You plan to spend 10 days in France to discover the french coasts from Normandy to the Britain. If you want to organize this beautiful trip yourself, you may need ideas of places to visit, places to see, villages to sleep in…. here is my road route which allows to make a beautiful circuit going from Normandy to Britain via Rouen, Honfleur, Etretat, Deauville, the landing beaches, Bayeux, Mont Saint Michel, Saint Malo, the pink granite coast, the Pointe you Raz, Pont Aven...
Côtes de Normandie and Brittany tour by car
THEroad route that I propose below is a simple model that I share with travelers so that they can be inspired by it to develop their own Travel in France. Estimates of journey times are only indicative because they may vary depending on the period (summer or winter), traffic, strikes, detours, etc.
If you only want to visit Normandy, here is my 1 week tourist tour in Normandy.
Normandy and Brittany in 10 days - My car tour
Here is the map plotting the route to follow the coast of the Normandy to the Britain by car in just 10 days. Of course, if you have 12 days, 2 weeks or more, this trip will be even more interesting because you will be able to see more things on the spot taking more time. But for a circuit in Normandy Brittany optimized over 10 days, It's a good compromise !
Normandy Brittany in 10 days - Itinerary map
Normandy Brittany in 10 days - Summary of the itinerary
Paris - Rouen - Honfleur - Cliffs of Étretat - Deauville - Caen - Landing beaches - Bayeux - Le Mont-Saint-Michel - Saint-Malo - Dinan Paimpol - Pink granite coast (Ploumanac'h + Trégastel) - Pointe De Primel - Le Diben - Morlaix - Quimper - Locronan - Douarnenez - La Pointe Du Raz - Concarneau - Pont-Aven - Quiberon - Vannes - Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
Normandy Brittany in 10 days - Car rental
Like this travel is studied for a car tour, you may be wondering: Where to rent the car? Directly at the airport in Paris? Do we have to book it in advance? Which websites are reliable?
So yes, you can hire your car at the airport, but maybe you will save time by booking it online. With the offer Europcar for example, it is very easy and secure to rent a car: they offer good prices and have an excellent customer service team to help you if you need it ...
Normandy Brittany in 10 days - Detailed stages of the circuit
Paris Rouen Cliffs of Etretat - Day 1
- Departure at 7:30 am for the journey Paris- Rouen from 1h30.
- Visit of Rouen.
Rouen is a beautiful medieval city with an imposing Gothic Cathedral where it is good to walk among its many narrow streets with half-timbered houses. But to visit Rouen is also to remember Jeanne D'Arc who was imprisoned there, tried and burned alive on the Place du Vieux-Marché.
A circuit is offered to tell, while walking, the events and places linked to this character in our history with an obligatory passage to theHistorial Joan of Arc located in the archiepiscopal palace.
- 13:30 - Continuation of the journey to the Normandy Coast via Fécamps (1h00) to arrive in Etretat (20 min).
- 15:00 am - Discovery of Cliffs of Etretat with their chalky and vertiginous walls pierced with caves ...
- Nuit à Etretat.
Which hotel to choose in Etretat? Sing Breeze
This is the place to stay absolutely if you want a breathtaking view of the emblem of Etretat: theHollow Needle. Its location is its major asset, but it should also be noted that it has a garden and a beautiful terrace. In addition, you will have free access to private parking!
The beach, the Etretat gardens and the town center are a 10-minute walk away.
Honfleur Deauville - Day 2
- Departure at 8:00 am for Honfleur (1h00)
- Visit of Honfleur
- 11am - Road to Deauville (30 min)
- Visit of Deauville (by small train from the seaside resort of Deauville)
Symbol of the chic and French elegance of the 1900s, Deauville has a few prestigious palaces and many imposing charming houses ... Its large beach is bordered by the famous Planches dating from the 1920s with its typical beach cabins.
- 18am - Road to Caen (1h00)
- Nuit à Caen
Which hotel to choose in Caen? Mercure Caen Center Port De Plaisance
The Mercure Caen Center Port De Plaisance hotel enjoys a pleasant location opposite the port, 5 minutes from the city center and the pedestrian area. Buses and trams are accessible in 3 minutes from the hotel, while you can reach the D-Day landing beaches in 30 minutes.
This is a very nice hotel with high standards for a fair price.
Caen Landing beaches - Day 3
- 9h00 - Visit of Caen
In Caen, you can visit, at your choice, the Caen Memorial (a must-see museum on the Battle of Normandy and the history of the 20th century) or buildings linked to William the Conqueror (Caen Castle, Abbaye aux Dames, Abbey Church of St Etienne, etc.).
- 13:00 p.m. - Road to shore to landing: Juno Beach and Gold Beach (30 min).
- 16:00 p.m. - Drive to Omaha Beach (45 min)
- Visit of the American military cemetery ofOmaha Beach, the largest Allied Necropolis in Normandy.
