Why
Brittany has a beautiful coastline with many sheltered beaches and cliffs and lots to see and do as a family holiday destination. The kids can learn to sail, windsurfing or surf and parents can enjoy the wonderful food and delicacies. There's a great aquarium and of course the Mont St Michel the 1000 year-old fortified abbey sitting on a bay guarded by the tides.
When and How
Brittany is best in the summer but can get crowded in August when all the French arrive. The winter is not great as many restaurants close. May,June and July are best.
You can fly to Dinard, Lorient, Rennes, Brest and Nantes and there are lots of flights from Ireland and the UK ranging from scheduled to budget flights. You can check special offers or deals and book flights here
Many families will take the ferry which has good access and if you are travelling from Ireland you can take the ferry from Rosslare or Cork to Roscoff. From the UK there are several ferry routes and Eurostar. Camping operator prices can include a return ferry crossing. The ships operating these routes are no ordinary ferries and you'll find plenty to keep the family amused during the journey. You can book ferry crossings here independently and do check out our guide to travelling with the kids by ferry.
We would recommend that you do hire a car if you fly for excursions and also to sample some of the local cuisine and partake in all the things to see and do and you can book car hire here.
Family friendly accommodation
There are a wide range of family friendly accommodation options available. Most hotels welcome children even if there are no special facilities and you can check for special offers and deals here with booking.com.
Self-catering options such as gites and hotel-residences (apartments attached to hotels so you enjoy the best of both worlds) are good options. There are some good hotels too but many insist on full-board in high season which is generally unsuitable for kids as there is little flexibility.
Pierre and Vacannces offers excellent family friendly facilities in holiday villages and Hoseasons has some great self catering family villas also.
Camping is also very popular and your family can take their pick from a basic tent to the latest luxury mobile home or even a tree house with Keycamp. Try to go a bit bigger than you think you will need. Our recommended operators for France include Siblu, Keycamp and Eurocamp.
A campsite certainly worth looking at is The Chateau des Ormes set in a magnificent woodland setting overlooked by a Chateau. It is one of the top of the class and has been a family favourite for many years. Families are accommodated in tents and mobile homes and in newly introduced tree houses. Children must be over eight to stay in the tree house. The facilities are impressive including kids clubs, sporting facilities, a fantastic water park style pool complex with a covered pool and its own 18-hole golf course. You can book this through Eurocamp and the tree houses (as well as other accommodation on the campsite) through Keycamp.
Camping la Grande Metairie in Carnac is a family favourite for over 30 years, set in the parkland grounds of a Breton manor house, awarded ‘five red tents’ by Michelin. The site offers a wide range of first class facilities. The fabulous pool complex boasts a covered pool, two outdoor pools, five waterslides and a jacuzzi. Adjacent is an enclosure where children can meet some affectionate farm animals. The site has good family facilities with a friendly restaurant, lively bar and a well-equipped supermarket. Evening entertainment includes discos and folk concerts in the amphitheatre. You can book this through Eurocamp.
What to do
Visit Carnac the most important prehistoric site in Europe. There are as many as 2000 standing menhirs which have been standing there longer than the pyramids in Egypt and the stones of Stonehenge. There is a good visitor centre and beaches close by.
Learn to sail, windsurf or surf at the schools on the coast.
Taste the amazing food and delicacies at the many food markets in Brittany.
Visit or stay along the Côte de Granit Rose, an amazing stretch of coastline full of great pink granite rocks carved into weird and wonderful shapes.
Go and see the Oceanopolis aquarium which has a great array of species.
Enjoy the beautiful beaches including Dinard, Perros-Guirec.La Baule and St Cast.
Take a boat trip to the Sept-Iles which has great marine life.
Do not miss the Mont St Michel the 1000 year old fortified abbey which sits in the middle of the bay guarded by the tides.
Walk the walls surrounding historic Saint Malo and take in the fresh sea air and magnificent coastline.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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