Travel to Brest

Travel to Brest

A charming city in the Bretagne region of northwest France, Brest is located on the western tip of the Brittany peninsula. Brest boasts its important port and naval base, home to the French national fleet. The town was destroyed during WWII and rebuilt in the 1950s and most buildings were rebuilt with grey granite and concrete. Despite having few tourist attractions, visitors can enjoy an array of fresh seafood, Breton specialities and good beer.

Transportation to Brest

Brest has its own international airport but holidaymakers can also fly to Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports that provide nine daily flights to Brest with a travelling time of one hour. Shuttle bus and taxi services are plentiful at the airport to take you to Brest.

Located 600 kms from Paris, driving from Paris to Brest is easy and convenient. From Paris, you can take A10 and then A11 until you reach Vitr, when it becomes the N12. Or otherwise take the N165 from Nantes with a driving distance of 300 kms. Alternatively, TGV high-speed trains operate from Paris (gare Montparnasse) to Brest with a journey time of 4 hours 20 minutes. Roscoff, the nearest ferry port to Brest, also receives many crossings per day from Plymouth in England, taking about six hours.

What to see

Brests main tourist spot is the old castle with its outstanding 15th century structure that offers a panoramic view of the city. The collection of the Muse National de la Marine (National Navy Museum), featuring Brests maritime tradition, is hosted in three of the castles towers. Another museum worth visiting is the Muse de Vieux Brest housed in the 14th century Tour Tanguy on the opposite bank of the River Penfeld depicting the city on the eve of WWII. Ocanopolis marine centre, situated a few kilometres east of the city centre, is an aquarium popular among visitors and a favourite spot for families. The marine centre showcases a variety of interesting sea life and also a 3D cinema.

Day trips

Nice sandy beaches and cliffs are only a few kilometres out of town. Even though it can be quite stormy during summer due to its location, many water sports can be enjoyed here including wind-surfing, yachting and fishing. Remarkable historical heritages are aplenty in Brittany and can be found in nearby towns including Rennes, Nantes, Saint-Malo, Roscoff and Lorient. Also stop and walk along the cobbled streets at Quimper, a medieval town where a beautiful cathedral is located. Morlaix, another impressive town with its rich history set between three hills, is another place not to be missed. This town used to be a harbour town and still maintains its scenic marina in front of the town gates. Stone and half-timbered houses are everywhere, adding to the feel of an historic town.

Activities and leisure

An array of restaurants and bars can be found around the city. Bistros and bars are at Rue Jean-Jaurs while the students gather at the place Geurin in quartier St Martin. While you are here, try Bretons specialities such as Breton crpe and its fresh seafood. Active travellers can enjoy a variety of water sports on the beaches.

Safety issues

Pickpocketing and loss of belongings are common here so be very careful when travelling to unfamiliar places. Problems in booking and arrangements can happen due to language barriers. Water sports are prone to accidents even in summer as it can be quite stormy. We strongly recommend you to take out travel insurance for you and your family.