Why Dinard Is Worth Visiting on Your Brittany Trip

The only thing we really knew about Dinard, France, before visiting the town on our Brittany road trip was that it was supposed to resemble Coney Island.

Well, that’s what we’d read about it on one of the ranking guides to Dinard.

You’re not hallucinating. She said it was like Coney Island, famous for its carnival games and hot dogs.

I’ve been to Coney Island, and now I’ve been to Dinard.

The two are not the same, even if you squint really hard.

While I wouldn’t use Dinard as a base for travel in the region, it makes for a charming day trip from Saint-Malo or Dinan, two more towns that are worth your time.

Is Dinard worth visiting?

Dinard is worth visiting for scenic coastal walks, resort vibes, and Belle Époque architecture. This Breton holiday destination is a lovely place to spend some time.

While there are towns in Brittany that we preferred for more authenticity — Dinard does feel like a resort town, but in a classy way — we very much enjoyed our time here. 

Dinard is a gateway to the Emerald Coast.

Dinard sits on Brittany’s impressive Emerald Coast. It’s named as such because of the color of the water, naturally. It’s turquoise and it’s just as pretty as the Caribbean in many spots, despite the chilly temps.

To get there, driving is best. There is no train station in Dinard. The nearest SNCF train station is in Saint-Malo, and BreizhGo regional bus services are the only option for public transit from there.

A road trip through Brittany is then the best way to experience the region. If you start in Saint-Malo as we did, you’ll be just 20 minutes from Dinard. Park your car at the first free spot you can find and start exploring.

There are paid lots with better access to Dinard’s promenade, but we like saving money and getting steps.

It had humble beginnings.

Dinard’s history makes it even more impressive. This was once a small fishing village. You may still get a sense of that the further away you get from the more touristic center, as fishing is still very much a big deal here.

By the 19th century, though, Dinard transformed into a glamorous seaside resort thanks to wealthy British visitors who built villas along the cliffs that still stand today. That legacy of sophistication remains, and it’s still a popular spot for British tourists.

Dinard’s Breton roots and maritime traditions remain, too, though. I love that it’s this intriguing blend of opulence and seaside culture, and I don’t think Brittany would have it any other way.

It was an inspiration for artists.

Dinard is atmospheric enough that it has inspired the likes of artists like Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Auguste Renoir.  

Fun fact: Picasso’s Two Women Running on the Beach was painted here during one of his summer stays in 1922. He was apparently captivated by the town’s light and coastal colors. You can go check it out in person at the Musée National Picasso-Paris.

If it was good enough for some of those artistic giants, I’m sure it’s good enough for you to add it to your itinerary, amiright?

READ MORE: Love a town that inspires? Check out Pont-Aven, a Breton alternative to Giverny.

It’s not as crowded as you’d expect.

For having a reputation as a beach resort destination, you’d think Dinard would be pretty thick with tourists in the summer. 

We visited in July. While the beaches were busier here than they were elsewhere in our Brittany travels, it was nowhere near the levels we’ve experienced at American beaches.

There is enough waterfront here for its beaches to feel spacious, even when compared to towns along the French Riviera. You don’t need to work that hard to find a quiet corner of your own, even if you’re here to sunbathe.

READ MORE: I’m not knocking the French Riviera, though. I love it! Learn about one of our favorite towns there.

The beaches are impressive.

We were here with our dog Kimmy, which meant we weren’t here for a beach day. (They’re not allowed on city beaches in the summer months.)

We were here for the promenading of it all, and don’t have regrets about that. She had a great time! If you are here for the beach, Dinard has some of Brittany’s most beautiful beaches. 

Plage de l’Écluse in the heart of town is wide and sandy. Plage de Saint-Énogat feels more secluded, with its rock pools and calm atmosphere. Plage du Prieuré offers a great mix of sand and grassy lawns for picnics. 

You can swim in saltwater pools.

