6 Days in Brittany Without a Car.
🤩 Want to see the real Brittany—vibrant, with windswept coves, medieval fortresses, and quiet bike paths along the canals? Then this route is for you. Castles, oyster farms, ancient streets, and scenic bike paths along canals and the coast await you.
📍 Route: Rennes → Dinan → Dinard → Saint-Malo → Cancale → Pontorson → Fougères → Vitré → Rennes
🗺️ Cycling distance: ~200 km.
Don't let the numbers scare you: the landscapes along the way are so stunning that you'll completely forget about the distance.
🚴♀️🚌🚄 How to get around: You can pedal the whole way, mix it up with trains and buses, or simply rent a car.
💰 Price: From 35 euros per week, with a deposit starting at 200 euros depending on the bike type. There are rental shops near the Rennes train station—for example, Maison du Vélo.
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary:
1️⃣ ~54 km - Rennes → Dinan
✔️ What you'll see: A bike path along the Ille-et-Rance Canal, locks, houseboats, shaded alleys, and the medieval village of Léhon.
✔️ Highlights: Part of the route runs along a former railway line (Voie Verte), and the terrain is flat and easy.
If you get tired: Stop for the night in any cozy village along the way.
✔️ Alternative: Take bus #507 from Gare Routière to Dinan, or a train to Saint-Malo.
2️⃣ ~24–28 km - Dinan → Dinard → Saint-Malo
✔️ What you'll see: The medieval walls of Dinan, the Belle Époque villas of Dinard, and the ramparts and old port of Saint-Malo.
✔️ Highlights: Saint-Malo and Dinard are right next to each other. Choose between the seaside charm of Dinard and the romantic fortress vibes of Saint-Malo for your overnight stay.
✔️ Transport: Taking the ferry from Dinard to Saint-Malo is a great way to save energy and enjoy the stunning views.
✔️ I wrote in detail about Saint-Malo in my post "Where to go from Paris: A day trip to the corsairs."
3️⃣ ~15–18 km - Saint-Malo → Cancale
✔️ What you'll see: The La Vélomaritime coastal bike path, dramatic cliffs, scenic viewpoints, and oyster farms at low tide.
✔️ Difficulty: The hilliest section of the route—but the views and the reward of fresh oysters make it completely worth it.
✔️ Route: From the Les Boules junction, follow the signs to Cancale.
✔️ Alternative: Take the bus from the station to Cancale Eglise, or skip Cancale entirely and take the train straight to Pontorson (Pontorson-Mont-Saint-Michel).
✔️ I wrote in detail about Cancale in my post "Cancale: The only way oysters could be cheaper is if they were free."
4️⃣ ~40 km - Cancale → Mont-Saint-Michel → Pontorson
✔️ What you'll see: A flat road along the dike, panoramic bay views, and the Mont-Saint-Michel abbey rising like a mirage on the horizon.
✔️ Overnight: Pontorson is right near Mont-Saint-Michel—perfect for taking your time exploring.
5️⃣ ~38–40 km - Pontorson → Fougères
✔️ What you'll see: Rural landscapes, winding rivers, sections of the Voie Verte bike path, and the Château de Fougères—one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe.
✔️ Terrain: Easy going with gentle, rolling climbs.
✔️ Alternative: Take a train with a transfer in Avranches and head back to Rennes.
6️⃣ ~32 km - Fougères → Vitré → Rennes
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✔️ What you'll see: Fields, forests, a picturesque river, the fairytale castle and half-timbered houses of Vitré, and cozy old-town streets.
✔️ Finale: From Vitré, it's an easy train ride back to Rennes.🎉🎉🎉
Saint-Malo eSheep