Imagine a coastline full of idyllic lighthouses, vast untamed beaches and the cutest little villages. Can you picture that? Well, it is what you will find along the way if you road trip through Normandy and Brittany in France.
In this guide you will find all the worth-to-visit spots summed up into an easy to follow 6-day itinerary, including tips where to park, eat in the cutest places, find public restrooms and what it will cost you.
Best time to visit Normandy & Brittany
Since this is the (West)Northern part of France, I wouldn’t recommend it as a year-round destination. The best time to visit is from the end of May to September, with July and August being quite busy, and June and September quite calm. Even though summer can be crowded, most of the places mentioned in this blog post will still be quite calm since they’re not all that touristy (with a few obvious exceptions where you can also avoid the crowds with the right tips that you'll find below).
Temperatures are mild all year round, so you won’t experience a harsh winter or an intolerable heat in summer.
If you decide to travel to Normandy or Brittany outside of the summer months though, be ware that most campsites and hotels could be closed.
General info about Normandy & Brittany
Restaurants in Normandy & Brittany
Most restaurants only open from 12-2PM and 7-10PM, so make sure you always have snacks in the car so you’re not starving in between these hours.
Tides
Some of these places are better to visit during high or low tide, so check the tides upfront using this free website: https://www.tideschart.com/France/Brittany/
Roads en local laws
In Normandy you need to take into account that there could be toll roads, in Brittany there are none. However, laws in Brittany are a little more meticulous since they require you to have high visibility safety vests and breathalysers (device that can measure the amount of alcohol) in the car.
The locals
The local people that we met in Normandy and Brittany were all quite friendly and ready to help if we needed any. We were pleasantly surprised by their warm welcome.
Campsites
Make sure to check upfront if a campsite is open or not. Outside of the summer months, most campsites close. Also, the campsites are classified by stars, depending on the cost of the accommodation.
What vehicle to choose?
Depending on your needs, you can either road trip with a (camper) van or rent a car and stay in hotels. In case you decide on the first, it’s important to know that a lot of parking lots have a height limit to prevent you from wild camping and support campsites instead, even though wild camping is legally allowed. This also means that you might have a difficult time finding a parking spot to visit certain places if your van is higher than 2.10m (6.8 ft). It is doable, but just take this into account.
There’s also a good train connection in Brittany, however most of the mentioned stops in this post will not be reachable by public transport, so I wouldn’t recommend traveling that way.
6-day road trip itinerary
Day 1: Cliffs and white arches
Depending on where you come from, you might want to stay the night somewhere close to Étretat to be able to start your visit early.
Stop 1: Étretat
Mother Nature never ceases to amaze, and Étretat is no exception to that fact. The big rock walls and impressive white arches setting foot into the water are a view you will not likely forget. The limestone cliffs and arches created by erosion over the years, are said to be among the most impressive on the French coast and are thus the perfect setting for long walks, sunrise photography, romantic picnics and/or sunset apero.
Tip: Walk up left from the village and then hike for about a km (3280 ft) towards Pointe de la Courtine for a spectacular view of the Falaise La Manneporte, to find the hidden cave and to avoid the crowd that will probably not hike that far.
Sunrise/sunset (Sept 2022): The sun came out inland from behind the village when standing on one of the arches. In the evening, it disappeared perfectly into the sea.
Besides the spectacular coastline, Étretat has many more things to offer, making it the perfect day trip in your itinerary.
The town itself for example, is a cosy French fishermen’s town with many cosy restaurants and a white pebble beach looking out over the English Channel. Have brunch or dinner, take a stroll and if you’re lucky, you may spot England in the far distance on a clear summer day.
For lovers of contemporary art, impressionism or simply beautifully designed gardens, don’t hesitate to pay a visit to Étretat Gardens. These Asian-inspired gardens will not only give you an impressive overlook of the cliffs, they’re also home to amazing stone sculptures and modern artwork.
Perfect day itinerary: Spend sunrise exploring the rough coastline and arches to the left of the village, go for brunch afterwards in the cosy town, climb the right side cliffs for a different view, visit Étretat Gardens, then have an ice cream while relaxing on the pebble beach watching the birds hop from one fisher boat to another and end the day with a romantic picnic and breathtaking view of Porte d’Aval (use these coordinates to find your picnic spot with view).
