Dinard

BELLE ÉPOQUE BRIT MAGNET

Dinard sits on Brittany's Côte d'Émeraude — the Emerald Coast — and it's one of France's most unapologetically posh seaside towns. The story goes like this: in the late 19th century, wealthy British and American aristocrats discovered a small fishing port across the Rance estuary from Saint-Malo and proceeded to plaster it with Tudor, Neo-Gothic, Art Deco, and Louis XIII villas. More than 400 of those villas survive today, giving Dinard an "Edwardian resort that never quite left" energy.

Locals call it the "Monaco de Bretagne," though it's far more relaxed than Monaco and far less pretentious than it sounds. The town earned a "City of Art and History" designation, and it wears that label comfortably — the beach has iconic blue-and-white striped changing tents, the Promenade du Clair de Lune links the main beaches with flower beds and Mediterranean palms warmed by the Gulf Stream, and the festival calendar runs year-round. In October, the town basically becomes a British film set when the Dinard British & Irish Film Festival rolls in. The Hitchcock statue on the seafront tells you everything you need to know about Dinard's sense of humor about itself.

Say 'bonjour' every single time you enter a shop, café, or restaurant — skipping this is considered rude, not just impolite. 'Bonsoir' after about 6 p.m..

Lunch is serious business. Many local restaurants close between roughly 2 p.m.

and 7 p.m. Plan your meals around the French rhythm, not a tourist timetable..

Tipping is not mandatory in France — a service charge is included in the bill by law. Leaving a euro or two for good service is appreciated but never expected.. Order a galette (buckwheat crepe, savory) with local hard cider — cidre breton — for lunch.

It's the quintessential Breton meal and locals take it seriously. Ask for 'une bolée de cidre' for the traditional pottery bowl.. The market at Place Crolard runs Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings.

Show up, buy something, talk to the vendors — that's how locals use it.. Dinard is very dog-friendly. Many restaurants and cafés welcome well-behaved dogs.

Don't be surprised to see them under tables at lunch.. The Thursday morning guided walk along the Promenade du Clair de Lune at 11 a.m.

(summer months) is a free or low-cost way to learn the town from a local guide.

Dinard is a very safe destination. It's a small, affluent coastal resort with a strong tourist infrastructure and low crime. Standard European precautions apply — watch your bags at the beach in peak summer months (July-August gets busy), don't leave valuables in parked cars.

The Promenade du Clair de Lune is well-lit in summer, but like any coastal path, some sections sit directly on cliff rocks — watch your footing at night. The beach at Plage de l'Écluse charges for nearby car parks, so petty parking-adjacent frustrations are about as dramatic as it gets here.

WALK, FERRY & FREE BUS

The town itself is very walkable — beaches, villas, restaurants, and the promenade are all within easy reach on foot. But getting here and getting around the wider area is where it gets interesting.

**Getting to Dinard:** The nearest TGV/TER train station is Saint-Malo (10 km away). Direct TGV from Paris takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. From Saint-Malo station, take BreizhGo Line 516 (departs every 30 minutes, ~21-minute ride) or the iconic Compagnie Corsaire sea bus ferry — a 10-minute crossing that costs around €5-11 one-way and departs hourly from April to November. The ferry is the move if you're arriving by train. Driving from Paris takes roughly 3 hours via the A11 motorway to Rennes, then the RN137.

**Getting around locally:** Dinard Bus is a free minibus running Tuesday to Saturday (not Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday afternoons). A demand-responsive service called TADy covers Dinard and surrounding communes for just €2 per person — book by 5 p.m. the day before. In July and August, a free Summer Shuttle connects park-and-ride car parks at Hermitage and Ville-Billy to the town centre. BreizhGo buses connect to Saint-Lunaire, Saint-Briac, and beyond. New for summer 2026: a free shuttle runs between Saint-Briac-sur-Mer and Lancieux from July 4 to end of August. Taxis from Saint-Malo run about €25-30.