Best first-time city break
Saint-Malo
Walled city · beaches · food
A dramatic walled city with beaches at its feet and the easiest direct ferry arrival from the UK.
Explore Saint-MaloEXPLORE BRITTANY
Where should you go in Brittany?
Start with the kind of trip you want – a walled city, beaches, historic towns, islands or wild coastline – then work backwards to the ferry route that makes the whole journey easiest.
NOT SURE WHERE?
Pick by holiday style
We’ll help you narrow Brittany down by beaches, food, family appeal, historic towns and how easy each place is to reach from the UK.
See the quick guideBuilt for UK travellersFerry access is part of every recommendation.
Whole-journey thinkingWe compare the drive as well as the destination.
Independent picksPlaces are chosen for the trip, not the commission.
Different holiday stylesCity breaks, beaches, families and quieter coast.
OUR STARTING POINT
Five places to know first
These give you a useful cross-section of Brittany and connect cleanly with the ferry routes we already compare.
Best historic inland base
Dinan
Medieval streets · river · short breaks
Half-timbered streets, a beautiful old port and an easy pairing with Saint-Malo and Dinard.
Explore Dinan
Best family beach holiday
Carnac
Beaches · families · megaliths
Big sandy beaches, prehistoric stone alignments and an excellent base for Quiberon and southern Brittany.
Explore Carnac
Best all-round southern base
Vannes
Harbour · old town · islands
A handsome walled town at the gateway to the Gulf of Morbihan, with islands and coast within easy reach.
Explore Vannes
Best western Brittany arrival
Roscoff
Harbour · islands · Finistère
A compact harbour town that doubles as the natural gateway to Finistère and the north-west coast.
Explore RoscoffCHOOSE BY TRIP
Which part of Brittany fits you?
You don’t need to know the geography first. Start with the holiday you actually want.
HOW TO GET THERE
Your destination and ferry route should be chosen together
Saint-Malo can be brilliant if Portsmouth is convenient. Roscoff can win if you’re in the South West or heading west in Brittany. A Normandy route can sometimes beat both once the road journey is included. That is why each destination page links back into the Route Finder rather than pretending there is one “best ferry”.
Compare my journey