St-Malo
Saint-Malo is a walled port on Brittany's Channel coast. Walk the ramparts, trace its privateer past and use the town as a base for ferries to England and the Channel Islands.
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Saint-Malo is a historic port on the English Channel coast of Brittany, in Ille-et-Vilaine. Its walled old town, La Ville Intra-Muros, was built on a granite island and is now joined to the mainland by the causeway La Digue du Sillon. Walk the ramparts for views over the water, then go inside for the cathedral and the Château de Saint-Malo, which houses the town museum.
Privateers made the town rich. They forced English ships to pay tribute and brought wealth back from distant voyages. American shelling and bombing almost destroyed the walled city in 1944, and it was rebuilt between 1948 and 1960. Tides here are large, so check tide times before you walk out to Île du Grand Bé, where the tomb of writer Chateaubriand stands. In summer, visitor numbers can push the total close to 300,000, against 47,439 residents in 2023.
St-Malo in five
- Walk the ramparts at the right tideThe wall walk circles the old town. At low tide the beaches open up and some islets can be reached on foot; check the tide table first.
- Know the walls are a rebuildThe old center, Intra-Muros, was largely rebuilt after the Second World War. It is a good base but gets crowded in July and August.
- Pair it with Mont-Saint-MichelThe abbey is about an hour by car, so a day trip works. Without a car, look at tours or buses and check the schedule.Mont St-Michel
- Take the train from Rennes or ParisTGVs from Paris and TERs from Rennes reach the station, a short walk from the walls. Book ahead for summer weekends.Rennes
Things to do in St-Malo
See all attractions in St-Malo
Need to know
- Airport
- Dinard–Pleurtuit–Saint-Malo (DNR) or Rennes (RNS)
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris about 3 hours; TER from Rennes about 1 hour
- Getting around
- On foot in the walled town; bus or car beyond
- Best base
- Inside the walls or just by the station
- Time needed
- 1–2 days; 3 with Mont St-Michel
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Cold, windyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, windy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Cold, windyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, windy
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Mild, brightMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, bright
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Spring tidesAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring tides
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°MildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Mild, clearSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Fall stormsOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall storms
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Wet, darkNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, dark
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Cold, windyDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, windy
Average daily high and low in St-Malo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in St-Malo
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 32 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 58%
St-Malo
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°11°58%Monday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 58%.
- Tue13°10°15%Tuesday: Rain. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Wed10°7°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Thu9°6°14%Thursday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Fri11°6°15%Friday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sat12°7°10%Saturday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun12°5°10%Sunday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 07:05 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- AugFestival Interceltique de LorientBrittany, a day trip
- DecRencontres Trans MusicalesRennes, a day trip
Before you go to St-Malo
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Rules for St-Malo, checked
- France is in the Schengen Area. Check your passport validity and the entry rules on the France-Diplomatie site before you travel.
- Keep your passport and ferry booking reference to hand for crossings to Portsmouth, Poole and Jersey.
- Check tide times before you walk out to the Grand Bé island, since the route depends on the tide.
Plan around St-Malo
The Breton capital, an hour by train
Read the guideMont St-Michel guideThe tidal abbey, about an hour by car
Read the guideCaen travel guideA Norman city on the way east
Read the guideBrittany and NormandyHow to link the northwest coast
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropePer-night taxes and how they show up
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, trains, entry rules and money for a France trip
Read the guideSt-Malo FAQ
Is St-Malo worth visiting?
Yes for the ramparts, seafood and tidal views. It works as a coastal base for Mont-Saint-Michel and Dinan, but it is crowded in summer.
How many days do you need in St-Malo?
One day covers the walls, a beach and a seafood lunch. Two days lets you add Cancale or Dinan. Three if Mont-Saint-Michel is included.
Is St-Malo or Dinard better to stay?
St-Malo for the walls and ferries, Dinard for villas and quieter beaches across the estuary. A short boat links them in season.
How far is St-Malo from Mont-Saint-Michel?
About 1 hour by car. A guided tour or bus may exist, so check the current schedule before you plan a day without a car.
Can you visit St-Malo as a day trip from Paris?
It is a long day with about 3 hours each way by TGV. Stay at least one night if you can.