Saint Malo, on the Brittany coast of France, is a fortified city of huge charm and history. St Malo is a perfect size to spend a weekend, and is easily accessible from Portsmouth and other southern ports. You can even visit St Malo as a day trip from Paris if you leave early enough. It has plenty to keep you busy, but is small enough to walk around easily.
How to get to Saint Malo
Ferry from England
You can take an overnight sailing via Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to St Malo. Waking up with a view of the Bretagne coast is a lovely thing. The walk from the ferry terminal to the old town isn’t arduous – although if you are pulling a suitcase, you may want to grab a taxi.
Driving
There are parking areas all around the internal harbour of Saint Malo, within easy walking distance of the walled old town. Be warned, if you visit St Malo on a weekend in the summer, traffic is chaotic.
Train
You can catch the train from Paris Montparnasse to Saint Malo in around 2.5-3 hours.
Where to stay in Saint Malo
There are many hotels within the city walls of St Malo. The Hôtel France Chateaubriand is surrounded by bustle – perfect for those who want to be where all the action is. On the sea-side of the old town, further away from the tourist traffic, try Hotel Brasserie Amoricaine.
A cheaper option is to stay outside of the city walls. Down by the port you’ll find the Ibis Styles Hotel and Ibis Budget St Malo – a reputable brand for those on a budget.
Thing to do on a weekend in Saint Malo
If you only have one day in St Malo:
Walk the Ramparts
Despite how ancient St Malo looks, it was actually severely damaged during World War II and rebuilt in the 1950s. Resurrected from the ashes, the ramparts provide an incredible view both of the harbour and old town.
Take a walk out to Phare Môle Des Noires (Black Mole Lighthouse) and admire the view back to the fortifications.
Visit a ‘Pirate Ship’
St Malo was once known as being a haven for pirates. Well, it was actually French Corsairs – a group authorised by the government to seize passing ships and charge a fee! So, basically, pirates by any other name.
The beautiful replica tall ship, Etoile du Roy, is the second largest tall ship in France and calls Saint Malo home. A new maritime museum is currently being planned.
Wander the Old Town
The winding cobblestone streets of the walled old town of St Malo are simply magical. A rabbit warren of little shops, and eateries spilling out onto the street.
During the summer, being a walled part of town and limited in space, it can get crowded. I would recommend a shoulder-season visit to avoid the melee.
If you have 2 days in St Malo:
Saint-Malo Castle / Château De La Duchesse Anne
This 14th century castle sits on the corner of the old part of St Malo, looking out towards Fort National and the sea beyond. The barracks is now home to the city hall for the commune. While you cannot currently visit inside, there are plans for a museum underway.
Take a water taxi to Dinard
Take a jaunt over the harbour to Dinard (further along the Brittany coast) via water taxi. The Hôtel de la Vallée sits on the harbour and has lovely outdoor tables where you can have a glass of wine and enjoy the view back towards Saint Malo.
Enjoy one of the many beaches
There are some lovely beaches in Saint Malo. Directly outside the city walls, you have Plage du Mole, Plage de Bon-Secours and Grande Plage du Sillon. But my favourite beach in St Malo is actually in the bay beyond the ferry terminal – Plage des Bas Sablons.
If you have 3 days in St Malo:
If you are in the area for a long weekend and fancy a day trip to Jersey, or Guernsey, Condor ferries have foot passenger fares for a reasonable price.
Where to eat in during a weekend in St Malo
For those who like seafood, St Malo is the town for you. Grand platters of langoustine, oysters and shrimp. Outdoor patios with heating for winter line the promenades within the city walls.
Because it’s a summer tourist town, there are lots of ice-cream sundae and crepe shops too. Rue Jacques Cartier and Chateaubriand Square are full of restaurants, but if you want something away from the hoards, take a wander beyond the cathedral.
Check out the bars along the far side of the old town too – Rue de Dinan and Rue du Boyer are more laid back than the entry-side of the town.
A weekend in Saint Malo is not complete without gelato too!
Visit the spectacular Mont Saint-Michel while you’re in the area!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Fuji Finepix, a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.8 STM; and an iPhone6s.
I haven’t been to Saint-Malo yet (as a regular visitor to France) but it doesn’t look too bad to check out someday. it’s just so far off the beaten track when I do road trips across the country 🙁 Fantastic write-up… and maybe someday I land up there!
We visited St. Malo last fall on our cruise along the north coast of france and spain. Unfortunately, we saw little of st. Malo itself as we booked a tour to see Mont St. Michel. We loved that tour but missed seeing St. Malo. it would be great to walk the ramparts. Would have loved to wander into town and eat some delicious seafood. And maybe finish with that great ice cream cone. Certainly a spot we need to return to.
I always wondered who discovered Canada, since I’m only familiar with the USA’s Mayflower gang. Maritime history can be fascinating, just being on a tall ship makes me envision the hoisting of the main and the splash of sea spray. Very happy to see they preserved their history post ww2 destruction, because it looks like a very interesting slice of France.
Seafood and ice cream? right up my alley. I would love to walk along the ramparts for the water views. I’ve never been, but I would love to take a couple of days and check it out.
Saint Malo sounds lovely. Towns with rich maritime history always intrigue me. And of course when there’s an ocean, there’s seafood 😋. The last time I was in France was in 2011. Maybe, is time to for another visit ✈️
Thanks for the detailed guide to Saint Malo. I like that there’s so much history going here and for every step you take, there’s a story to be heard. And the view of the sea from Hotel de la Vallee is also gorgeous. And you said everything you ate was good, yummy!
Missed Saint Malo during my trip to France. Looks like a charming place, but then all places in France are that! These glimpses are so good, well taken pics.
What I miss about living in Europe is how easy it is to travel everywhere. Saint Malo looks like a lovely city. It’s so nice that they restored it so well after the bombings.
I love that it’s so easy to jump on the ferry from the UK. It would be such a cool short trip to visit Saint-Malo and explore the ancient city walls, pick up some ice-cream sundae and crepes and enjoy the Brittany coast. Glad you had a fabulous trip!
Saint Malo seems amazing! I am still looking forward to visit this part of france, but the harbor and possibility of boat trips will not let me sleep.
Nice post to know the Things & do in Saint Malo France. It’s a complete article for a travel to know the best things like Where to stay, where to eat & what to do in Saint Malo France.
Thank you for the great tip about Condor ferries and visiting the islands around! I woldn’t know to look otherwise!
You’re most welcome – I hope you enjoy the area once things open up again!
I thoroughly enjoyed your post, Hannah! I hadn’t heard of Saint Malo before it’s now on the list! The photo of the Saint Malo taken from the ferry is my favourite, it might be the combination of the walls and haze but I find it compelling 😍 Thanks, as usual, for the travel inspiration.
We’re not familiar with Saint-Malo, but it looks so charming in your photos. Loved reading your tips!