Saint-Malo and Dinan in a day
Plans for one day in Dinan and Saint-Malo: medieval Dinan in the morning, from its ramparts and the Clock Tower to the Basilica of Saint-Sauveur and down the steep Rue du Jerzual to the old bridge and port on the Rance, then Saint-Malo, with the cathedral and the granite streets of the walled town, Vauban's Fort National, the walk round the ramparts and Chateaubriand's tomb on the tidal island of Grand Bé. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Saint-Malo and Dinan in 1 day
Day 1
Ramparts of Dinan
Medieval walls and towers that still ring much of the town, with a walk along them and views down to the river.
Clock Tower and the old town of Dinan
Fifteenth-century belfry in the middle of Dinan's half-timbered old town; climb it for the view over the roofs and the Rance valley.
Basilica of Saint-Sauveur, Dinan
Church with a Romanesque front and a Gothic interior that holds the heart of Bertrand du Guesclin, the medieval Breton commander.
Rue du Jerzual
Steep cobbled street of timber-framed houses and craft workshops climbing from the port up through a town gate to the old town.
Old bridge and port of Dinan
Old stone bridge over the Rance and the little port below the town, lined with restaurants and boats, under the tall viaduct.
Saint-Malo Cathedral and the walled town (intra-muros)
Granite old town rebuilt after the destruction of 1944, round the cathedral of Saint-Vincent where the explorer Jacques Cartier is buried.
Fort National
Vauban's seventeenth-century fort on a rock off the beach, reached on foot at low tide, with guided visits mainly in summer.
Ramparts of Saint-Malo
Walk of about 2 km along the top of the walls almost all the way round the old town, with views over beaches, islands and forts.
Grand Bé
Tidal island off the walled town, reached across the sand at low tide, with the simple tomb of the writer Chateaubriand facing the sea.
When to go to Saint-Malo and Dinan
May, June and September are the best months, mild and less crowded than July and August, when the walled town is packed. The biggest tides come around the spring and autumn equinoxes, when the sea crashes against the walls. Every four years in November the Route du Rhum single-handed race starts from Saint-Malo. Brittany's weather changes fast, so bring a rain jacket in any season.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Saint-Malo and Dinan on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Saint-Malo and Dinan on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Saint-Malo and Dinan on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for France from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Saint-Malo and Dinan
- Check the day's tide table first: Grand Bé and Fort National can only be reached on foot around low tide, so set the Saint-Malo afternoon by it.
- Fort National is visited on foot only at low tide, on guided tours that run mainly from June to September; at other times see it from the ramparts.
- Watch the signs on the causeways; the sea comes back fast and has cut off careless walkers.
- Dinan is about 30 km south of Saint-Malo, 30-40 minutes by car or bus; in summer boats also sail on the Rance between the two.
- Wear good shoes for Dinan: Rue du Jerzual is steep and cobbled, and the climb back up from the port is stiff.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basilica of Saint-Sauveur, Dinan: GO69, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clock Tower and the old town of Dinan: Pexels, CC0
- Fort National: Gzen92, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grand Bé: Plyd, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old bridge and port of Dinan: Giladtop, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ramparts of Dinan: Luna04, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ramparts of Saint-Malo: Moonik, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rue du Jerzual: Daniel Jolivet, CC BY 2.0
- Saint-Malo Cathedral and the walled town (intra-muros): unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