- 18h30 - Road to Bayeux (30 min)
- Nuit à Bayeux
Which hotel to choose in Bayeux? Hotel Reine Mathilde
Located in the medieval district of Bayeux, the Reine Mathilde hotel is perfect for a stopover hotel in Bayeux. You can enjoy its restaurant which offers a wide choice of traditional dishes (served indoors or on the terrace when the weather is nice). But its greatest asset is its price: 60 Euros per night !
Bayeux Mont Saint Michel - Day 4
- 8h00 - Visit of Bayeux
Spared by the Second World War, Bayeux captivates with its medieval charm. Another feature of Bayeux : it houses the precious tapestry, known throughout the world and listed in the UNESCO “Memory of the World” register.
- 10:30 am - Road to The Mont Saint Michel (1h30)
- Stop at your hotel to leave your luggage and your car
- 13:00 p.m. - Shuttle from the hotel to the Mont Saint Michel (10 min)
- visit the Mont Saint Michel
Listed as a Historic Monument and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mont St. Michel and its Abbey are jewels of the heritage of Medieval Normandy.
- 18 p.m. - Return to the hotel
- Night near Mont Saint Michel
Which hotel to choose near Mont Saint Michel? The Relais Du Roy
This traditional stone-fronted hotel is just 1,9 km from Mont Saint-Michel.
Its parking is free, as is the shuttle to Mont-Saint-Michel (stop 50 meters from the hotel).
Some rooms have a balcony with a view of Mont Saint-Michel.
Its little extra: the gastronomic restaurant on site which serves regional specialties that will delight you!
Saint Malo Dinan - Day 5
- 8:00 am - Road to Saint Malo (40 min)
- Visit of Saint Malo
Fortified city legendary privateers, Saint Malo attracts, among other things, for its atmosphere, its narrow streets, its ramparts, its Saint Vincent Cathedral and the tomb of Châteaubriand.
- 14:00 am - Road to Dinan (30 min)
- Visit of Dinan : its Castle and its old cobbled streets lined with wooden houses
- 18:00 p.m. - Road to Paimpol (1:30)
- Nuit à Paimpol
Which hotel to choose in Paimpol? Hotel K'Loys
In a 10th century building, located opposite the port and the heart of the old town, this hotel is also very well located for getting to the Île de Bréhat (XNUMX minutes by car). This old hotel has a lot of charm even if the decoration is a bit vintage…
At 60 Euros per night, it's a very good plan!
Paimpol Pointe de l'Arcouest Ile de Bréhat Côte Granit rose - Day 6
- 9h00 - Departure for the Pointe de L'Arcouest.
Accessible in 15 minutes from the Pointe de l'Arcouest, theBréhat Island is nicknamed the Island of Flowers. Possibility to take a cruise around theisland of Bréhat.
- 13:00 p.m. - Road along the Pink Granite Coast to Tregastel (1h00)
- 14:00 p.m. - Go from Trégastel to Ploumanach (1h00 on foot) or by taxi (10 min)
Ploumanac'h is a natural site ofexceptional beauty. You will admire its pink granite rocks which proudly overlook the ocean.
If you have a little more time, I advise you to add one or two days to better discover the pink granite coast by the customs path ... See my article: Pink Granite Coast in 2 days
- 16:00 p.m. - Road to the village Plougasnou (1h00)
- 17:00 p.m. - Possibility to go to the Point of Diben
- Return and overnight at Plougasnou
Which hotel to choose in Plougasnou? The Sand Castle
This hotel offers well-equipped apartments located on the seafront (just a small road to cross) and overlooks a beautiful large beach at Plougasnou, next to a magnificent rocky point. With its free parking, its location is perfect for going the next day to see the Primel Point.
Its quality / price ratio is unbeatable: 55 Euros per night
Pointe de Primel Morlaix Locroman Quimper - Day 7
- 9h00 - 10 min journey to discover the Primel Point and its beautiful panorama on the bay of Morlaix
- 10:00 am - Road to Morlaix (30 min) and its imposing Viaduct
- 10h30 - Visit of Morlaix, walk through its steep streets lined with houses from the Middle Ages
- 13:00 am - Road to Locroman (2h00)
- 15h00 - Visit of Locroman
Here is one of the most beautiful villages in Brittany, this ancient city of weavers.
17:30 am - Road to Quimper (20 min)
- Visit of Quimper
Very well known for its earthenware factory, Quimper is the oldest town in Britain. You can explore the old town and the Saint-Corentin Cathedral.
- Nuit à Quimper
Which hotel to choose in Quimper? Best Western Hotel Kregenn
In a superb building in the city center, this hotel is perfect for visiting Quimper. Indeed, it is just 300 meters from Quimper Cathedral and offers private parking on site.
The buffet breakfast with fresh fruit and local products is very welcome.
