Getting around — Brittany

Brittany is well-served from Paris by TGV. Paris-Rennes in 1h25 from Montparnasse (France's 5th TGV city for traffic), Paris-Saint-Malo in 3h (with change at Rennes), Paris-Brest in 3h30, Paris-Quimper in 4h (with change at Rennes), Paris-Vannes in 2h30.

A car is highly recommended to explore the coast beyond major cities: Pink Granite Coast, Crozon peninsula, Pointe du Raz, Glénan archipelago (boat access from car), Quiberon Côte Sauvage, Gulf of Morbihan, Cap Fréhel. Rental from €30-50/day for a small car. The Breton road network is mostly free (few toll motorways). Allow 1h30 for Saint-Malo → Pink Granite Coast, 2h for Rennes → Pointe du Raz, 1h for Vannes → Carnac.

Airports: Brest-Bretagne (BES, domestic and European low-cost flights), Rennes (RNS), Nantes-Atlantique (NTE, on historic Brittany border), Quimper-Cornouaille (UIP), Lorient-Lann-Bihoué (LRT, seasonal flights). No domestic flights from southern France for most — favour the train.

Ferries serve the Breton islands: Belle-Île-en-Mer from Quiberon (45 min, €30-40 return), île de Bréhat from Pointe de l'Arcouest (10 min, €12 return), île d'Ouessant from Brest or Le Conquet (2h or 1h, €35-45 return), Glénan archipelago from Bénodet or Concarneau (1h30, €30-40 return), île de Batz from Roscoff (15 min, €9 return), île de Groix from Lorient (45 min, €20 return). Reservation advised in summer.

Cycling is very popular: the Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4) follows the north coast, the Tour de Manche (EuroVelo 4 + 17) loops Brittany via the Channel. The coastal path GR34 (the Customs Officers' path, 2,000 km around all of Brittany) is one of France's great hiking trails — accessible in sections from any coastal city.

In cities, walking suffices. Rennes has an automatic metro (1 line); Brest, Saint-Malo and Vannes have bus networks.