Campsite Saint-Malo

Saint-Malo is the walled corsair city of the Emerald Coast: granite ramparts rising from the sea, sandy beaches at the foot of the walls, and some of the biggest tides in Europe. It is also the closest ferry port in Brittany to the UK. Two Les Castels estate campsites put you within easy reach of the city, the beaches and Mont-Saint-Michel, each one a 4 or 5-star site set in the grounds of a château or historic estate.

Castel Domaine de la Ville Huchet — in Saint-Malo, 10 minutes from the ferry

• 4-star estate campsite in a wooded château park in Quelmer, Saint-Malo
• 3 miles from the ferry port and the walled city, 1 mile from Plage de la Passagère
• Heated indoor pool and outdoor water park with slides
• Kids' club for 5 to 10-year-olds, crêperie, sauna and gym on site
• Spacious pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, plus mobile homes, chalets, lodges on stilts and apartments

Walk the ramparts of the corsair city

The walled old town, known as intra-muros, was rebuilt stone by stone after 1944 and is best seen from above. A loop of the ramparts takes around an hour, with views over the Grande Plage du Sillon, the forts in the bay and the island of Grand Bé, where the writer Chateaubriand is buried. Inside the walls, granite streets lead to Saint-Vincent Cathedral, crêperies and the shops selling kouign-amann, the butter cake of Brittany. Park outside the walls and use the shuttle: the old town is at its quietest before 10am and after 6pm.

Beaches, tides and the Emerald Coast

The bay of Saint-Malo has some of the highest tides in Europe. At low tide you can walk across the sand to Grand Bé and Fort National; at high tide, waves break against the ramparts and the Bon-Secours sea pool fills up with a diving board above the water. Always check the tide times before crossing to the islands, as the sea returns quickly. Beyond the city, quieter beaches line the Rance estuary, including Plage de la Passagère a mile from Domaine de la Ville Huchet, while Dinard, the Pointe du Grouin and Cap Fréhel are all within an easy drive.

Castel Les Ormes, Domaine & Resort — around 30 minutes from Saint-Malo

• 5-star resort on a 250-hectare estate near Dol-de-Bretagne
• Around 20 miles from Saint-Malo, halfway to Mont-Saint-Michel
• Indoor aquatic dome and outdoor pools with water slides
• 18-hole golf course, treetop adventure trails and horse riding on site
• Mobile homes, treehouses, furnished tents and spacious pitches

Saint-Malo is one of the best places in Brittany to eat seafood. Drive 9 miles to Cancale, the oyster capital of Brittany, where stalls at the foot of the harbour sell freshly shucked oysters by the dozen. Eat them on the sea wall with a squeeze of lemon, looking out over the oyster beds and Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. Closer to the campsite, the restaurants of the walled city serve moules-frites made with the bouchot mussels of the bay, alongside lobster and fish landed in the local harbours. Leave room for the Breton classics: buckwheat galettes and crêpes with a bowl of cider, salted butter caramel, and kouign-amann, the rich butter cake you will find in every bakery inside the ramparts.

Castel Château de Lez Eaux — around 1 hour from Saint-Malo, on the Normandy side

• 4-star estate campsite in the grounds of a château near Granville
• Around 60 miles from Saint-Malo, across Mont-Saint-Michel Bay on the Normandy coast
• Indoor water park with slides, open in any weather
• Mobile homes, glamping tents and spacious pitches
• Well placed to combine Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel with Granville and the D-Day Landing Beaches

By ferry, no destination in Brittany is easier to reach. Brittany Ferries sails Portsmouth to St Malo, and Domaine de la Ville Huchet is 3 miles from the port, so you can be on your pitch within half an hour of driving off. Taking your own car means your tent, caravan or motorhome travels with you.
By road from Calais, Saint-Malo is around 290 miles via the A16, A28 and A84, with Domaine de la Bien-Assise near Calais a natural first-night stop if you cross late.
By train, take the Eurostar to Paris, then the TGV from Paris-Montparnasse to Saint-Malo; the station is 4 miles from Domaine de la Ville Huchet.
By air, Dinard-Pleurtuit airport is 6 miles from Domaine de la Ville Huchet and Rennes airport around an hour's drive (seasonal UK routes, check current schedules before booking).

When to visit Saint-Malo

July and August bring the longest days and the fullest campsite facilities, but also the busiest streets inside the walls. May, June and September offer milder weather, quieter beaches and lower ferry fares, ideal for a shoulder-season break. For the most dramatic sight, time your stay with a spring tide, when the sea crashes against the ramparts; the highest tides of the year usually fall around the March and September equinoxes.

Castel Domaine de la Ville Huchet is a 4-star estate campsite in Saint-Malo itself, 3 miles from the walled city and the ferry port. Les Ormes, Domaine & Resort, the 5-star alternative, is around 30 minutes away near Dol-de-Bretagne.

Are there campsites near St Malo close to the beach?

Yes. Domaine de la Ville Huchet is 1 mile from Plage de la Passagère, a sheltered beach on the Rance estuary, and a short drive from the Emerald Coast beaches of Saint-Malo, Dinard and Cancale.

Can I bring a caravan or motorhome to a campsite in Saint-Malo?

Yes. Both Les Castels estates near Saint-Malo have spacious pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, as well as mobile homes and unusual accommodation such as lodges on stilts and treehouses.

Can you visit Mont-Saint-Michel from Saint-Malo?

Yes. Mont-Saint-Michel is around 50 minutes by car from Saint-Malo and around 30 minutes from Les Ormes, Domaine & Resort, making it an easy day trip from either campsite.

Are dogs allowed at campsites in Saint-Malo?

Yes. At Domaine de la Ville Huchet, pets are welcome on camping pitches and in certain rental accommodation. Mention your pet when booking so the right accommodation can be reserved.