Quiberon is a small city that sits at the tip of a sliver-thin 15 km peninsula (called the Presqu’île de Quiberon, literally translated as “almost” island), which is flanked on the western side by the windswept, rocky and very picturesque Côte Sauvage (“wild coast”). Quiberon itself fans out around the beach and ports, where boats depart several times daily for the very popular Belle-île and fishing boats pour in to unload their catches.
Go to the Beach
Quiberon has a wide sandy beach called the Grande Plage that is ideal for sunbathing and swimming during the warm summer months. Spanning this beach is also a boardwalk lined with kitschy boutiques, gaufre and crêpe stands, candy shops selling salt water taffy and more. In the summer, the boardwalk and beach are often jam-packed with people shopping and soaking up the sun.
Check out the Côte Sauvage
On the western side of the Quiberon peninsula is the rocky and windswept Côte Sauvage, which although is just about 5 minutes from town looks and feels like a remote and untouched part of the coast. Spend some time watching the waves hit the dramatic rocky cliffs and coves and take in the rugged beauty of the Brittany coast.
Rent a bike
Quiberon is small enough of a town that you can easily tour the whole city on bike. Especially with the fabulous boardwalk and great fish markets to explore, a bike can be a great way not only to get around, but it’s also just fun to feel the wind whip through your hair as your cruise around like the locals.
Go to Belle-île
Brittany’s largest island, Belle-île, is an immensely popular spot but its ample size gives you plenty of room to explore even during the busy summer months.
Although an easy day-trip from Quiberon, those interested in staying overnight on Belle-île can also camp or find a hotel on the island. Whether you stay overnight or not, it is definitely worthwhile to rent a scooter and cruise around the island taking in its stunning natural sights.
Go to the market
On Wednesday (in the summers) and Saturday mornings, visitors to Quiberon will find a market in the center of town. Often filled with great regional products and fresh fish, the market can be a great place to not only do some shopping for a picnic, but also to slurp up some freshly shucked oysters.
Stuff your face with crêpes and cider
When people name a quintessential French food item many immediately think of crêpes, the thin, French style pancake (for you poets and rappers out there, while many pronounce it to rhyme with “Professor Snape,” it actually rhymes with “Johnny Depp”). Crêpes are a specialty of the regional cuisine of Brittany, and they are almost always washed down cider, another specialty of Brittany. The best part about crêpes? You can have a savory one for dinner or lunch and a sweet one for dessert. Yes, yes you can.
Quiberon is definitely a seasonal resort town as the winter months here tend to be chilly, rainy and windy. While the summer months tend to be quite warm (and sometimes even hot), the sea breezes (especially on the Côte Sauvage) can make a light jacket or windbreaker necessary. Bring layers, but expect beach-going weather in July and August.
By Car
Autoroute D768 leads along the peninsula and into Quiberon and ends at the seasonally operating train station. From there take the rue de Verdun, which will lead you directly into town and ends at the port and Grande Plage. High summer traffic on this two-lane road can be rather hellish (especially on weekends), so those coming in by car may opt to park at the large Semaphore car park and wither walk or take the free shuttle the 1.5 km to the beach.
By Train
From Paris, there is a TGV that leaves from Gare de Montparnasse and goes to Auray, which serves as a connection point for those going to Quiberon.
There is a seasonal shuttle train called the Tire-Bouchon (which means “corkscrew” in French) that runs in July and August from the closest train station in Auray into Quiberon. The Tire-Bouchon leaves several times daily, takes 40 minutes and costs about €3. From September to June an SNCF bus service links Auray to Quiberon, which takes just under an hour and costs about €6.50.
Because Quiberon is a well-known resort town even among the French, there are many small hotels, chambre d’hôtes (bed and breakfasts) and houses with apartments for rent along the coast. Make sure you book well in advance if you are planning on trying to go Quiberon in July or August, as these places often book up well in advance.
Photo Credits: Quiberon cote sauvage, quiberon beach , Belle Ile
