St Malo
Step off your ferry crossing to St Malo, and you are in the most visited town in Brittany, a favourite among the tourists to France. St Malo has the highest concentration of seafood restaurants in Europe, famous for its oysters from nearby village Cancale. This delicacy is a must whilst staying in St Malo, as you won’t find better anywhere else.
Ferry Port Facilities
Need to eat before you board your ferry? Want some euros, left luggage or a book for the journey? Travelling with a baby?
Sail by ferry to St Malo and step back in time to a city of pirates, explore the bustling citadel and enjoy the fantastic beaches.
St Malo is the most visited town in Brittany, rated No 1 Destination in France by Trip Advisor and a favourite with tourists lured by the highest concentration of seafood restaurants in Europe.
As your ferry from Portsmouth International Port approaches the harbour, the view of the impressive ramparts of the ancient walled city confirms this as the most beautiful Channel port in France.
Taking a car ferry to St Malo gives you the freedom to explore Brittany and head off down France’s glorious west coast.
Where can I drive to?
- The Breton capital Rennes is just 45 minutes away.
- Mont St Michel is 34 miles along the coast with wonderful views on the way. The stunning abbey is a World Heritage Site with waves rolling all around at high tide and expansive flat sands at low water.
- Caen is 90 minutes by car, offering the possibility of sailing into St Malo and back from Caen on your return journey.
- Head 20 miles south for the charming medieval town of Dinan, a prettily preserved delight.
- To the west are the traditional holiday beaches of the Emerald Coast.
Best of St Malo's
- The walled ‘Old Town’ contains a plethora of historic cobbled streets with colourful shops and restaurants. It is the perfect setting for family fun or a romantic getaway.
- St Malo prides itself on being the ‘City of Corsairs’ because it owed its fame to the 18th century privateers and pirates who extracted tribute from passing English ships and plundered the high seas far afield.
- ‘Le Demeure de Corsaire’ is a privateer’s house dating from 1725 with weapons, booty, model ships and pirate gear on display. Shiver me timbers, indeed.
- St Malo abounds with ramparts, fortresses and castles. The pint-sized Fort du Petit Bé, dating from the 1600s, has panoramic seaside views.
- The nearby fishing village of Cancale is renowned as the oyster capital of Brittany and has a Marine Farm sharing the secrets of oyster cultivation, harvesting and despatch to the four corners of the earth.
- Children love Le Grand Aquarium, which unveils the ‘mysteries of the sea’ with 600 different species and a 3D cinema.
Did you know?
- St Malo has reputedly the best butter in world, made by Jean Yves Bordier and sold at his Maison du Beurre shop, a heavenly outlet of all things dairy.
- From 1490–1493 St Malo called itself an independent republic, with the motto ‘not French, not Breton, but Malouins’.
- Adventurer Jacques Cartier, credited with discovering Canada, sailed from St Malo and his house is now open to the public.
- The city is twinned with Cowes on the Isle of Wight, another destination in love with the sea.
Brittany Ferries operate daily sailings to St Malo. See our Operators & sailings page for more information.
For more information on St Malo visit www.st-malo.info
