!

Why visit Brittany?

A world of sea meets land in North Western France: the region of Brittany is a magical place with oodles of history and even its own language, that of Breton. Head there if you want to experience life out of Paris, visit some beautiful medieval villages and experience some local delicacies you can’t try anywhere else in L’Hexagone.

Population: 4.5 million+

Regions: Brittany is divided into four regions: Morbihan is in the south (this is where we stayed), Finistere is to the West (and is the western most point of France), Cotes d’Armor is in the North (this region borders the English channel and is popular with English tourists) and Ille-et-Vilaine is to the East (this is the part of Brittany that borders the rest of France)

Known for: Incredible coastline, regional cuisine (such as butter and cakes made from butter), King Arthurian legends (one of the neolithic rocks in the region is said to mark the final resting place of Merlin), the dolmens at Carnac (one of the largest neolithic sites in the World).

Language: French, Breton

Currency: Euro

Climate: Moderate temperatures throughout the year, particularly rainy in the Autumn.

Is 3 days enough time to visit Brittany?

Three days is not enough time to fully explore everything that Brittany has to offer. Instead, you should focus on visiting one particular area of Brittany as you’ll otherwise be spending a lot of time travelling around (Brittany is pretty vast, after all).

Three days in the Morbihan Region

Day 1: Quiberon

There’s nothing quite like that feeling just before you see the sea again. You smell it first, the salt in the air and then you hear it, the waves crashing on the rocks below…

The quaint town of Quiberon sits at the very end of Presqu’ile de Quiberon (literally ‘almost island’- so named because the strip connecting the almost-island to the mainland is barely more than a couple of hundred meters wide). The area is beautiful and you could easily spend a weekend just on Presqu’Île de Quiberon!

With a beach, a port, a cinema, food stands and an ice cream parlour boasting over a hundred flavours, it’s the perfect day to spend a rainy afternoon. And if you’re looking for a fantastic place to stay, then you need to look no further than booking a stay at La Petite Sirène.

Day 2: Cote Sauvage & Presqu’Ile de Quiberon

A protected stretch of coast that extends almost 5km in length, the Cote Sauvage (literally ‘savage coastline‘) is a haven for wildlife such as rare birds and rabbits (dusk is the best time to spot rabbits!) During WWII, the coastline was a strategic point and so the area is filled in old WWII bunkers.

The sunsets are jaw-dropping and the coastal walks, unparalleled… Other highlights of wandering along the Cote Sauvage include plenty of sandy beaches where you can swim, paddle, and even partake in watersports depending on the weather conditions!

Day 3: Carnac (Karnag in Breton)

Not only is Carnac home to fairytale beaches and a port filled with history, but it’s also home to one of the largest neolithic sites in the entire world, making the Carnac stones pretty cool place to visit. Full of acres of fields filled with menhirs (standing ceremonial stones) that were placed in situ contemporary with the Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge, there were originally over 3000 menhirs (although no one knows exactly why they were placed there).

Today, one of the many stones still standing is said to mark the final resting place of the great magician Merlin from Arthurian legends. For more information on the stones, you should visit the Maison des Mégalithes, a museum that details the discovery of the stones and theories regarding their origins.

Following a visit to the Karnag Stones, a visit to the town of Carnac is a must! Head to the tourism office first for a town map and a quick rundown of what’s on in the area. Afterwards, explore at your leisure, making sure not to miss out on town highlights such as the beach and many traditional French brasseries!

Three days in Ille-et-Vilaine and its surrounds

Day one: Fortifications and the Sea

Day one snakes along the jagged coastline of the region, in search of the fortified towns and historic castles in the area. It’s the perfect itinerary for those travelling with friends, as well as family. To get the best out of your day, I highly recommend packing a picnic as food prices in Saint-Malo have definitely recently risen to match the increase in tourism!

Fort du Guesclin

The imposing and ancient tidal island of Fort du Guesclin juts out to sea and is cut off from mainland France twice a day, every day. Although the island itself is sadly private, you can still stroll along the beach, paddle in the sea (or swim if you’re feeling brave) and enjoy the Breton coastline for yourself.

Saint-Malo

The historic settlement of Saint-Malo is located on the very fringes of the ocean on its own peninsula and was founded by the Gauls as early as the First Century CE. An ancient port town, this walled city was once famous for its ‘privateering’ (fancy word for pirate) escapades throughout the middle ages.

