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Camping in Brittany: regions, coasts and when to go
Camping in Brittany means a holiday on a peninsula in the far north-west of France which, according to Wikipedia, is surrounded by the Atlantic to the north, west and south and covers a good 27,400 square kilometres. The region is divided into the four départements of Finistère, Morbihan, Côtes-d'Armor and Ille-et-Vilaine, whose landscapes differ markedly: from the rugged west to the sheltered bays in the south.
This page puts the coastal stretches, départements, places to visit, climate and travel into context and shows how coast and hinterland differ for campers. There are more in-depth pages on the sea, dogs and pools, which are mentioned only briefly here so that the overview does not duplicate them.
Coast and hinterland: the landscapes of Brittany
According to France Naturelle, Brittany's coast is around 2,800 kilometres long and alternates between sandy beaches, rocky shores and sheltered bays. In the north lies the Côte de Granit Rose with its pink, oddly shaped granite rocks. At Cap Fréhel, granite cliffs rise more than 70 metres from the Atlantic, as Wikipedia notes. In the south-west of Finistère, the Cap Sizun stretches out with the Pointe du Raz, the westernmost point of France.
In the south lies the Gulf of Morbihan with more than 40 islands, a largely sheltered arm of the sea. The interior belongs geologically to the Armorican Massif and is much gentler: the highest point, the Roc'h Ruz in the Monts d'Arrée, is only 385 metres. There, forests, heath and valleys alternate. For campers this means: coastal locations offer sea views and cliff paths but are more exposed to the Atlantic wind, while the hinterland is quieter and more sheltered. Around 5,000 kilometres of walking trails link the two areas.
The four départements compared
Each département has its own profile:
Finistère forms the far west with two coasts, the Crozon peninsula, the Cap Sizun and the Monts d'Arrée. Large parts belong to the Armorique Regional Nature Park. The largest city is Brest, and Quimper is also here.
Côtes-d'Armor stands for the north coast with the Côte de Granit Rose and Cap Fréhel. The island of Bréhat lies off the coast.
Morbihan includes the Gulf of Morbihan and the south coast. The stone rows of Carnac and the town of Vannes are well known; Lorient, with a good 58,000 inhabitants, is one of the larger towns in the region.
Ille-et-Vilaine in the east borders Normandy. Saint-Malo and Dinard are on the coast here, along with Rennes, the regional capital with around 231,000 inhabitants.
If you want to combine sea and culture, Ille-et-Vilaine offers the contrast of town and coast, Finistère the wildest coast, and Morbihan the calmer bays.
Destinations and day trips
Typical destinations mentioned in the sources consulted:
Carnac: stone rows and the Le Manio menhir, which at 6.5 metres is regarded as the largest in the area.
Saint-Malo: the town behind its fortress walls on the north coast.
Crozon peninsula: steep cliffs, heath and sandy bays with places such as Camaret-sur-Mer and Morgat, and headlands such as Pen Hir.
Île de Bréhat and the islands of Ouessant, Molène and Sein for day trips by boat.
Nature parks: Armorique (125,000 hectares, about half of it sea), Golfe du Morbihan (since 2014), Brière (a wetland with canals between the mouths of the Vilaine and the Loire, according to La Bretonelle France's second-largest marshland) and the Iroise marine nature park with what the source calls Europe's largest continuous kelp field.
Towns and cities: Rennes, Brest, Quimper, Vannes and Dinan for rainy days and cultural activities.
Climate and best time to go
Brittany has a distinctly oceanic climate. According to Wikipedia, the mean annual temperature is 9 to 12 degrees and annual rainfall is 700 to 800 millimetres. The weather is changeable; France Naturelle advises expecting showers and temperature swings even in summer.
La Bretonelle describes the seasons like this: in spring, temperatures rise from below 10 degrees in March to about 14 degrees in May, and May is regarded as a quiet time to travel. June to August is the warmest, sunniest and driest period, with 17 to 19 degrees inland, but also the busiest. September brings 16 to 17 degrees with fewer crowds. From mid-October, autumn storms hit the coast, and winter is dull, rainy and stormy. For campers with tents, May to September is therefore the obvious window.
Getting there from Germany
From southern and western Germany, according to La Bretonelle, the route runs via Metz, Paris and Le Mans; on this route Rennes is the hub in Brittany. If you are coming from the north of Germany, you drive via the Netherlands, Belgium and Normandy. Brittany itself has no toll motorways, whereas tolls are charged in other regions of France on the stretches before it.
Because of the length of the coast and the shape of the peninsula, journey times between east and west are considerable; a round trip of the region is therefore better done with two or three bases than with daily changes.
What to do: ideas and a day-by-day plan
Brittany combines coast, hinterland and a distinct culture of megaliths, festivals and harbour towns. Pick one focus per day from the categories, or take one of the three day plans as it is. Plan sights that are close together and keep an indoor option ready for rainy days.
Nature & beaches
Côte de Granit Rosehalf a dayReddish granite rocks and cliffs between Bréhat and Trébeurden. Ideal for a long coastal walk with plenty of photo stops along the rocks.
Pointe du Raz1-2 hoursThe westernmost point of France, with wide views over the Atlantic, the La Vieille and Tévennec lighthouses and the Île de Sein.
Golfe du Morbihanhalf a dayAn inland sea with more than 40 small islands. You can explore it by boat or walk around it on the coastal path.
