Brittany needs no introduction. It’s a real jewel in the French west, and an ideal destination for a successful vacation! Discover today some ideas for a family vacation in Brittany!
Popular with tourists and the curious alike, Brittany is renowned for its beauty. Although often derided for its capricious weather, it remains one of the most popular vacation destinations. And for good reason! It boasts a vast and varied territory, alternating between cliffs, beaches, cultivated fields and picturesque towns. Its history is as rich as its flora and fauna are magnificent, not to mention the incredible Breton culture.
Intensely rooted in the minds and lives of its inhabitants, this culture is shared and enriched over time. Now it’s your turn to discover this region! That’s why we’ve put together a few ideas for vacations in Brittany with family and friends!
In Morbihan
1. The beaches
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Gueshni
With 800 kilometers of coastline, the Morbihan department boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Brittany. They’re the stuff of dreams, with their blond sand, scattered chaotic rocks and views of the horizon…
The beaches of Morbihan are some of the most beautiful in Brittany, because there are so many of them, each with its own charm. In the Golfe du Morbihan, for example, you’ll find Île aux Moines and Île d’Arz, which look like paradise.
And that includes the beaches of the Quiberon peninsula, the Ponant islands or simply close to towns like Larmor-Plage or Guidel. Wherever you choose to go, Morbihan beaches are never far away.
2. Menhirs and dolmens
Photo credit: Shutterstock – diegomori80
Today, thousands of standing stones shape the Morbihan landscape. And with good reason: human activity on these lands dates back tens of thousands of years. These well-known megalithic sites are remnants of the past.
These include the much-visited Alignements de Carnac, Monteneuf and Camors, among others. You’ll find sites both near the coast and in the heart of Brittany. Whether menhirs, dolmens, cairns or tumuli, the mystery of some sites remains unresolved… Can you decipher it?
3. The wild coast of Quiberon
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Anna Kochetkova
For a breath of fresh, iodized air, the wild Quiberon coast is the ideal place for a successful vacation. Formed by the Quiberon peninsula, this is a bracing coast where the forces of nature are unleashed. Connected to the mainland by the Penthièvre isthmus, this wild coastline offers beaches, cliffs, coves and even some beautiful green stretches.
Nature has every right here, even if humans have made their mark in spite of it all. On foot or by bike, there are a number of signposted itineraries for visiting this little jewel in the Morbihan region.
Where to stay?
Photo credit: Belambra
To make the most of your family vacation in Brittany, there’s nothing like the right accommodation. And for that, don’t miss the Belambra Club Les Portes de l’Océan. Located in Guidel-Plage, this complex faces the sea and the Île de Groix, in pleasant surroundings. You’ll feel right at home in one of the club’s 300 accommodation units. The architecture is based on the Breton style, so you can soak up the local atmosphere.
Have fun with the many fun and sporting activities on offer every day, to the delight of young and old alike. You’ll also enjoy full board, with balanced buffets and family-friendly menus! There’s also a « rental » package that lets you enjoy a kitchenette in your accommodation. You’ll feel right at home in your Belambra vacation village in Brittany!
In Côtes d’Armor
4. Pink Granite Coast
Photo credit: Shutterstock – MagSpace
The Côte de Granit Rose is emblematic of the Côtes d’Armor department. The colored rock contrasts beautifully with the blue ocean, clear beaches and green expanses of the coastline. It’s very interesting to walk along the rocks, in their organized chaos, where sea spray comes to mix.
Between Trébeurden and Perros-Guirrec, this Breton coastline is unique, thanks to this geological formation. Colors and shadows will amuse you, depending on the light of day or dusk. And don’t miss the symbol of the Pink Granite Coast: the Ploumanac’h lighthouse, watching over the village harbor.
5. The 7 islands archipelago
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Remi Deleplanque
Located to the north of Ploumanac’h, the 7-island archipelago forms the Sept-Îles National Nature Reserve. These are small islands, two of which are larger and offer pleasant walks: Île aux Moines and Île Bono. They are inhabited by a very special population… birds!
Indeed, these islands are home to many species of birds, including puffins and gannets. This archipelago is a great opportunity to enjoy nature, while trying to disturb it as little as possible. From Perros-Guirrec, shuttles or sailboats take you to the islands every day.
6. Lake Guerlédan
Photo credit: Shutterstock – carlos martin diaz
On the border between Morbihan and Côtes d’Armor, Lac de Guerlédan undulates through the fields and small villages of Brittany. Numerous trails lead around the lake, or along part of its shores. Discover the local flora and fauna.
But Lac de Guerlédan is also home to the Bon-Repos abbey, the Anse de Sordan or Guerlédan cove, and a dam. This dam marks the boundary between the lake and the resumption of the Canal de Nantes à Brest. A real natural nugget, you can discover it with the whole family, as you please.
Where to stay?
Photo credit: Belambra
How would you like to stay in Trégastel, on the Côte de Granit Rose? Just a few meters from the beaches and pink rocks, you’ll find the Belambra Club « Le Castel Sainte-Anne », a magnificent, typically Breton monument with its 50 « penty ». If you’re looking to immerse yourself, you’ve come to the right place! Ideal for a family vacation in Brittany!
You’ll never be bored, thanks to the proximity of the sea, the Trégastel yacht club and the other activities available nearby: thalassotherapy, golf, hiking… As for catering, no full board, but half board (morning and evening) or the rental option, which includes a kitchenette in your accommodation.
In Finistère
7. The islands of Finistère
Photo credit: Shutterstock – chromoprisme
One of Finistère’s special features, beyond its 1,200 km of coastline, is of course its islands. Ouessant, Sein, Molène and Glénan are four major points of interest. The first three are inhabited, and can be visited, why not, for a day or two, on foot or by bike.
Particularly on the island of Ouessant, where this practice is very popular, and on the Île de Sein, where no cars are allowed except for emergency vehicles. The Glénan archipelago, meanwhile, is inhabited only by the masters of the land: cormorants, mainly. It’s a paradise, with waters and stretches of sand to make the Seychelles jealous. You can reach it by private or hired boat, or on supervised excursions.
8. Crozon peninsula
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Andre Quinou
A small piece of land in the shape of an elongated cross, the Presqu’île de Crozon is one of a kind. Here you can discover nature in its purest form. In fact, beaches, caves, forests and cliffs await you. A true concentrate of nature in central western Finistère.
The towns of Crozon, Morgat or Camaret-sur-Mer are also wonderful places to visit, like an urbanized stopover between two windy points. A change of scenery guaranteed!
9. Huelgoat Forest
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Rolf E. Staerk
Right in the heart of the Armorique Regional Nature Park, the Forêt d’Huelgoat offers you the opportunity to visit Finistère at its greenest. It’s a dense succession of chestnut, oak and beech trees, as well as immense granite rocks. On this subject, there’s a specific rock – the Roche Tremblante – that you can move… if you find the right place to do so. A single point can unbalance it!
Otherwise, this forest hides a few secrets. These include the Grotte d’Artus or Grotte du Diable, where you can also climb down a ladder.
Where to stay?
Photo credit: Belambra
Right on Morgat beach, you won’t want to miss the Belambra Club « Le Grand Hôtel de la Mer », a huge, magnificent building with Belle-Époque-inspired architecture. This century-old hotel has been refurbished to guarantee the best family vacations in Brittany. The hotel has it all: half-board and full-board formulas with a varied, seasonal and local buffet, and even two restaurants, one of which is gourmet!
Lounge, dance and discovery evenings are available, as well as optional sports activities (windsurfing, diving, kitesurfing…).