Things to see and do in Saint-Malo

One of the true gems of Brittany, Saint-Malo is a proud port city and seaside resort, sporting beautiful beaches and spectacular views.

Why visit Saint-Malo?

Saint-Malo is steeped in maritime history. Once known as the ‘Corsair city’, privateers (pirates sanctioned by the King) enriched Saint-Malo with their tolls and treasures plundered from the seas. The explorer Jacques Cartier set sail from here in 1534 and discovered Canada. The city once declared its independence from France, and the forts along its coastline tell a story of seafaring, conflict and adventure. In the Second World War the port was at the frontline of the battle between the Allies and Nazi Germany, with tragic consequences. 

If you’ve watched the Netflix drama All the Light We Cannot See, set during the bombing of the city in 1944, you’ll also be inspired to visit Saint-Malo. It will be instantly recognisable, and in fact the old town, despite being rebuilt after the war, looks largely today as it did then.   

Must-see Saint-Malo attractions

Walking the Saint-Malo ramparts

Saint-Malo Ramparts

The medieval walls around the old town of Saint-Malo stretch for over a mile, and are the best way to appreciate the city’s natural harbour and the grand sweep of the coastline. You’ll get incredible sea views, and on a clear day you should easily see Jersey, only 14 miles from the French coast. The ramparts largely survived the devastation during the Second World War. You can access them from various points, with stairs down to ground level. One of the best vantage points is from the entrance at Porte Saint-Thomas, near Place Chateaubriand.

Old Town (Intra-Muros)

Though the city of Saint-Malo now extends well beyond the ramparts, its historic heart is the ‘Intra-Muros’ or old town beneath the walls. Once filled by the houses of privateers, explorers and sea captains, now the narrow cobbled streets are lined by cosy crêperies, seafood restaurants, local craft shops and boutiques. Rising high above them all is the iconic spire of the Cathédrale Saint-Vincent, toppled in 1944 but since restored and a symbol of the city’s spirit. 

Saint-Malo beaches and the Emerald Coast

Plage du Sillon beach and Fort National

Saint-Malo is blessed with some beautiful beaches, perfect for walks in the winter or lazy days in the summer. Plage du Sillon is the city’s main beach, a long vista of golden sand that runs for more than 3km. Walk along the promenade for lovely views of the old town and the forts and islands of the bay. Immediately below the Saint-Malo ramparts is Bon Secours beach, which has a distinctive walled sea water swimming pool! Saint-Malo sits right at the centre of the Emerald Coast, a wild and rugged stretch of beaches, islands and coves. 

Fort National and Fort de la Conchée

As a major port Saint-Malo saw plenty of sea battles, and there are forts all along the Emerald Coast, dating from the17th century to protect the city against English and Dutch ships. The most impressive is Fort National, perched on a rocky outcrop that also acted as a lighthouse, battery and place of public execution. It is accessible from Plage du Sillon at low tide and is open to the public during the summer. Fort de la Conchée is on a remote island much further out in the bay, and is only open to the public a handful of days per year. 

Best things to do in Saint-Malo

The smell of fresh seafood fills the air of Saint-Malo 

Enjoy local cuisine and seafood markets

Brittany is famous for its seafood, its cider and its butter, and they all feature prominently in the bistros and brasseries of Saint-Malo. Stroll along the Rue du Château Gaillard in the old town and the menus are full of oysters, mussels and scallops, while the creperies offer the traditional Breton galettes made of buckwheat and served with tasty fillings. The popular seafood market (Poissonnerie Guinemer) is held on Tuesdays and Fridays on Rue des Cordiers. 

Visit museums and historic sites

Saint-Malo boasts an array of fantastic museums. One of the best is the Jacques Cartier Museum, in the house owned by the 16th-century explorer. There are guided tours (in French, but with English translation), and the house has been restored to look exactly as it would have done. For those interested in the privateering history of the city, wander to the quayside and jump aboard  ‘Etoile du Roy’, a reconstruction of a typical corsair frigate. No visit to Saint-Malo is complete without a stop at the 39/45 Memorial, a tour of the Nazi defensive bunkers, telling the story of the battle which proved key to the liberation of occupied France. 

