15 Top Things to Do in Saint Malo, France

Our Airbnb host insisted, that while visiting Mont St Michel, one couldn't miss out on the opportunity to visit Saint Malo. The same applies the other way around, considering that the drive from Saint Malo to Mont Saint Michel takes less than an hour.

Not to mention, that you also get the chance to stop at the renowned village of Cancale on the way. Here, right on the beach, you can savor the freshest Oysters in Brittany.

Anyway, let's get to the point: let me introduce you to our list of the top things to do in Saint-Malo.

If you are travelling to Saint Malo in the high of summer, do not let the mayhem of cars and pedestrians discourage you.

As we arrived at the harbor, the city was already in ferment. Maybe we shouldn't have stopped in Cancale, but HEY!, we're on holidays after all!

Somehow we were just in time to get one of the last 5 car spots at the underground Parking Saint-Vincent. If you travel by car during high season, you want to have a clear plan about where to park.

You can even pre-book your spot online and use the QR code on your reservation to access the parking.

A more relaxed option is to leave your vehicle in Dinard and then take a romantic 10-minute boat ride to St Malo.

Crossing St. Vincent Gate through the massive walls of Saint-Malo, you will be greeted by the rich aroma of the Kouign-Amann, a piece of heaven made of 90% butter and 10% guilt.

This typical pastry is so guilty that even the New York Times in 2011 described the Kouign-Amann as "the fattiest pastry in all of Europe".

Explore the old town and discover exquisite boutiques and charming restaurants in the brisk air of Saint-Malo's narrow alleys.

The brisk air of the citadel and the immaculate stone walls lead you deep into a maze of wonders and back to the time of corsairs.

The one building that stands out the most in the intramural town of Saint-Malo is undoubtedly the tall spire of the Cathedral Saint-Vincent-de-Saragosse. 

During our first visit, maybe due to the pandemic, the freshly varnished doors of this church remained shut. Fortunately, this time we were lucky enough to take a peek.

The atmosphere inside Saint-Vincent is simply enchanting.

For starters, the nave oddly develops downwards, lower than the entrance, which is very uncommon. What's more, the real beauty unfolds at the right time of the day. An indigo light diffuses through the stained-glass and makes you feel like you're suddenly underwater. A very fitting impression for a fortress of the sea like Saint Malo.

Inside you can see the tomb of the Malouin explorer Jacques Cartier, discoverer of Canada. And the much worshiped statue of Notre Dame de la Grand'Porte, which for centuries stood guard over the town's Great Door.

Also, while visiting Brittany, I recommend you try at least one galette, not to be confused with its sweet sister, the crêpe.

Savory galettes are served pretty much everywhere in the intramural alleys, but Grain Noir is, without doubt, the Crêperie par excellence. Even though this bistro is always hell-busy, the wait to be seated is by all means worth it.

Another very popular option to devour some galettes is the tearoom Maison du Sarrasin. Similarly, but with a Japanese touch, the Comptoir Breizh Café. 

The undisputed queen of Breton cuisine is the oyster. In Cancale, just around the corner, you can visit the most famous oyster farms in all France.

In other words, there is no better place than Saint Malo for seafood lovers. Treat yourself to the freshest oyster platter and a crispy glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

The Château de la Duchesse serves now both as city hall and history museum to showcase the colorful maritime history of the city.

The lookout towers of the "Grand Donjoun" and charming views of the port, the National Fort and the city from up here are the best part of the visit. 

Who made the sea Republic of Saint Malo what is it today, are the Corsairs! 

In times of war, trading at sea was a tougher business than usual. As desperate times call for desperate measures, privateers entered the scenes.

They were hired by the King to attack France's enemies’ ships and granted a license as combatants in exchange for a quarter of their loot.

Unfortunately, if captured in combat, they were often just hung as regular pirates. Nevertheless, corsairs proliferated for almost seven hundred years until the rise of the French Empire.

If you have a soft spot for piracy like me, you will love the Privateer’s Home Demeure de Corsaire. This sumptuous building, the only one of its kind to survive the bombardments during WWII, is the archetype of shipowners palace in Saint Malo.

The residence was in fact home to none other than the director of the East India Company, François - Auguste Magon de la Lande.

Visit the house museum and listen to breath-stopping pirate tales and entertaining anecdotes of corsair France.

Although it might sound obvious, the ramparts walk features in any respectable list of the best things to do in Saint Malo. The walk is about 2 km long and encompasses the whole town perimeter.

From atop the 8 centuries old fortifications, you get to see the best of the intramural town as well as the highlights in the open sea. You’ll walk by turrets, ancient cannons and evocative statues.

The sculptures on the ramparts are dedicated to those who made Saint Malo a great republic of the sea.

Lastly, the walls are the undiscussed best spot to admire the tides from.

7. Stop at the Maison du Québec

As you stroll along the ramparts, you will stumble upon a low stone building with red shutters. This prime venue just behind the Bidouane tower is dedicated to the curious Maison du Québec.

The House of Québec, commemorates a grand explorer born in Saint Malo: Jacques Cartier. This personality of the 16th century Brittany earned his spot in the explorer's Wall of Fame for his discovery of Canada!

The building is a gift from Saint Malo to the Government of Québec. Its mission is to make Quebec known and loved in France, and to consolidate the friendship between the two French-speaking countries.

Maybe because I am Italian, I end up making everything about food, but hear me out.

