Brittany (Breizh) is France's westernmost peninsula — a Celtic heartland thrust into the Atlantic where granite cliffs, prehistoric megaliths, medieval walled cities, and 2,800 kilometres of coastline combine into one of Europe's most distinctive travel destinations.
Brittany is best reached from Paris by TGV (Rennes 1h54, Brest 3h31, Quimper ~3h45) from Paris Montparnasse, or directly from the UK by Brittany Ferries to Roscoff (from Plymouth) or Saint-Malo (from Portsmouth). The BreizhGo integrated network covers regional buses, trains, and island ferries throughout all four Breton departments. Urban trams and buses operate in Rennes (STAR metro + bus) and Brest (Bibus tram A and B). A hire car is strongly recommended for visiting the Finistère coast, Crozon Peninsula, Morbihan countryside, and the Pink Granite Coast.
Transport at a glance
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Rennes
Fare: €1.80 single (~$2 USD); multi-day passes and monthly subscriptions available; KorriGo card for discounts
- System
- STAR network — Metro Line A (east-west) + extensive bus network
- Website
- https://www.star.fr
- Metro highlights
- Metro Line A runs from La Poterie in the east to Kennedy–John F. Kennedy in the west, passing through the historic centre (Sainte-Anne, République, Gares)
- Bike share
- STAR Vélo STAR bike-share throughout the city; available via the STAR app
Brest
Fare: €1.70 single (~$1.85 USD); day pass €4.50 (~$5 USD); 10-journey carnet €14.40 (~$16 USD); family/group weekend €4.50 for up to 4 people
- System
- Bibus — Tram Lines A and B (new 2026) + BHNS rapid bus + conventional buses
- Website
- https://www.bibus.fr
- Phone
- +33 2 98 80 30 30
- Tram highlights
- Tram Line A crosses the city from Plouzané in the west to Les Quatre Moulins in the east; new Tram B links Porte de Plougastel–Centre-Ville–Kergaradec (opened February 2026)
- Bike share
- Bibus Vélo electric bike-share available at tram stops
Saint Malo
Fare: €1.50 single (~$1.65 USD)
- System
- Ksma urban bus network within Saint-Malo city; intercity BreizhGo buses to Rennes, Dinard, and Dinan
- Notes
- The walled town (intra-muros) is best explored on foot; a free summer shuttle (navette estivale) circulates the ramparts in July and August
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Book TGV tickets at sncf-connect.com at least 3–4 weeks ahead; Ouigo budget trains offer Paris–Rennes from €10 booked 2+ months in advance
Brittany Ferries (brittany-ferries.co.uk) sails Plymouth–Roscoff and Portsmouth–Saint-Malo; book 3–6 months ahead for 30–50% savings
The BreizhGo KorriGo card (available at stations) gives up to 75% off TER regional trains across Brittany
Hire a car in Rennes or Brest for exploring Finistère, the Crozon Peninsula, and the Pink Granite Coast — public transport does not cover these areas adequately
Island ferry passes (BreizhGo multi-trip cards) save 15–20% versus single returns if visiting multiple islands or making repeat crossings
Rennes metro Line A links the train station to the historic centre in 2 minutes; buy a KorriGo card (€2) for contactless travel on all STAR services
In Brest, the new Tram B line (opened February 2026) now connects the city centre to key districts; buy single tickets at platform machines (€1.70, ~$1.85 USD)
Driving in Finistère: the D786 coastal road and D7 Crozon Peninsula roads are scenic but narrow — take care in summer when they are heavily used
Speed limits: 130 km/h autoroute, 80 km/h rural single-carriageway roads, 50 km/h in towns; drink-driving limit is 0.5 g/l blood alcohol
La Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4) is 100% signposted — a day-hire bike from Saint-Malo station lets solo travellers explore the Emerald Coast without a car
For Île d'Ouessant (Ushant), the Penn Ar Bed ferry departs Brest daily year-round; book online at resa.pennarbed.fr; cars are banned on the island
Parking in Saint-Malo intra-muros is very limited and expensive in summer — leave the car in the Esplanade Saint-Vincent car park and walk or take the shuttle into the walled town