Visiting Dinard: 13 must-sees and must-dos
Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Emerald Coast”, Dinard is an elegant seaside resort with Belle Époque architecture, fine sandy beaches and exceptional views over Saint-Malo. Facing the corsair city, this Ille-et-Vilaine town has preserved its old-world charm while offering a host of activities for all visitors. With its sumptuous villas, seaside walks and unique cultural heritage, a visit to Dinard promises an unforgettable break in Brittany. Here are 13 must-see things to discover during your stay.
Also in the Saint-Malo guide :
- The most beautiful villages to discover around Saint-Malo
- Discover the Cité d’Aleth in Saint-Malo
- The 14 most beautiful walks around Saint-Malo
- The 10 most beautiful beaches in Saint-Malo
1. The Clair de Lune promenade
The Clair de Lune Promenade, a true Dinard landmark, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful walks in Brittany. This landscaped footpath winds for almost two kilometres along the seafront, from the Prieuré beach to the Bec-de-la-Vallée cove. Along this enchanting route, you’ll enjoy exceptional views over the Rance estuary, the ramparts of Saint-Malo and the fort of the corsair city.
What makes this walk unique is its unexpected Mediterranean atmosphere in Brittany. Palm trees, mimosas and agapanthus line the path, creating a striking contrast with the Breton coastline. The carefully tended gardens add a touch of colour and serenity to this seaside stroll. In summer, sound and light shows enhance the area as night falls, creating a magical atmosphere that fully justifies the poetic name of this walk. Let the Navaway itinerary be your guide to discover all the secrets of this seaside town during your visit to the region.
2. L’Écluse beach
In the heart of Dinard, Plage de l’Écluse epitomises the Belle Époque spirit of the seaside resort. Recognisable by its famous blue and white striped cabins, this large sandy beach is bordered by majestic hotels and the Barrière casino, witnesses to the golden age of aristocratic tourism. With its south-facing position, it benefits from optimum sunshine and offers an unbeatable view of the Pointe du Moulinet and its villas.
Plage de l’Écluse offers plenty of activities for all the family. There’s a heated seawater pool for swimmers, and kayaking and paddle boarding for watersports enthusiasts. Children can enjoy a beach club in summer and build sandcastles under the watchful eye of the famous diving board. The terraces of the restaurants and cafés lining the promenade allow you to enjoy a moment of relaxation facing the sea, while admiring the ballet of sailing boats in the bay.
3. Other beaches in Dinard
L’Écluse beach is the most famous, but Dinard has three other beaches well worth a visit. The beach at Saint-Énogat, located in the old quarter considered to be the birthplace of Dinard, offers a more authentic, family atmosphere. Protected by a breakwater, it is home to a sailing club and offers courses for all levels. Its colourful hard-built cabins add a touch of retro charm to this unspoilt area.
The large Prieuré beach, the starting point for the Clair de Lune promenade, has a friendly, sporty atmosphere. There are outdoor fitness facilities, a miniature golf course and several beach restaurants. As for the beach at Port-Blanc, the wildest of the four, it attracts lovers of tranquillity and nature. Close to a campsite, it’s ideal for those looking for a more intimate getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. The Navaway audio-guided itinerary allows you to discover these different areas on your own as you explore the coast.
4. Pointe du Moulinet and its villas
Pointe du Moulinet is one of Dinard’s architectural gems. This rocky peninsula, once home to a few fishermen’s cottages and a small mill, was transformed at the end of the 19th century into a residential area favoured by the British and French aristocracy. Today, it boasts an exceptional concentration of Belle Époque villas in a variety of styles: neo-Gothic manor houses, Norman cottages, English cottages and neo-Renaissance palaces stand side by side in a fascinating architectural eclecticism.
The walk along the Pointe du Moulinet offers spectacular views over the Bay of Saint-Malo, the Island of Cézembre and the surrounding islets. You can admire these sumptuous residences from the walkway, while enjoying the changing views from the rocks. Some of the villas bear evocative names such as “Les Mouettes”, “Le Castel” and “Villa Ker Armor”, bearing witness to an era when the Dordogne holiday resort attracted the European elite. The Tourist Office offers guided tours to help you understand the history of these buildings and their illustrious owners.
5. Les Roches Brunes villa
Of all the villas in Dinard, Les Roches Brunes stands out for its presence and its history. Built in 1893 in the neo-Louis XIII style characteristic of Belle Époque eclecticism, this monumental residence proudly dominates the tip of the Falklands from the top of its cliff. Its pink bricks, slender turrets and tall chimneys make it one of the most photographed buildings in the seaside resort. Listed as a Historic Monument, it was bequeathed to the town in 2007.
Today, Villa Les Roches Brunes regularly hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, concerts and cultural events. A tour of the premises reveals the preserved interior architecture, with its original woodwork and colourful stained glass windows. But the real highlight is the panoramic terrace, a veritable balcony suspended above the waves, from which you can contemplate an incomparable maritime spectacle. On a clear day, the view stretches as far as Cap Fréhel, offering one of the most beautiful vistas on the Emerald Coast.
6. Dinard market
To visit Dinard without a trip to the market would be to miss out on an authentically Breton experience. The Halles de la Concorde, with its bright, modern glass roof, is home to local producers and traders offering the very best in regional produce every morning. Freshly caught seafood, seasonal vegetables, farmhouse cheeses, artisanal ciders and Breton specialities make up a gourmet tableau that delights the senses.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the open-air market stretches around the covered market halls, bringing together up to 300 traders in high season. The atmosphere is particularly friendly, with locals and holidaymakers mingling in a cheerful bustle. The terraces of the nearby cafés quickly fill up with customers who have come to enjoy their purchases on the spot. Don’t miss the emblematic galette-saucisses stand, a real Dordogne institution where the queue is a testament to the quality of this revisited local speciality.