You can park in the village, but be sure to come early because there are only so many places. Parking is €2/hour with a maximum of 5 hours and there are free public toilets available. (Best to bring your own toilet paper though.) If you’re looking for a cheaper parking and don’t mind walking an extra km (3280 ft), then you can park here. Here, you can park all day and the day fee is around €5-10. There are also public restrooms.
Day 2: Oysters, castles and more arches
Prepare to cover a lot of distance today because you’ll be driving to the other side of Brittany. But let me tell you, it will be worth it!
Stop 1: Saint Cado
After a long drive, your first stop is one where you can relax and enjoy some fresh oysters. Saint Cado is one of the many cosy towns in Brittany and a must-visit if you want to try oysters cause you’ll be right at the source. Have a stroll through the quiet town or lunch in one of the few cosy bars.
Lunch tip: Les Algues Marines has a beautiful terrace looking out over the town and the harbour where fishermen return to with their freshly caught oysters.
There’s a small parking lot at walking distance from the town and public toilets can be found in town.
Stop 2: Château Turpault
The next location, is a nice little stop for photographers. Château Turpault is a beautiful castle located between the rocks next to the coastline and thus a gorgeous sight.
Photography tip: Visit during high tide or find a puddle to shoot a reflection photo through.
Parking space can be found near the road at walking distance. There are no public restrooms.
Stop 3: Arche de Port Blanc Roche Percée
Looking for a stunning sunset spot in nature? Arche de Port Blanc Roche Percée is your place. Take some snacks, drinks and a blanket and come early enough to not miss anything from the sun setting into the sea and the surfers catching the waves that reflect the last sun beams.
Please pack in what you pack out. (leave no trace) 🙏🏼
Photography tip: If the tide is not too high, then walk the beach further to the left (between the sea and rocks) until you reach the arch. Take a shot of the sun peeping through the arch and spice up your photo with someone standing in the middle of it, on one of the rocks where the small waves hit.
Picnic tip: You could buy some oysters at Saint Cado (the morning stop) and take them with you. Make sure they’re open or you know how to open them.
You can find a free parking spot at 100 meter (without public toilets).
Day 3: Brittany is lighthouse heaven
Except for the rough untamed coastlines, pristine beaches and cosy little towns, Brittany is also known for its beautiful lighthouses.
Stop 1: Pointe du Raz & Lighthouse La Vieille
A walk of 1.6km (1 mile) to Pointe du Raz will bring you to a fantastic view of La Vieille lighthouse where you definitely want to watch the sunrise. This rocky coastline makes for a spectacular view and setting for photography, whether it’s nature or family-portret related.
If you are here at sunset instead of sunrise, don’t forget to bring a little picnic to enjoy the spectacle of the sun disappearing into the sea. And please, pack in what you pack out. (Leave no trace)
(Photography) tip: Take your zoom lens or binoculars to enjoy the lighthouse. (The above photo was taken with a 100-400mm.)
Breakfast tip: After your visit and before driving away with your car, walk a little further down the street and stop by Monsieur Papier for a coffee and cake. This cosy coffee bar accompanied by a terrace with incredible view has great homemade cakes and coffee and they have this cute little store with the most beautiful post cards, note books and accessories.
There’s a large paid parking lot and the price will depend on what vehicle you’re driving. For a camper van it was €8.
Stop 2: Pointe de Pen-Hir
Your next stop for today is one where you should take the time to explore. Pointe de Pen-Hir is one of the most rocky but at the same time most impressive coastlines of Brittany and it’s the place to be for hiking. It doesn’t matter which way you’re going, the views will leave you speechless either way. For your information though, the viewpoint on the left has direct views of the three isles in the water (as displayed in the photo below) and the viewpoint on the right offers an incredible view of a bay with the three isles visible through holes in the rocky peaks.
Tip: After your visit, go left from the parking lot and walk towards the beach where you can find one of the best creperies we’ve encountered on our road trip, Chez Germaine Bistrot du Veryac’h. The salty crêpe with goat cheese, honey and sun-dried tomatoes was the best I’ve ever had. Oh and on top of their amazing salty crepes, they probably have the best sea view too. (You can also drive and park there.)
There is a free parking at a distance of 100m (328 ft) in each direction of the different viewpoints. However, be ware that it is not allowed to park there during the night between 2.30-7.30AM and that there are no public toilets.