You don’t even need to hit the beach if you want to take a dip. As someone who does not have a deep appreciation for the negative effects of sand on all of your crevices, I’m all for alternatives where you never have to deal with it.

In Dinard, you can enjoy a unique seaside swim in its saltwater pools. These basins are set just above the beach and filled with seawater at high tide for calm, safe places to swim without sand underfoot.

I guess safety is important, but did you skip over that part about the sand? That’s such a big highlight for me.

We watched some teenagers (or maybe young adults, I couldn’t really tell) take turns jumping from the ledge into the pools, something I wouldn’t recommend.

Note: It’s cool to be a rule follower when it comes to signage asking you not to dive. That means there may be shallow parts that make diving super dangerous.

Dinard is the Cannes of the North.

I actually described it this way before learning that it was a real nickname. Dinard’s Belle Époque villas that line the coast remind us of its glamorous heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Wealthy British and Parisian visitors flocked to the resort town, building those opulent villas I along its cliffs that I mentioned that are fun to stare at today. 

Back then, Dinard’s casino, luxury hotels, and high‑society gatherings gave it a Riviera‑like allure, even though it sat on Brittany’s rugged coast. 

Even today, it retains much of that sophisticated charm. Its most famous cultural festival only solidifies the comparisons to Cannes.

It’s home to a famous film festival.

Every fall, Dinard hosts its British Film Festival to celebrate the cultural ties between Britain and Brittany. The festival brings filmmakers, actors, and movie enthusiasts from both sides of the Channel, turning the seaside town into a hub of cinematic energy. 

Screenings take place in local theaters and cultural venues, often followed by what I can only imagine are lively discussions. (I didn’t roll in those circles as a younger person, so you’ll need to discover that scene on your own.)

If you take a walk along the main promenade, you’ll likely pass by beachfront changing rooms named after British film stars who have attended the festival over the years. The tradition started in the 1990s.

Even outside of the movies, the festival creates a buzz in town, with pop-up events, red carpets, and a festive atmosphere. I’d love to return for one, and I bet it’s way easier to do on a budget than the Cannes version.

There’s even an Alfred Hitchcock connection.

Hitchcock has a link to Dinard through its famed British Film Festival, which uses his silhouette as its logo and for its statuettes.

Fun fact: The best film wins a Golden Hitchcock Award each year.

Area lore says Hitchcock drew inspiration from the town’s dramatic coastal scenery on visits to Dinard in the 1930s.

The house in his most famous movie, Psycho, may be based on a villa standing over the Plage de l’Écluse. Some suggest that the cliffs also influenced his vision for The Birds. Neither of these things have been verified.

While historians debate the depth of his personal ties, Dinard embraced the connection, celebrating his legacy each year at the festival. There’s also a statue of him in town. 

It shows the director posing with a seagull, a playful nod to that famous bird movie. It’s sat on the main promenade since 2009, and has quickly become a quirky landmark for tourists.

It’s a little British.

Keeping on that Brit theme, Dinard remains popular with British tourists. I’ll forgive it that. That Anglo-French connection means that you can have the charm of English-style villas, gardens, and film fests while still eating like you’re in France.

I always enjoy my time up there, but the food scene is just not it. Living in France means there’s just no contest. 

Anyway, you may also notice touches of British influence in Dinard’s tea rooms and antiques shops. It makes it feel a little more unique than some of the other towns in Brittany along the coast.

The Promenade du Clair de Lune is an essential Brittany experience.

Dinard’s coastal paths, especially the Promenade du Clair de Lune, make it one of the most picturesque seaside towns in France.

This is the promenade that winds along the waterfront. It’s lined with exotic plants, palm trees, and those elegant villas I keep harping about.

You can take a look at some of that stroll in the clip below:

We extended our walk to hit up some of the GR34. Also known as the Sentier des Douaniers, or Customs Officers’ Path, this is one of France’s best long-distance hiking trails.

It follows along the entire coastline of Brittany, so you’re only doing a tiny piece here. 

