A road trip through Brittany - guide

I have the feelling that France and its potential are underestimated, especially by people – like me – who come from Eastern Europe. It’s a bit too far to drive to, and air connections usually end in Paris. That’s why, in the minds of many, the map of France consists of just a few points: Paris, the French Riviera and Alps. The rest is a blank spot.

I myself wasn’t aware that for several years I’ve been living just a stone’s throw away from one of the most beautiful coastlines I’ve ever seen – the Opal Coast.

I believe it was in 2021, when we travelled through Normandy in a rental van, ending in Étretat, that I realized how much I missed. This year, we decided - this time with our own car - to continue toward Brittany, starting from Le Havre and aiming to end in Brest.
Life had other plans, though, as our aging dog decided things would go differently. To ensure this gentleman’s comfort, we slowed down the pace and shortened the trip a bit.

If you’re looking for useful information and tips about where to go, what to see, and how to do it in Brittany – especially if you're traveling by car or camper – read on below.

Trouville-sur-Mer

We started in the town neighboring Le Havre – Trouville-sur-Mer. Our first overnight stop was at the cliffside campsite Le Chant des Oiseaux. Sea views from our living room included in the price of sleep. Priceless.

From there, it was about 50 meters down a staircase to the beach. Another 15-minute walk took us to the town and its beach. During that walk, I already knew exactly why I had come here. France in a nutshell.

Le Mont Saint Michel

The next day, something nudged us – since we were so close and it was on our way, maybe it was worth checking out Brittany’s iconic landmark – Le Mont Saint Michel.
We drove there, left the car in one of the dozen (!) parking lots, and even though at that point our intuition wasn’t whispering but yelling at us to turn back, we started walking toward the monastery. Guess what. We didn’t even make it all the way. It was way too busy.

Cancale

Our search for quieter places ended in Cancale. That’s where Brittany truly began for us.

Overnight stop: Camping Municipal Pointe du Grouin.

This campsite, located on the Pointe du Grouin headland, is a perfect base for a short walk around the headland (wow) or a longer hike along the cliffside paths to the nearby town (wow!). In the evening, we strolled to the beach — hike was 10/10.

Cap Frehel

The next day after about 1.5 hours of driving we reached Cap Fréhel. This was the best overnight stop of the whole trip – a vast campsite located right on the dunes of the peninsula. There was unlimited space for all kinds of campers and mobile homes.
Since it was windy and sunny, we chose a spot not directly on the waterfront, which turned out to be an excellent decision. We had a plenty of space and enough privacy.

We stayed here for two days. We lazed around, took walks along the vast beaches and cliffs, indulged in fresh baguettes, and drank lots of delicious coffee. A perfect place to practice the art of doing nothing.

Perros-Guirec

Next stop: Perros-Guirec. We came here to see the famous (though we didn’t yet realize how famous) Pink Granite Coast. It’s definitely a beautiful and worthwhile sight – just not at this time of year or not at this time of day (or just not for us). Busy spot. I regret we didn’t go for a hike early in the morning.

The town itself isn’t particularly charming, but the beach (at least until it disappears under the tide) and the seaside promenade definitely are.

It was also here that we decided the crowds and the heat weren’t doing us – and especially our dog – any favors. So we made the decision to head back toward Normandy.

Le Treport

We had been here before, during our first road trip through Normandy, and we knew exactly why we were coming back.
Overnight stop: Camping International du Golf. It’s not a fancy place – and that’s exactly why we like it. The campsite is set in an old park next to the Hôtel du Golf, but it’s definitely for people with strong legs.

Le Tréport doesn’t mess around – it’s steep everywhere and always uphill.

For those not in the mood for an alpine-style climb, there’s a cable car (Funicular) that takes you up to the top of the beautiful granite cliffs.

The cliffs, by the way, are quite an interesting situation. The town is nestled right at their base. It feels like a miniature model town overshadowed by giant monoliths towering above it. Magnificent.

Mers-les-Bains

This time, we stayed in Le Tréport for two days. On the second day, we walked down to Mers-les-Bains, known for its colorful houses lined up along the promenade. Quite a charming sight.
And then there was the moment when the weather suddenly shifted and a thick fog/cloud rolled in, completely hiding the cliffs — that was pretty surreal.

Summary - Bretagne for photographers

My camera (Fujifilm x100V) was with me the entire time. Even though this was meant to be a family trip, I didn’t put it down for a second.
French coast is all about colors, details and nostalgy. My ideal combination for interesting photos. I want to go back anytime.

To wrap up:

• fuel in France is cheaper than, say, in the Netherlands — a plus

• some motorway tolls are expensive — a minus

• add a generous amount to your overall budget for baguettes (like a lot)

• campsites are relatively cheap and well-equipped; some even offer fresh bread delivery service (see previous point)

• if you’re vegan, bring your own food; the French understand vegetarianism, but it seems like veganism hasn’t really entered their language

• if you’ve ever heard unfair stereotypes about the French — that they’re closed-off, unfriendly, or don’t speak English — you’ll change your mind.

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