Stop 3: Lighthouse Le Petit Minou
After spending the afternoon hiking and enjoying the sea view with a salty pancake, it’s time for one of my favourite lighthouses and not just because it’s another great place for a sunset picknick. During the day, Le Petit Minou lighthouse can look a bit industrial, certainly with the old second lighthouse right next to the newer one, but in the evening sun glow, the idyllic feeling comes out and it feels so dreamy.
Tip: Climb on top of the bunker to have the best view and be a little more secluded from the masses. Be careful though and don’t go sit near the edges! 🙏🏼
You can find parking alongside the road leading up to the lighthouse. Come early enough if you want to find a place for sunset though. And since it’s a roadside parking lot, don’t expect any public toilets.
Day 4: The lighthouse heaven continues
Today too, you’ll visit a lot of lighthouses and yet there’s not two that can be compared.
Stop 1: Lighthouse Kermorvan
Kermorvan Lighthouse is a dream for photographers in my opinion because this lighthouse has it all to make for the perfect subject. It's surrounded by water with a small path leading straight up to the tower and the lighthouse itself is rectangular shaped yet with a circular look in photos, which creates a surreal view. You can also visit the lighthouse and climb to the top, but only on specific days and hours (check this website for more details).
Photography tip: Go at sunrise for a beautiful golden back drop and take your tripod for some long exposure shots! Sunset could be beautiful too as it would set in the sea (september timing).
Breakfast tip: The nearby town Le Conquet, is a very cosy town to walk around and the Bakery Frédéric Bian is so good!
The parking lot is at 1.5km (1 mile) without any public toilets but the walk up there is nice. If you need a public toilet, you can find one earlier on the road towards the parking lot, at the height of the camping place to your left (Camping Les Blanc Sablons).
Stop 2: Lighthouse Saint-Mathieu
The next stop along the way today is the Saint-Mathieu lighthouse. This can be a very quick stop during your trip. It’s a nice lighthouse, standing out from most others, and it is located right next to the ruins of an abby. However, in my opinion, it’s not worth to stop here for long.
There’s a free parking space right beside the lighthouse with public toilets.
Stop 3: Ploumanac'h and its lighthouse
Take your time for this last stop of the day. It’s not only a super cosy town, there’s also a lot to see. And just a little heads up, you might be wondering if you’re still in France and not just landed in the Seychelles.
Spend your afternoon taking a stroll through the town of Ploumanac'h, having one of the best ice creams ever (at KEO where I’d recommend the spiced bisquit or ‘speculoos’), and climb the huge rocks left from the beach to have a closer look at the castle, which is surrounded by rocks in the middle of the sea.
Then, walk further to the right of the beach and follow the path to visit the idyllic Ploumanac’h lighthouse and end your day with a sunset drink at the beach (bring your own or have one in one of the two panoramic bars).
Parking and public toilets can be found in town, close to the beach (some paid, some free).
Day 5: A day of discoveries
During today’s schedule, you can choose to either visit all of the below places, or choose your stops according to your preferences. If you would like to go swimming in a natural pool, you might want to skip Cap Fréhel & Fort La Latte or if you would like to go hiking, you can do it the other way around.
Stop 1: Maison du Gouffre
This place got famous because of the Gouffre house that was built in between rocks and gets surrounded by water when the tide is high enough. However, the location is beautiful for hiking as well. Another rocky coastline, yet totally different from the ones I’ve talked about before with rocks on land and located further into the wild sea.
There’s lots of free parking at 100m (328 ft) from where the views and walks start. There are no toilets however.
Stop 2: Lighthouse du l’Ost Pic
If you don’t have enough of lighthouses by now, then make a quick stop at Phare du l’Ost Pic. Beware that this one is located quite far into the sea, so you might need a tele zoom or binoculars to appreciate it properly.
Parking is free and you can see the lighthouse from the parking lot.
Stop 3: Piscine d’eau mer
Another thing you have to appreciate about Brittany, is all the natural pools. These are pool structures built by people at the coastline, which are filled with sea water during high tide and thus perfectly swimmable at lower tides because the sea water doesn’t leave the structure.
Piscine d’eau de mer has beautiful surroundings, gets good reviews and is also a delight for the eye even if you don’t want to swim.
