Saint Malo Travel & Vacation Guide

If you're feeling lucky or just want to feel the air of glamour for a moment, pay a visit to the casino. In addition to the traditional games, the casino also hosts different shows and cabaret performances, and there is also a fine dining restaurant with magnificent sea view on-site.

This is a beautiful Gothic-style church in the south of Dinard. Its insides are packed with fine carvings and stained glass windows. The church is also known to play host to concerts every once in a while, musical performances including orchestras and choir.

Fort National, built in the late 17th century to protect St Malo, is a landmark of the city. If you decide to visit the museum do not forget to take the long spiral staircase to the top of the building, from an astonishing view of the city and the coastline unfolds.

The Grand Aquarium is an attraction enjoyable to the whole family. Here you can see 600 different species of marine animals and watch them up close - there is even a contact basin where visitors can touch the fish directly. Do not miss the underwater ride in the submarine at the end.

La Pointe de la Malouine is located on a piece of headland next to the Plage de Saint Enogat, to the north of the city. It is an ideal spot for walking, admiring the wildlife and taking in the atmosphere of Dinard. Locals often go out on jogs around here.

Enthusiasts of traditional French architecture will be enthralled by the elegant houses in the La Vicomté district. The area is located close to the beach (Plage du Prieuré) and Dinard's most attractive park (Parc de Port Breton), both of which are attractive local sites.

The Rance Tidal Power Station was one of the first hydroelectric power stations in the world when it first opened in 1966. Today it is the world's second biggest tidal power station. There are boat tours up the river during high season, during which you can enjoy a lovely view of the bay.

Just 6 kilometres to the west from Dinard, in St Lunaire, lies the lovely, long sandy beach of Longchamps. There is a restaurant and rental outlets for water sports equipment. This is a perfect place for a relaxed day out in the sun - the beach is perfectly suitable for families with children, too.

Bar Le Skipper is a nautical-themed bar located in the centre of Dinard. The place is lively both day and night, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. The bar is very popular with locals, and has a very laid-back, unpretentious vibe. Great for lunch.

The upscale night club offers complimentary shuttle bus service from multiple points in Dinard and Saint-Malo (consult their web page for schedules and pick-up points). Views from here are unbeatable, and the compact dance floor gets packed with elegant party-goers as the night progresses.

The pleasant bar offers in- and outdoor seating on the airy terrace, regularly hosts live gigs and DJ sets, broadcasts major sporting events, and stays open till as late as 3.30am during the summer months.

La Suite is a very popular local disco club, one of the few prominent venues on the Dinard nightlife scene. The club has a great vibe and good selection of drinks. One of its biggest perks is the free transfer service to and from Dinard and Saint-Malo. See their web page for themed party schedules.

The cafe offers seating on one of the finest scenic terraces in town, overlooking the bay below. For a snack, try the classic burger or the moules-frites (mussels with potato fries). In the evenings, good cocktails and drinks are served. Pricing is on the upper range.

Much of the nightlife excitement in Dinard revolves around the Casino Barrière, a venue that tends to get especially busy during high season (from roughly May to late October). There are a couple of bars and a restaurant on-site, and the usual casino suspects: roulette, card games, and slot machines.

The quirky restaurant and bar is packed to the brim with curiosities attached directly to its walls, giving plenty of places to rest the eyes as guests await their orders of food and drinks (daily specials vary, but seafood - mussels in particular - come highly recommended).

The very hip Sadi 2 is an establishment dramatically different from Dinard's polished fine dining venues - the vibe here is very relaxed, the atmosphere reminiscent more of a cool bar than a proper restaurant - although very decent food is served as well. Drinks range from beers to cocktails.

Ever since it was first established in 1955, La Trinitaine has been selling specialty baked goods such as butter biscuits, pastries, crepes, salted butter-flavored caramel, and a selection of sweet preserves typical of the region. Adorable gift box sets are available for purchase.

The centrally located wine boutique is a prime spot to shop for some of the finest local wines, champagne, and other liquors - local and international. Bottles make perfect gifts and souvenirs from the region. The shop packs over 900 varieties, a selection guaranteed to satisfy the finest of tastes.

Centre Commercial la Madeleine-Carrefour is conveniently located close to the road leading into Saint-Malo. Here you can go shopping for brands such as Yves Rocher, Clair's, Etam, Morgan, Calzedonia, and more. If you are hungry, feel free to stop for a coffee or lunch at one of its many eateries.

The rustic Conserverie la Belle-Iloise is a must-stop for Dinard shoppers, a boutique specializing in various kinds of fish preserves, all of which come in uniquely designed tins and can be assembled into beautiful gift sets. Take your pick from a wide selection of tuna and sardine varieties.

Douceurs de Bretagne brims with regional specialties from all over the province of Brittany - jams, wines, ciders, the typical caramels au beurre salé, and a plethora of further delicacies - both sweet and savoury. Multiple gift sets are available.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays the square just by Les Halles comes alive when 300 vendors from the region gather to showcase some of the best local produce at what is now known as the region's largest market. Shop for everything from regional delicacies to clothing and souvenirs.

The Saint-Malo indoor market is held at Halle au Blé on Tuesdays and Fridays. The product selection is mainly fresh local produce. On those same days, fish and seafood are sold at the Place de la Poissonnerie, only a few blocks up from the market's location.

The deli is a unique shopping spot in Saint-Malo, a tiny boutique where celebrated chef Jean-Yves Bordier showcases the wide variety of cheeses and butters of his own creations. Reputable eateries from around the world receive regular shipments from here, but anyone is welcome to make a purchase.

The Dinard Bretagne Airport (Aeroport Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo) is situated just 4 kilometres south of the Dinard city centre. Taxis are available outside the terminal. There is no bus or rail connection from the airport to Dinard but there is a shuttle service, scheduled after the arriving flights, that leaves for the bigger city of Saint-Malo. The ticket is purchased from the driver. From Saint-Malo station there are buses to Dinard.

Good bus service links all parts of Dinard to one another, along with a train service from the Gare Maritime La Richardais off the Route du Barrage for journeys further afield. Remember that all bus tickets must be validated when entering the vehicle. Car parks are in the Place de Gaulle, the Place du Marché Halles and off the Place de la République, along with the beaches.

Taxis are available from outside the airport and the taxi station in the Place de la République. The official taxi companies have a taxi sign on the roof of the cars and the fare is decided by a metre. The rate depends on day and time. Bedel Taxi +33 6 60 42 04 15 Taxi Delommez +33 6 03 47 84 66 Taxi Dinard +33 660 420 415

In Brittany, as in the rest of France, the power supply is 220-240 volts and 50Hz. The plug type used is the Type C plug, which has two round pins. Plug type E has an additional hole for the socket's male earthing pin.

Pharmacies are recognised by a large green cross outside and are generally open 9am–1pm and 2pm–7pm daily, except Sunday. A list of emergency pharmacies is displayed on the front window.

You can buy stamps at tobacco shops and the mailboxes are yellow.

Country code: +33 Area code: (0) 2 99