Cidade Turismo
France

Before you go

Your trip to Rennes.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Rennes – Bretanha Destination Bretanha Capital

How to get there

  • Aéroport Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) Roissy-en-France · 360 km
  • Aéroport de Rennes-Bretagne (RNS) Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande · 7 km
  • Gare de Rennes 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

By train, the TGV links Paris-Montparnasse to Gare de Rennes in about 1h30. Rennes-Bretagne airport is some 7 km from the center and has domestic and European flights. Check before buying. From the station, the metro reaches the center in a few minutes.

How many days

One day is enough for Vieux Rennes, the Parlement, the cathedral and the Thabor. With two days you can add the Champs Libres, the Musée des Beaux-Arts and, if it’s a Saturday, the Marché des Lices. Many people stop in Rennes on the way to Saint-Malo.

When to go

From May to September the days are longer and the weather milder. Winter, from December to February, is wet, with short days and little snow. Rain can fall any month. If possible, include a Saturday for the Marché des Lices.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The center is walkable, and Rennes has two metro lines and buses. Trains connect the city to Paris and Saint-Malo. A car only helps to explore inland Bretanha.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Rennes
  1. Morning
    Vieux Rennes and cathedral

    Start at the Place Sainte-Anne and follow Rue du Champ-Jacquet and Rue du Chapitre, among timber-framed houses. Visit the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre and pass by the Portes Mordelaises. If it’s Saturday, include the Marché des Lices.

  2. Afternoon
    Parlement and Thabor

    After lunch in a crêperie, take the guided tour of the Parlement de Bretagne, booked in advance. Then walk to the Parc du Thabor and the botanical garden.

  3. Late afternoon
    Vilaine riverside

    Walk down to the Vilaine river and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which usually stays open until late afternoon; check. Pass by the Place de la République.

  4. Evening
    Galettes on the Place Sainte-Anne

    Have galette and crêpe with cider in one of the old establishments around the Place Sainte-Anne, the liveliest spot at night.

2 days in Rennes

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Vieux Rennes

    Walk through the old town starting from Place Sainte-Anne, along Rue du Chapitre and Rue Saint-Georges, to the cathedral and the Portes Mordelaises.

  2. Afternoon
    Parlement de Bretagne

    Take the guided visit of the Parlement, including the Grand'Chambre, and then relax in the Parc du Thabor.

  3. Late afternoon
    Thabor and Saint-Melaine

    See the rose garden and the greenhouses of Thabor and the old abbey of Saint-Melaine next door.

  4. Evening
    Place Sainte-Anne

    Dinner of galettes and cider in the historic centre.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Marché des Lices or museum

    On Saturday, go early to the Marché des Lices. On another day, visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts and O Recém-Nascido by Georges de La Tour.

  2. Afternoon
    Les Champs Libres

    Visit the Musée de Bretagne and the Espace des sciences at Les Champs Libres, near the station.

  3. Late afternoon
    Banks of the Vilaine

    Walk along the quays of the Vilaine to the Place de la République and the Opéra.

  4. Evening
    Dinner in the center

    Finish with a seafood dinner or at a crêperie in the old centre.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Paris to Rennes?

By TGV, from Paris-Montparnasse station, in about 1h30. Gare de Rennes is close to the centre, with metro.

Is Rennes worth visiting or is it just a stopover for Saint-Malo?

It's worth at least a day: the old town of half-timbered houses, the Parlement de Bretagne and the Marché des Lices show urban Brittany.

What do the signs in another language mean?

They are in Breton, the Celtic language of Brittany, which appears alongside French. Rennes, in Breton, is Roazhon.

What time do people eat in Rennes?

Lunch runs roughly from 12:00 to 14:00 and dinner starts around 19:30. Many restaurants close the kitchen between meals; crêperies tend to be more flexible.

What's the difference between galette and crêpe?

The galette is made from buckwheat and is savoury; the crêpe is made from wheat and is generally sweet. Both go well with cider.

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