Photography tip: These places make for great photos as well if they’re still empty, so come early or on a cold or stormy day when no one is swimming.
There are different parking spots near this place, some of them paid while others are not so keep an eye out for that. Public toilets are present near most of the natural pools.
Stop 4: Cap Fréhel & Fort La Latte
If you have the time and are up for it, this is one of the best spots to hike in Brittany. You can hike for 1h15 alongside the beautiful untamed and rocky coastline between Cap Fréhel and Fort La Latte and enjoy its many colourful nature phenomena and the view of the castle and lighthouse. In case you want to visit the fort as well, it’s €7.20 per person.
If you don't mind the hike, it’s better to park at Fort La Latte, because the parking lot at Cap Fréhel is paid. (€3 for a normal car, €5 for a camper van)
Stop 5: Saint Malo
Your last stop for today is Saint Malo. There are so many cosy villages in Brittany, but this one is different from all of them. It was not at all what I was expecting in terms of vibes and style. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful town, with a large and nice coastal wall to walk on, cosy restaurants and creperies, a little beach and a lighthouse reachable by an extended part of the wall where the waves like to crash into. But for me personally, it missed some charm and was a little ‘dark’ compared to the others we had visited. Still worth your visit though!
Parking in and near the town is quite expensive so if you don’t mind the walk, you can park freely near Rocabey. The middle of the parking lot had height barriers where normal cars fit under, but the sides are a good fit for camper vans as well. From there, it’s a 20-25 min walk to town.
Day 6: The highlight of the trip
It’s already the last day of exploring but what a day it will be! It’s one of the most touristy places you will visit during this trip, and even though I like to avoid the masses as much as possible, this place can’t be missing from your itinerary.
Stop 1: Mont-Saint-Michel
Imagine a cosy little town, with a beautiful abbey on top, surrounded by water and a magical fairytale-like vibe. That’s Mont-Saint-Michel, and it’s even way more stunning from up far.
If the tide is really high, mostly 36-48 hours after a full moon, the village is completely surrounded by water and thus turns into an island. At other times, the town is only surrounded by sand banks, fields and rivers, which still attribute to the charm of the place.
If you’re interested in visiting the Abbey, the entrance fee is €11 per person and it is well worth your time because it’s not only beautifully maintained, the surrounding views from the top are amazing.
Tip: Go as early as you can. Before 9.30AM you can still avoid most tourists and have a calm morning stroll inside the town. After that, the fields surrounding the town are beautiful for an afternoon walk in between the sheep and with diverse perspectives of Mont-Saint-Michel.
There are a lot of official parking lots, but come early to make sure you’ve got a spot. Prices vary depending on how long you stay, but the most expensive is a 24h-ticket which will cost you €18.70. Camper vans need to park at P8 or the one right behind that. From there, it’s a 3km (2 miles) walk to town or a €3.10 shuttle bus (per person per ride).
If you plan on walking to town and may be in the fields in the afternoon, don’t forget to wear good walking shoes!
Food and drinks are expensive in town, so you might want to take breakfast with you and have lunch somewhere else.
Stop 2: Cabines de Plage de Gouville-sur-Mer
If you still got some time left after visiting the Mont-Saint-Michel and you want to add some color to your day, then don’t hesitate to end your day at Cabines de Plage de Gouville-sur-Mer. Here, you can find little beach houses with colourful rooftops in the dunes, a great setting for an evening beach walk or sunset picnic where the sun disappears into the sea.
Please bear in mind the Leave No Trace principles and take back home what you brought with you.
There is a big free parking lot right next to the beach and a cosy beach bar for a coffee or apero. No public toilets here though.
Leave no trace policy
You are adventuring through a beautiful piece of our Mother Nature, so I would love to remind you to the leave no trace policy when you visit Normandy & Brittany. 🙏
Be respectful and stay on the trails.
Do not approach or feed wildlife. Stay quiet en give them space.
Pack it in, pack it out. Or in other words, bring back whatever waste you brought with you or created during your trip.
Leave what you find. Picking up rocks, stones, sand, plants can be fun, but it can be harmful for the environment.
Be considered of other visitors. Even when you’re at a touristic spot, keep the noise down and always be kind and courteous.
Enjoy your trip!
And don’t hesitate to share your experience with me in the comments.
Or if you have questions, I’ll be happy to answer them!
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