Note: The path was originally used by customs officers to monitor the coast for smuggling, another interesting footnote in Dinard’s history.

The further you go, the quieter things will get. We probably went a mile or so in each direction as exercise tends to ease the nerves of our anxiety-ridden dog. It was marvelous.

Dining here can get very fancy.

I’ll get into where we stopped for a nosh in a minute, but if you want to feel fancy, you can do that in Dinard. The restaurants’ seafood scene will be your best bet. 

For a Michelin-starred meal, make a reservation at Pourquoi Pas, because when it comes to Michelin, I’m often of a “Why not?” mindset. The chef was born in nearby Dinan, so he knows the region and its cuisine very well.

Ombelle is fancy but not quite as aggressive on the budget. Expect any fish on the menu to come from the local fish market.

Even the casual eats are delicious.

We took a break in our coastal promenade to grab a bite at Wafels Dinard. The premise of this place is about as Coney Island as it gets around here. They have burgers, paninis, and hot dogs (you caught me!), but the stars are their sweet and savory waffles.

You’re not here for anything fancy. You’re here for a waffle sandwich, and you will not regret it. Their fries were tasty, too. 

French food doesn’t have to be fancy. Sometimes it’s pretty funny, and they’re not all winners. Check out a short video that really drives this point home:

You can have cocktails with a view.  

You can stop wherever moves you to enjoy a cocktail with a view while in Dinard. We passed by a cute bar out of a van-like vehicle parked on the promenade near Le Mouillage. (It wasn’t that cafe, but right next to it. The van isn’t marked on maps!)

It boasted beautiful views across the water that served as a nice spot for us to relax and eat the treats we picked up that morning.

Our cocktails came later at Le Sunset Bar. They have continuous snacks if you’re feeling hungry once you grab a spot. In any case, this is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine and a beer and watch some young people risk their lives for attention from the opposite sex.

Yep, the bar is overlooking one of Dinard’s saltwater pools.

Dinard is a good base for travel.

I know I mentioned that we wouldn’t use Dinard as a base for Brittany travel, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good idea for you. Geographically, it’s very centrally located.

You can spend your days visiting Saint-Malo, Cancale, or Dinan, all great. The footbridge to Mont-Saint-Michel is accessible from Dinard in under an hour.

You can even cross the bay via ferry to Saint-Malo if you don’t want to drive. If you’re into boating, you can hire boats from Dinard’s harbor to offshore islands like Cézembre, known for sandy beaches and lighter crowds in the summer months.

You already know it didn’t feel too crowded for us even in Dinard, though, and we visited in July.

With Dinard as your base, you’ll have plenty to occupy yourself with when you come back every evening, too. The restaurants are diverse enough to satisfy even the testiest taste buds, and I already told you about those cocktail bars with a view.

Where to Stay Near Dinard

We visited Dinard on a day trip from Saint Malo, and felt no regrets about that. It’s an easy drive, and you’ll have more affordable options outside of Dinard. 

If you’d like to stay in Dinard overnight, though, you’ll have a great time, I’m sure. Many of the properties are much more affordable than what you’d get on the French Riviera, too.

Use the map below to browse your options for where to stay while you’re there:

Dinard is nothing like Coney Island.

That’s a very good thing, by the way. I guess you can call them both seaside escapes, but Dinard offers a timeless elegance that you’re just not going to get when you’re watching a hot dog-eating contest.

You’re not here for carnival energy. You’re here to promenade through one of Brittany’s most luxe towns that stays pretty relaxed even at the height of summer.

Traveling elsewhere in France? Check these out:

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• Visiting Strasbourg at Christmastime
• See the Best Castles in the Loire Valley
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More guides for visits to France:

• Montpellier: Is it Worth Your Time?
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• How to Plan a Trip to Lake Geneva’s Évian
• Plan Your Day in Marseille, France
• What We’ve Learned About Life in France

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