Rennes, France: Things to Do, Day Trips to Mont-Saint-Michel and Where to Stay
The capital of Brittany as a walkable city and as a base for Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel, with hours, fares and transit details checked against the tourist office, museums and transport operators.
- 1 hr by train to Saint-Malo
- 370 half-timbered houses still standing
- 250 vendors at the Saturday market
- 77°F average high in July
Rennes is the capital of Brittany, in the northwest of France. Most visitors spend a day on its old town and Saturday market, then use it as a base for Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel, or as a stop on a Brittany road trip toward Nantes and Quimper.
We pulled the details below on October 13, 2026 from the Rennes tourist office, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Brittany regional rail network, Rennes airport, Météo-France and the U.S. State Department. Where two sources disagree, we say so.
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- Is Rennes worth visiting?
- Things to do in Rennes
- Day trips: Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo
- Getting there and around
- Where to stay
- Weather by month
- Safety and entry for U.S. travelers
- Insurance and phone data
- FAQ
- Sources
Is Rennes worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a real Breton city rather than a resort town. In one walkable day you can see the 17th-century Parliament of Brittany, streets of half-timbered houses, a free fine arts museum and a 25-acre public garden. On Saturday mornings, the Lices market is the second largest in France according to the tourist office.
Its other strength is location. Trains reach Saint-Malo in about an hour, and a daily coach runs from Rennes station to Mont-Saint-Michel, so two or three nights here cover the region’s two best-known sights without a car.
Things to do in Rennes
- Parliament of Brittany: built from 1615 to 1655 by Salomon de Brosse, who also designed the Luxembourg Palace in Paris. A fire on the night of February 4, 1994 destroyed the roof; the building reopened in 1999. Its Grand’Chambre and painted ceiling survived. Visits are guided: the tourist office lists a 90-minute tour from €6.50, and an English-language “Old Rennes” tour from €6.50 between September 5 and November 5, 2026.
- Half-timbered houses: about 370 remain, after a fire in 1720 destroyed 850 to 900 of them. The most dramatic overhangs, from the late 1400s and early 1500s, line Rue des Dames, Rue du Chapitre and Rue Saint-Georges.
- Lices market: every Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with close to 250 producers and vendors around the 1860s Martenot market halls. Locals eat a galette-saucisse, a grilled sausage wrapped in a buckwheat crepe, sold for about €2.50 to €3.
- Museum of Fine Arts: 20 Quai Émile-Zola, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The permanent collection is free; temporary exhibitions cost €5.
- Thabor park: about 25 acres, laid out from 1868, with a rose garden of more than 2,000 varieties. It opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 6:30 p.m. from October to February, 8:30 p.m. in summer.
- Les Champs Libres: next to the train station, home to the Museum of Brittany, a science center and a planetarium. The regional rail network lists hours of noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 2 to 7 p.m. on weekends; we could not open the venue’s own site.
Plan around Mondays: the Museum of Fine Arts is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and Les Champs Libres is closed Mondays too, based on the hours above. Save Monday for the old town, Thabor park or a day trip.
Tours in Rennes from our partner
These are tours and activities sold by our partner GetYourGuide in Rennes. On October 13, 2026, they included a guided food walking tour of Rennes, a good fit for a Saturday when the Lices market is on. Read what tastings are included before you book.
See all Rennes tours and activities on GetYourGuide
Day trips from Rennes: Mont-Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo
Mont-Saint-Michel by public transit
A Keolis coach leaves Rennes train station every day and stops near the Mont-Saint-Michel tourist information center. From there, the free “Le Passeur” shuttle runs to the Mont from at least 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to the Mont-Saint-Michel tourist office.
Before you go: the Keolis Armor brochure we found covers March 30 to November 1, 2026. Travel time and fares were not readable on its pages, so check them on the Keolis Armor site, where tickets are booked.
If you would rather not handle the logistics, GetYourGuide sells a day tour from Rennes to Mont-Saint-Michel, Cancale and Saint-Malo. Check whether the abbey ticket is included.
Saint-Malo by train
The regional TER BreizhGo line lists a fastest time of one hour and 18 trains a day between Rennes and Saint-Malo, the walled port on the Channel coast.
Getting to Rennes and getting around
- From Rennes airport: bus lines C6 and 57 reach République station downtown in about 20 minutes. Line 57 runs every day from a stop about 1,000 feet from the terminal.
- Metro: two lines, a and b, both stop at the train station and at Sainte-Anne in the old town.
- Fares: the tourist office gives €1.70 for one hour of unlimited bus and metro travel, payable by bank card at the gates. The airport’s page still shows €1.50; we could not open the STAR transit site to confirm.
- On foot: the tourist office puts the walk from the station to its office, 1 Rue Saint-Malo, at about 20 minutes. A free electric shuttle also serves the old town.
Where to stay in Rennes
Stay in the old town for walking and the market, or near the station if you plan day trips by train and coach. Hotel facts come from the listing named for each one. We don’t quote rates because we found none we could verify.
Old town: Place des Lices and the Parliament
Hôtel des Lices, 7 Place des Lices, is a 3-star hotel with 48 rooms, right on the market square and a 3-minute walk from Sainte-Anne metro, per its Travelocity listing. Parking is off-site and paid.
Balthazar Hotel & Spa, 19 Rue du Maréchal Joffre, fills two restored townhouses a short walk from the Parliament. The Michelin Guide lists 53 rooms and three suites and notes the spa is temporarily closed.
Near the station: for day trips
Mercure Rennes Centre Gare, 1 Rue du Capitaine Maignan, has 142 rooms about 0.4 mile from the station square, per its Sembo listing. Both the Saint-Malo trains and the Mont-Saint-Michel coach leave from the station.