Carnac beacheshalf a dayFive sandy beaches lined with pine forest, with gently shelving water and a promenade with crêperies and fish restaurants.
Culture & sights
Carnac standing stoneshalf a dayMore than 3,000 menhirs, including the stone rows of Kerlescan, Kermario and Le Ménec. The Musée de Préhistoire puts the finds into context.
Saint-Malo rampartsabout 1 hourA walk along the walls with 15 viewpoints, taking in the bay, the harbour, Grand Bé and Petit Bé, as well as the corsairs' houses.
Grand Bé1-2 hoursAt low tide the island below the walls becomes a peninsula; the grave of the writer Chateaubriand is there. Check the tide times beforehand.
Quimper2-3 hoursA medieval old town with half-timbered houses and the Gothic Saint-Corentin Cathedral, whose spires were added in 1854-1856. The town is easy to explore on foot.
Active & sports
GR 34 (Customs Officers' Path)half to full dayA coastal trail of over 2,000 km, laid out as the Customs Officers' Path since 1791. Individual stages can be walked as day trips.
Kayaking in the Golfe du Morbihanhalf a dayPaddle among the more than 40 small islands of the gulf, a calm outing on the inland sea of southern Brittany.
Brocéliande Foresthalf a dayAround 12,000 hectares of forest linked to the Arthurian legend and the Château de Comper, plus guided forest walks.
Monts d'Arréehalf a dayA range of hills inland with wide moorland up to 385 m, suitable for hikes away from the coast and the beaches.
With kids
Grand Aquarium Saint-Malo2-3 hoursTen themed worlds from cold seas to the tropics with fish from over 600 species, plus touch pools and the Expédition Nautibus simulation.
Phare d'Eckmühl1-2 hoursA 65 m lighthouse near Penmarch that you can climb. From the top the view stretches far across the Finistère coast.
Carnac beachhalf a dayGently shelving sandy beaches lined with pine forest are suitable for families with younger children and lie right next to the promenade and harbour.
Boat trips to the islandshalf a dayBoat trips run on the Golfe du Morbihan and to islands such as Belle-Île or Bréhat, a day out with sea air.
When it rains
Musée de Préhistoire Carnac1-2 hoursThe museum in Carnac displays finds from the megalithic culture, the Roman period and the early Middle Ages, and puts the surrounding stone rows into context.
Grand Aquarium Saint-Malo2-3 hoursTen themed worlds from cold seas to the tropics with fish from over 600 species, plus touch pools and the Expédition Nautibus simulation.
Saint-Corentin Cathedral in Quimper1 hourA Gothic cathedral with stained-glass windows and the striking deviation of the longitudinal axis in the nave, a good sheltered destination in the rain.
Sample day plans
Day 1: Stones and beach at Carnac
Morning
Visit the menhir rows of Kermario, Le Ménec and Kerlescan, then the Musée de Préhistoire in Carnac for background on the megalithic culture.
Afternoon
Swim at the gently shelving beaches of Carnac, then stroll along the promenade and the harbour.
Evening
Dinner at a crêperie or a fish restaurant on the promenade.
Day 2: Corsair town of Saint-Malo
Morning
Walk the ramparts of Saint-Malo, with views of the bay, harbour and islands, and wander through the old town.
Afternoon
At low tide, walk to Grand Bé and Chateaubriand's grave, checking the tide times first. Alternatively, visit the Grand Aquarium.
Evening
A quiet evening in Saint-Malo with a walk on the walls or a meal in the old town.
Day 3: Finistère with cape and cathedral
Morning
Drive to the Pointe du Raz and walk the coastal path with views of La Vieille, Tévennec and the Île de Sein.
Afternoon
Continue to Penmarch and the Phare d'Eckmühl and, if the weather is clear, climb up for the view over the coast.
Evening
Finish in Quimper: stroll through the old town among half-timbered houses and admire Saint-Corentin Cathedral.
Campsites that match
280 matching campsites in our database, here the 48 best rated (by stars), grouped by location.
Brittany comprises four départements: Finistère in the far west, Côtes-d'Armor on the north coast, Morbihan in the south with the Gulf of Morbihan, and Ille-et-Vilaine in the east with Rennes and Saint-Malo. The regional capital is Rennes, with a good 230,000 inhabitants.
When is the best time to go to Brittany?
According to La Bretonelle, May and September are quieter months with pleasant temperatures of around 14 to 17 degrees. June to August are the warmest, sunniest and driest, but also the busiest. From mid-October, autumn storms begin on the coast.
Are there toll roads in Brittany?
According to La Bretonelle, Brittany has no toll motorways. On the way there through other French regions, for example via Paris and Le Mans, tolls may however be charged. Current route details should be checked before you set off, as rules can change.
Which nature parks are there in Brittany?
Those mentioned are the Armorique Regional Nature Park in Finistère, the Golfe du Morbihan nature park, the Brière nature park near Saint-Nazaire and the Iroise marine nature park west of Finistère. They offer coast, islands, marshland and boat trips and combine well with a camping stay.
How do I get to Brittany from Germany?
From Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg or southern Germany, according to La Bretonelle the route runs via Metz, Paris and Le Mans to Rennes. From northern Germany you go via the Netherlands, Belgium and Normandy. There are no motorway tolls in Brittany itself.