Hike Pointe du Grouin for stunning views

Sunset at Pointe du Grouin

Pointe du Grouin is the most easterly point of the Emerald Coast. The narrow headland snaking out into the Channel offers amazing views of both the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and back across the beaches and islands towards Saint-Malo. You can walk to Pointe du Grouin from Saint-Malo in a couple of hours on the  GR® 34 coastal path, across clifftops and flower meadows, with the call of sea birds and the crashing of waves a constant soundtrack. Bird watchers are in for a treat, and if you time your walk right you might get an epic sunset shot!

Relax with thalassotherapy treatments

Overlooking  Plage du Sillon is the Les Thermes Marins de Saint-Malo, a spa that specialises in thalassotherapy – the therapeutic use of seawater. Guests at the spa can enjoy a range of treatments in the heated seawater pools and hydrotherapy cabins, as well as massages, facial and body treatments. Tailor your stay at the spa for specific health conditions, and enjoy delicious food too at the spa’s three stunning restaurants. 

Family-friendly activities in Saint-Malo

Explore the rugged and beautiful Emerald Coast

Visit the Grand Aquarium Saint-Malo

Top of your family’s list when visiting Saint-Malo has to be its aquarium, home to 600 different species of fish, both exotic and indigenous, as well as sharks, rays and sea turtles. Kids will love the touch pools, where they can touch species local to Brittany, while there are plenty of interactive elements to keep them entertained, such as the Nautibus submarine simulator descending 300 metres into the darkest ocean. The aquarium is open all year round except November and January, with tickets costing €20 for adults and €16 for children.  

Discover tidal pools and low tide islands

Saint-Malo has an incredibly high tidal range of 14 metres. Low tide reveals the bay’s astonishing collection of islands, rock formations and islets, which all the family can explore. The island of Grand Bé is the resting place of the famous French writer Chateaubriand, who grew up in Saint-Malo, and a path leads up to the monument. Petit Bé is a smaller linked islet with a fort. The tidal pool at Bon Secours appears when the tide recedes, and is great for crabbing as well as swimming. 

Take a boat trip along the coast

The turquoise waters of the Emerald Coast are just waiting to be explored, so why not do just that? Boat cruises run regularly from the city ramparts, passing close to all the famous forts and islets, as well as the elegant resort of Dinard and the ‘forbidden island’ of Cezembre (most of which is off limits to visitors because of unexploded WWII bombs). Tours last around 90 minutes and include a commentary. If you’re lucky you might see dolphins!

Plan your trip to Saint-Malo

The magical Mont-Saint-Michel, just 50 minutes from Saint-Malo

Drive to Saint-Malo from Calais

It’s a drive of just over 5 hours from the LeShuttle terminal in Calais to Saint-Malo. The trip will take you down the Opal Coast, via the picturesque harbour town of Honfleur and the historic city of Caen. You’ll pay tolls of around €30 each way driving from Calais to Saint-Malo. 

Day trips from Saint-Malo

There are numerous places to visit on a day trip from Saint-Malo, such as Rennes, the historic capital of Brittany, or Dinard, the ‘Cannes of the North’. However, if you’ve only got one day, make the pilgrimage to Mont-Saint-Michel, the fairytale holy island that sits in the sandbanks between Brittany and Normandy, truly one of France’s most inspiring sites. It’s a mere 50-minute drive from Saint-Malo, giving you lots of time on the island. 

When to visit Saint-Malo

People flock to Brittany during the summer, so visiting Saint-Malo during the spring or the autumn is recommended, although it can still get busy in the streets of the charming old town at any time of year. The tides are highest during the winter months (great for surfers), with the seas at their most spectacular. What we seem to be saying is Saint-Malo is a wonderful destination all year round! 

Explore the beaches of Saint-Malo at low tide

Book your trip to Saint-Malo with LeShuttle 

Prepare to be captured by the charms of Saint-Malo, a place like no other in Brittany. Get to France in just 35 minutes with LeShuttle.