Today, Saint-Malo is filled with quirky buildings, cobbled lanes and small museums. Saint-Malo is also the town where Jacques Cartier, the man who claimed Canada for France came from meaning that the town has strong ties with Quebec.

Soak up nature at Le Pointe du Grouin

Pretty and wild, especially during the golden hours of the day, Le Pointe du Grouin should definitely not be missed on your trip to Brittany. Head here with friends and a picnic to get the most out of this little piece of Wilderness in Western France.

Situated on the very edges of the bay of Mont Saint Michel, this rocky outcrop is perfect for bird spotting (nearby Île des Landes is now a designated bird sanctuary) and is the Northern most tip of Cancale, meaning that here you’ll get some of the very best views out onto the sea. On a clear day, if you look out to sea clearly enough, you’ll see the towering spires and conical shape on Mont Saint Michel in the distance.

Day two: Historic Houses and Medieval Towns

Day two of your three days in Brittany itinerary will take you to some of the more historic and medieval towns in the region where people really lived. Whereas Saint-Malo was fortified and known for its independence streak, the towns and villages you’ll see today are traditional Breton villages and typical of the medieval era and beyond.

Enjoy the flowers at Domaine Montmarin

Located not far from Saint-Malo, the magical gardens and château at Domaine Montmarin are open to the public and the grounds can be explored for a fee. Head here to see tropical flowers, the beautiful façade of an 18th-Century French Château, and admire magnificent views of the Rance estuary. Also make sure to take a trip to the Domaine if you love hydrangeas; I’ve never seen them in such abundance before!

Take a trip to the historic town of Dinan

Magical, medieval and inviting, the historic town of Dinan is like something straight out of a storybook. That is, if your novel is a fairytale from the middle ages! Head here to see one of the best-preserved examples of a French medieval town in France today.

Wander along the fortified ramparts, walk down the ancient high street and see the historic port that was once so important to the town’s trade. While in Dinan, make sure to also sample a Kouign-Amann. This regional specialty consists of a third sugar, a third butter and is deliciously sweet!

Visit the beautiful village of Saint Suliac

Often named as one of the most beautiful villages in all of France, and as such, one of the most beautiful towns in Brittany, Saint Suliac is truly stunning. And between increasing tourism in the area and the modernisation of much of France, it’s one of those rare gems that’s definitely becoming harder and harder to come by.

Head here to sit by the sea, wander the cobbled lanes and soak up some history in the 12th-Century church; all without too many tourists! Since the town is fairly small with few tourist attractions, you don’t need more than a couple of hours to wander around and soak up the atmosphere.

Day three: The sea rules the land in this part of the world

Your third and final day of your three days in Brittany guide takes you into the wilder parts of the region, as well as to a historical and mythical site of Mont Saint Michel. Though you’ll be leaving the region today, the experiences will likely stay with you for a while (I still remember all my trips to the magical French coastline like it was yesterday haha!)

Wander along the coastline

Brittany lies right along the coastline, meaning that it’s filled with secret coves, sandy beaches, and breathtaking coastal walks. After spending the past two days exploring all the small towns and villages that the region has to offer, head to the coastline to hike right beside the sea and spend some time in nature.

Take a trip to Mont Saint Michel

First up (because I know this will be pointed out to me otherwise): Mont Saint Michel is not in Brittany, Instead it is located in Normandy, though the two regions have been arguing for its inclusion in their own part of France for centuries.

It should also be noted that a large chunk of Brittany is located in the Bay of Mont Saint Michel (including the pretty and wild tip of Pointe du Grouin).

For those who have never heard of UNESCO world heritage site Mont Saint Michel before, it is a tidal island that gets cut off from the rest of mainland France twice a day by the sea.

Located around a kilometre from the rest of the land, the island has been fortified for millennia and has been the location for a monastery since at least the 8th Century. Head here if you want to learn about ecclesiastical history, or simply if you want to see the stunning location and its structures for yourself.

A final note…

If there’s one thing that you make a point of doing during your weekend in Brittany, make it watching the sunset over the sea. There’s nothing quite like seeing the last glimpses of sunlight, falling over the horizon and glistening on the sea.

Also, be sure to try one of the many famed local delicacies; crepes, galettes (salty and made with buckwheat) and ciders all hail from the region.

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