Population : 47 210 inhabitants
Area : 36,6 km2
Population Density : 1286 per km2
Demonym : Malouins and Malouines
Région : Brittany
Twin Cities: : Port Louis (capitale de l'Ile Maurice)
Maps : Google MapsSaint-Malo offers an active port, the second largest in Brittany. But if you don’t have a boat (yacht or barge, for whatever taste) to go out on for vacation, do not panic. There are other simpler means of getting to your destination.
BY CAR
The highway doesn’t pass right by Saint-Malo because of its geographic location. Nevertheless, the city is well-serviced thanks to national and departmental roads that connect it to larger highways. About 75 km separate you from Rennes (around 1 hour by car), 404 km from Paris (around 4 hours and 23 minutes). We are happy to remind you that in Brittany there are no toll roads like in the rest of France, but 4-lane roads, separated by a midway. It is free, but the speed is limited to 110 km/h.
To park your vehicle, you’ll have the choice between the parking souterrain Saint-Vincent, the parking spots inside the city, or the parking-relay from which you can take a free shuttle that takes you to the heart of the city. Here you’ll find the parking prices or you can get a pré-paid card to enjoy a free hour of parking.
BY TAXI OR RENTAL CAR
Once you have arrived in Saint-Malo, you can call a Taxi or rent a car, to be more autonomous.
BY PLANE
The closest airport to St-Malo is Dinard Bretagne Airport a seaside resort that is located just across the way. However, it only assures connections with the Anglo-Norman islands and England.
If you come from other parts of the world, you will land at the Rennes Bretagne Airport,which services French, European and American cities as well as Beijing and Montreal.
Once at the Rennes Airport, you’ll have two options for connections with St-Malo :
1) Take the 57 Star bus that passes by just 300 meters away, at the Aire Libre stop [1.40€* per ticket, valid for one hour and purchased directly in the bus] to arrive at Place de la République. From there, take the bus line 7 from the Illenoo company, that will take you to Saint-Malo [2.30€ to 5.50€* depending on the length of your chosen trip].
2) In the second case, you will also need to go to Place de la République then to the gare ferroviaire that is located 1 km from the square, about 13 minutes walking, to take a train to Saint-Malo. About 20 trains per day can take you there in less than an hour. Expect to pay around 15€ per person for the trip at full price.
BY TRAIN
The city has a modern train station which was erected in 2005. You can hop on a TER or a TGV and be in Paris in only 3 hours. If you want to go further north, you can go to Lille but only during the weekend.
To get a train ticket, please visit the SNCF website.
The downtown shuttle, which is free, stops at the train station to let you get to the interior parts of the city.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The city is medium-sized. However, the bus lets you connect to différents quartiers rapidement. rather quickly. Multiple lines give you access to the beaches, while others allow you to connect to the outer areas. A transportation card costs 1.25€* and a 1-day ticket is worth 1.90€*. Here is the list of selling locations for transportation cards.
If, afterwards, you want to explore other cities in Brittany, you can take a bus from the resort
In Saint-Malo, you can also cross the sea to reach the Anglo-Norman islands or England.
- Summer
During the summer season, you can do a multitude of everyday activities.
In August, you won’t have to wonder what to do on Thursdays.
"Renc'arts" is an artistic event that takes place on Thursday evenings. These are free street performances that entertain the citizens of Saint-Malo as well as the vacationers.
You can also attend the festival that shakes up the town, the route du Rock.
Every year, the seaside resort also hosts the World Folklore Festival to pay homage to cultures from all corners of the globe and to give you a tour of the world without paying a fortune.
You can also attend some crewed racing like the Transat Québec – Saint-Malo that takes place once every four years. On this occasion, you’ll experience the excitement of the winners and enjoy the festive atmosphere that takes over the town.
- Autumn
In autumn, the city is no longer “invaded” by tourists in love with Brittany. It is brought to life by boating enthusiasts that attend or participate in the famous race named the Route du Rhum. The competitors cast off from Saint-Malo to reach Guadeloupe a few days later, after having crossed the Atlantic Ocean. On this occasion, a village is built in the city and activities are offered to the crowds.
- Winter
Why not adventure in Saint-Malo in Winter ? Surely, swimming would be complicated and there are fewer activities than in Summer, but the temperatures are a lot milder than in the Alps. An added bonus: you can even listen to great music thanks to the winter version of the Route du Rock festival that takes place in February simultaneously in Rennes and Saint-Malo.
- Obviously, you can also explore the beautiful city in Spring, before the crowds, and enjoy the mild temperatures due to its oceanic climate.
Tourist Office: http://www.saint-malo-tourisme.co.uk/
Emergency number: 112 (Euro zone, 112 redirects to 15,17,18,115 and 119)
Fire: dial 18
Ambulance (medical emergency): dial 15
Police: dial 17
Missing children: dial 116
To find public restrooms, go here.
Accommodation :
The prices indicated below are just for reference and include the price of one night in a standard double room and can vary depending on the season.
- Less than 50€, you can stay in an apartment-hotel or a hotel (up to 2 stars).
- Between 50€ and 100€,you’ll sleep in an apartment, bed and breakfast, or a nice hotel with 2, 3, or 4 stars that is well-located.
- Between 100€ and 200€,you’ll be lodged in a luxury apartment or the most prestigious 4 or 5 star hotels in the city.
Take a look at our website to find a place to stay in Saint-Malo.
Restaurants :
The prices indicated below are just for reference and include the price for a dish or meal for one person.
- Less than 5€
- Between 5€ and 15€ :
- From 15€ :
Pour boire au verre :
During the summer, you can take a guided tour of the city. Three themes are offered by the tourism office:
: Seaside tourism, The liberation of Saint-Malo, Tales for the littles kiddies.
If you are more passionate about the aquatic world than the urban environment, you can take part in an exploratory tour of the coast with a naturalist guide or a cruise to explore the bay. (Corsaire company ou Albatros Hermine company)
The tourism office also offers self-guided discovery tours so that you can walk alone without missing the most beautiful places in the city that have existed since antiquity.
Places and neighborhoods to see: :
Museum:
Click here to have a look at the pricing list.
Walking and finding the most suitable beach: :
*This travel guide was published in November 2014, prices may then vary.