Pointe du Raz Concarneau Pont Aven - Day 8
- 8h00 - Drive to the Pointe du Raz (1h00) and the Bay of Trépassés
At the extreme cape of Finistère, here is a grandiose site passing through the Bay of Trépassés and Pointe you Raz with its gigantic cliffs and sandstone and granite blocks cut like spurs.
- 10:30 am - Road to Concarneau, the walled town (1h15)
- Visit of Concarneau, the walled town with its granite ramparts built by the famous architect Vauban.
- 14:30 am - Road to Pont Aven (30 min)
- Visit of Pont Aven, the city of artists
City which owes its notoriety to the school of painters and especially Gauguin, Pont Aven is full of charm, poetry and romanticism.
- Nuit à Pont Aven
Which hotel to choose in Pont Aven? The Workshop Rooms
These guest rooms are very well located in Pont-Aven. The establishment is highly rated and has parking. For a stopover, it's perfect, especially with its very low price: 76 Euros per night including breakfasts!
Quiberon Peninsula Vannes - Day 9
- 8am - Road to Quiberon (2h00)
- Discovery of the peninsula of Quiberon.
You can choose a little train ride around the many standing menhirs in the moor forming the most famous megalithic alignment in Europe.
- 16 p.m. - Road to Valves (1h00)
- Nuit à Valves
Which hotel to choose in Vannes? At the old Port
Very nice apartments right in the center of the old town, right next to the port and with public parking nearby. The studios are modern, tastefully decorated and very clean. The value for money is excellent for the location and for the services: 45 Euros per night!
Vannes Paris - Day 10
- Visit of Valves
Capital of Morbihan, Valves is to be visited for its marina, its fortified square, its medieval city, its quays lined with 15th century houses ...
- 14:00 p.m. - Return by car to Paris (5h00)
A bit more time ? So why not a City tour of Rennes or a Nantes city tour
Or one Thalasso stay in Brittany or a relaxing stay in southern Brittany ?
Another circuit to visit France ?
Here are some itineraries that might interest you: Alsace tourism and wine route
Hello, I am looking for a circuit similar to this one but with several conditions: without a car and with a dog, therefore TER and backpack. Is it possible ? Are some places inaccessible on foot from a station? Thank you for your article !
Hi Melanie,
Yes, I think it's possible to do pretty much the same route but by train. To do this, you can check the stations and timetables on the site https://www.sncf.com/fr/itineraire-reservation/itineraire
Hello,
Thank you for this super detailed article !! We enjoyed it so much that we fixed the same itinerary in 10 nights for the month of August! We have been thinking about it for more than a year already but the confinement prevented us from doing it before. We plan 3 hotels during the stay in Deauville (4 nights) / St Malo (3 nights) and Quimper (3 nights).
We are going to be with 2 children (9 and 12 years old), suddenly, I was just wondering, if we should target places even if it means forgetting some (to prevent it from making too much of a stopover for the children), which should be privileged ? I was told for example that it was absolutely necessary to see: Concarneau / Quiberon / Etretat / Mont ST Michel / St Malo / Trestraou / Locronan / Pontaven / Camaret sur mer / Pink granite / Quimper / Vannes, what stages could we possibly leave fall (just in case we don't have enough time)?
Thanks in advance!! Greg
Hello Greg and thank you for this comment. Yes, this 10-day tour is very, very busy because foreigners who come to visit France often do so at this rate.
On the other hand with children and if you want to better enjoy the visits, it is clear that you will have to skip a few steps. Personally, I will transfer the visit of the cities (Rouen, Caen, Vannes) because they take time (time to park, to find the sites to visit…) and they are more tedious for the children. It's certainly a shame but that's what, personally, I would resolve to eliminate if I had to.
In any case, I would not skip the magnificent Côte de Granit rose.
I wish you a great vacation and enjoy it!
Hello,
Thank you very much for this sharing which has inspired us a LOT. We practically did the same itinerary as you (12 days to visit Normandy and Brittany by car)… what happiness !!! because the landscapes and the roads are magnificent !! Thank you for the tips and the must-see sites (we all visited them). Well done ! France is very beautiful !! We look forward to returning.
Oh thank you for this positive feedback! Yes France is a beautiful country and I am very happy that tourists appreciate it. However, the French should be a little more welcoming to foreigners and that is not easy ...
Wonderful, BRAVO!
Hello,
What a great discovery! I have just read your blog on the "Travel Forum" site. Your detailed report will greatly help me prepare for my trip in the fall of 2019 (12 to 14 days days along the coast, from Dunkirk to Toulouse from August 30 to September 14)). We also plan, during the same trip, to add 1 week and take the plane to visit Lisbon and Porto. thank you so much
Oh so happy if you find your happiness there ... and especially to see that, despite the events, my beautiful France still attracts a few tourists.