Check current prices and reviews for Rennes hotels
Rennes weather by month
Expect mild, changeable weather. Rain is spread through the year, from 1.7 to 2.9 inches a month, so temperature is what sets the seasons: highs average 70°F or more from June through September and stay below 50°F in December and January.
- Jan 38 / 49 °F
- Feb 37 / 50 °F
- Mar 40 / 56 °F
- Apr 43 / 61 °F
- May 49 / 67 °F
- Jun 54 / 73 °F
- Jul 57 / 77 °F
- Aug 57 / 76 °F
- Sep 53 / 71 °F
- Oct 49 / 63 °F
- Nov 43 / 55 °F
- Dec 38 / 49 °F
Average low and high temperatures by month, 1991-2020 normals for the Rennes-Saint-Jacques station. Dark blue: high below 50 °F. Light blue: 50 to 67 °F. Yellow: 68 to 81 °F. Orange: 82 °F and above.
| Month | Low / high | Rain (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38 / 49 °F | 2.6 in (12) |
| Feb | 37 / 50 °F | 2.0 in (10) |
| Mar | 40 / 56 °F | 1.9 in (9) |
| Apr | 43 / 61 °F | 2.0 in (10) |
| May | 49 / 67 °F | 2.3 in (9) |
| Jun | 54 / 73 °F | 2.0 in (7) |
| Jul | 57 / 77 °F | 1.7 in (7) |
| Aug | 57 / 76 °F | 1.7 in (7) |
| Sep | 53 / 71 °F | 2.2 in (8) |
| Oct | 49 / 63 °F | 2.9 in (11) |
| Nov | 43 / 55 °F | 2.9 in (13) |
| Dec | 38 / 49 °F | 2.9 in (12) |
Converted from Météo-France’s climate sheet for Rennes-Saint-Jacques, at the airport. Rainy days are days with at least 0.04 inch (1 mm) of rain.
Safety and entry rules for U.S. travelers
- Advisory: the State Department rates France Level 2, “Exercise increased caution,” in an advisory issued May 28, 2025, citing terrorism and unrest. It notes that demonstrations and strikes are frequent and can disrupt transportation.
- Entry: no visa for stays under 90 days in the Schengen area. Your passport needs at least 3 months of validity beyond your departure from Schengen; the State Department recommends 6 months, plus one blank page.
- Emergencies: dial 112, or 15 for an ambulance, where the State Department says an English-speaking operator can be reached.
- U.S. consulate: Rennes has a U.S. consular office at 30 Quai Duguay-Trouin, reached through the embassy line, +33 1 43 12 22 22. It offers limited services and does not issue passports.
Travel insurance and phone data
Before you fly, ask your health insurer what it pays for care in France. One option is Nomad Insurance Essential from our partner SafetyWing. On October 13, 2026, its page listed a $250,000 maximum for medical treatment and hospitalization and a $100,000 lifetime maximum for emergency evacuation, billed every 4 weeks. Pre-existing conditions, maternity care and cancer treatment are excluded.
Reader perk: if you have never had a SafetyWing account, the code ADVISEDTRAVELER gives you 8 weeks of the Electronics Theft add-on free on Nomad Essential, with a 28-day subscription or an annual plan. Enter it before creating your account by tapping the pink camera icon on the Nomad Insurance page. After 8 weeks, the add-on renews as a paid option.
If you live in Europe, Chapka’s Cap Assistance 24/7 is another choice; it is not sold to U.S. citizens or residents.
For mobile data, compare your carrier’s international pass with an eSIM from our partner Yesim. Look up its France plan and make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM-ready before you buy.
Rennes FAQ
How many days do you need in Rennes?
One day covers the old town, the Parliament and a museum. Plan two or three nights if you want day trips to Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel.
Can you do a day trip from Rennes to Mont-Saint-Michel without a car?
Yes. A Keolis coach leaves Rennes station daily, then the free Le Passeur shuttle covers the last stretch. Check times and fares with Keolis Armor.
When is the Rennes market?
The Lices market runs every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Place des Lices.
Is Rennes safe for tourists?
The State Department has no separate rating for Rennes: all of France is at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution.” The advisory points to terrorism and to frequent protests and strikes that can disrupt transportation.
What is the best month to visit Rennes?
July and August are the warmest and least rainy months, with highs around 77°F and about 1.7 inches of rain. October to December are the wettest.
More activities around Rennes
Our partner GetYourGuide also sells walks across the Mont-Saint-Michel bay and boat trips from Saint-Malo. Bay walks depend on the tides, so confirm the meeting time a day ahead.
Sources
All pages were checked on October 13, 2026.
- Rennes tourist office: Parliament of Brittany, half-timbered houses, Lices market, Thabor park, guided tours (in French), practical tips.
- Museum of Fine Arts, hours and admission (in French).
- TER BreizhGo: Rennes page, Rennes to Saint-Malo (in French).
- Rennes Bretagne Airport, buses.
- Mont-Saint-Michel: tourist office, by bus and coach, Keolis Armor.
- U.S. Department of State: France travel advisory, France country information.
- Climate: Météo-France, Rennes-Saint-Jacques climate sheet, 1991-2020 normals (PDF, in French).
- Hotels: Travelocity, Hôtel des Lices, Michelin Guide, Balthazar, Sembo, Mercure Rennes Centre Gare.
- SafetyWing, Nomad Insurance: Essential plan limits and exclusions; reader code terms supplied by SafetyWing.
Keep planning: our France travel guide and our guide to La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast.
Compiled by the Advised Traveler team from the sources above. Guided tour schedules and the Mont-Saint-Michel coach timetable change with the season; recheck them the week you travel. See something out of date? Let us know.