There is nothing like a nice rind of aged Camembert or the palette of flavored butters offered by the Maison du Beurre Bordier. Stop at the shop for a live butter-making demonstration!

The Bordier Family recently opened a restaurant adjacent to the shop: Bistro Autour du Beurre Bordier.
Yes, the menu revolves around butter, but you’ll be in such ecstasy dining here you will forget what guilt means.

Wherever you look, you will read “blé noir”: the black wheat also known as “sarrasin”, we are talking about, is buckwheat!

If you never tried this cereal, you are missing out! Slightly sweet and nutty, anything sarrasin is a Breton typicality. From buckwheat honey to buckwheat flour, you can’t go wrong…and it is also gluten-free!

The best épicerie to purchase local products is the Maison du Sarrasin, in the heart of town. They even sell roasted sarrasin to prepare their refreshing signature buckwheat tea.

Many believed the questionable mole's name to have stuck since the times of slave's markets. Like the rest of the city, the Môle des Noires is not as old as you might believe. So it's relieving to know that the "blacks" of the matter are nothing but the massive dark rocks on which the pier was built. 

The mole in numbers: 500, the meters to the end of the pier; 30, the feet to the tip of the turret(9 meters); 90, the years since the mole was rebuilt.

The pier serves as a breakwater during high tides, which makes it a hot spot for photographers looking for raging sea conditions. At the end of the mole is also the characteristic red lighthouse of St. Malo.

If you too are a drone pilot, this is THE best place to take off.

Not too far from the stormy shores of Saint Malo, are two rocky islands.

The Grand Bé lays only a few hundred meters away from the west side of town. What makes this island so intriguing is its being completely at the mercy of the tides.

To visit the islet in fact, you need to patiently wait for the low tide. Afterward, take a walk from the beach of Bon-Secours trough Porte Saint Pierre and you will be there in no time.

This small green hill is a great spot to admire the city from afar (or to launch your drone, wind allowing). Apart from that, the only landmark on Grand Bé is a lonely grave.

A melancholic monolith marks the burial site of François-René de Châteaubriand, father of romanticism in France. What better evokes romanticism than an only gravestone overlooking endless waters.

Our expedition is not yet over: for the daring spirits, there is more to explore. Visible in the distance behind his bigger sibling is the small island of Petit Bé.

Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to reach the shores of Petit Bé on foot. Still, it is interesting to walk on open oyster shells and pools of cleaner shrimps to catch a glimpse of the 17th century fort over the sea.

Strolling along the sea is one of the best things to do in St. Malo. If one of your "vacay goals" is to relax on the beach, keep in mind that shores here are always packed in the Summer.

Families, locals walking their dogs and water sport teams pushing jet skis and catamarans around, plus tourists, seem to all spill out of the city walls at once.

Our favorite spot away from the crowd is the Plage d'Eventail.

The most direct way to access the stretch of sand between the mainland and the islet of Fort National is Saint Thomas' door.

Because of the extreme tides, the sand is always wet here, so not ideal for a chilled beach break. All in all, it doesn't really matter: you will be too distracted taking iconic photos of the wooden wave breakers and venturing to the Fort.

Visiting Fort National is certainly one of the coolest things in Saint-Malo to do.

Because of the maritime wars between the French, English, and Dutch, the position of the corsair city became strategic. And crucial became to defend what, in the 17th century, ended up being France’s most important port.
To do this, Louis XIV commissioned the construction of Fort Royal, known today as Fort National.

One of the 4 defensive posts around Saint Malo, Fort National stands pride of place on Éventail beach since 1689.

It is true that the opening times vary according to the tides. That being said, whenever the French flag is hoisted on the Fort, the site is open for visitors.

After a full day of exploring, one of the top things you can do in St Malo is to have a time-out. Although inside the citadel the opportunities to have a glass of bubbly are unlimited, you certainly want to shun the tourist traps.

Our favorite spot to sip on some fine wine (or rum) is La Mer à Boire. Thanks to its knowledgeable host and intimate vibe, you’ll keep coming back to this out-of-the-way wine bar. 

If you are up for something more mainstream and with a corsair twist, head straight for the Les Terroiristes Associés. This bubbly bar with its fresh ambiance and music normally attracts a louder crowd. The young and friendly staff and a great selection of local wine and rums make this place stand out.

Before we say au revoir let me use just two lines for my last tip. Coffee is a constant in all of our adventures, and although it wasn't easy to find a specialty coffee shop in Saint Malo, we did it! Cavoua Coffee Spot is our safe haven in the wilderness of tourist traps, perfect also for brunch!

Saint-Malo is a great base to explore the surrounding jewels of the Norman coast, like Cancal and Mont Saint Michel.

Visiting this iconic medieval citadel is an absolute must. That being said, getting across by car can be a real quest: narrow roads, lots of camper vans, and a lot of walking under the sun.

We did make that mistake, and NEVER AGAIN! Luckily, we found a much better solution and booked an all-inclusive day trip from Saint-Malo where the guides take care of EVERYTHING.

This way, you can save your energies (and patience) to explore the mesmerizing streets of Mont Saint Michel stress-free.

As the excursion fills up real quick, I recommend you book your spots well in advance, and you can do it directly at the link above.

This was a really concentrated report of our many visits to Saint Malo, only the best! Top attractions, the tastiest restaurants, and the coolest viewpoints. Have you pinned this article to your travel bucket list?

We really hope you enjoy reading our blog, if you have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you in the comment section below!

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