7. Breton culinary specialities
Gastronomy is an integral part of the Dordogne experience. The town is full of restaurants and crêperies where you can savour authentic Breton specialities. The buckwheat pancakes, topped with local produce such as andouille de Guémené and jambon blanc, are a complete and tasty meal. Sweet crêpes with homemade salted butter caramel will melt your sweet tooth, while kouign-amann, a caramelised Breton cake, is an explosion of flavour on the palate.
The proximity of the sea guarantees exceptionally fresh seafood. Cancale oysters, scallops, lobsters and spider crabs can all be enjoyed on ocean-facing terraces. Dinard’s restaurants also offer specialities such as marmite dieppoise and seafood platters, a veritable hymn to Brittany’s maritime bounty. To accompany these dishes, there’s nothing like a farmhouse cider or a chilled Loire white wine, to bring out the iodised flavours of the local produce.
8. The British and Irish Film Festival
Every autumn for more than 35 years, Dinard has played host to the British and Irish Film Festival, a not-to-be-missed event in European cinema. For five days in early October, the town is transformed into a cinematic enclave where directors, actors and film buffs from all over the world rub shoulders. The station’s five screening rooms show a selection of competition films, shorts and documentaries highlighting contemporary British and Irish cinema.
The atmosphere of the festival is unique: red carpets on the seafront, meetings with the artists in a friendly atmosphere, and open-air screenings facing the sea create an unforgettable cultural experience. The jury, made up of personalities from the world of cinema, awards several prizes, including the prestigious Hitchcock d’Or. Even outside the festival period, Dinard’s cinephile spirit lives on through its cinemas, which regularly show British films in their original version, perpetuating the special link between the town and culture from across the Channel.
Download the audio tour to discover Saint-Malo on foot and on your own
To complete your discovery of the region, we recommend that you follow the Navaway audio tour of Saint-Malo, the neighbouring town just a 10-minute boat ride from Dinard. This 6.5 km tour of 30 points of interest will allow you to explore the corsair town on your own, with historical commentary and captivating anecdotes about the ramparts, cathedral and maritime heritage of this iconic Emerald Coast town.
9. The statue of Alfred Hitchcock
In tribute to the master of suspense who was the film festival’s spiritual godfather, Dinard has erected a surprising statue of Alfred Hitchcock on the seawall at Plage de l’Écluse. The bronze sculpture depicts the director in a characteristic pose, tie blowing in the wind, with a seagull perched on his shoulder in reference to his famous film ‘The Birds’. The work, inaugurated in 2014, has quickly become one of the resort’s most popular photo locations.
The statue blends perfectly into the Dinard landscape, testifying to the British cultural influence on the town. Hitchcock, although he never lived in Dinard, embodies the excellence of British cinema that the festival celebrates every year. Visitors love to photograph themselves next to this imposing figure, creating a symbolic link between Dinard’s Anglo-Saxon aristocratic past and its current cinematic vocation. The statue is also the starting point for a “Directors’ Walk”, with plaques paying tribute to the great names of British cinema.
10. Saint Bartholomew’s Anglican Church
An eloquent testimony to the British influence on Dinard, Saint Bartholomew’s Anglican Church stands out for its typically Anglo-Saxon architecture in the heart of Brittany. Built at the end of the 19th century to meet the spiritual needs of the British holiday community, it boasts an English neo-Gothic style recognisable by its grey stonework, colourful stained glass windows and slender bell tower. Behind its discreet facade lies a warm and exotic interior.
The interior of the church is decorated in a ‘so British’ style, with dark wood panelling, carved pews, embroidered cushions and brass memorial plaques. The stained glass windows tell biblical stories in a characteristic Victorian style, diffusing a subdued light conducive to meditation. The church still hosts Anglican services and classical music concerts, continuing a centuries-old tradition. A visit to the church is an unexpected interlude during your stay in Dinard, perfectly illustrating the cosmopolitanism that has shaped the unique identity of this seaside resort.
11. Port Breton Park
Dinard’s green lung, the Port-Breton park stretches over 23 hectares of greenery facing the Prieuré beach. This unspoilt natural area was originally the private garden of the Port-Breton manor house, built in 1920 by a British aristocrat. Now owned by the municipality, it offers visitors a haven of peace in which to stroll in the shade of century-old trees, discover a rich botanical collection and observe a variety of wildlife in the animal park.
The park is home to fallow deer, peacocks, dwarf goats and many species of bird, to the delight of young and old alike. The landscaped paths wind through flowerbeds, ponds and undergrowth, offering a variety of walks to suit all tastes. Children’s play areas, picnic tables and extensive lawns make this an ideal place for a family break during your visit to Dinard. The contrast between this English-style garden and the proximity of the sea creates a unique atmosphere, characteristic of Dinard’s charm, where nature and elegance combine harmoniously.
12. A boat trip to Saint-Malo
One of the best ways to discover the bay is to take the “sea bus”, which links Dinard to Saint-Malo in just 10 minutes. This sea crossing, operated since 1904 by Compagnie Corsaire, offers unique views of the two towns and their respective fortifications. From the deck of the boat, you can admire the ramparts of the corsair town, the Belle Époque villas of Dinard perched on their cliffs, and the forts that guard the entrance to the Rance estuary.
The company also offers longer excursions to Cézembre Island, the Chausey Islands or Cap Fréhel, allowing you to explore the wonders of the Emerald Coast from the sea. These guided cruises reveal the maritime history of the region, navigation techniques and local legends. The ballet of the sailing ships, the cries of the seagulls and the sea air create an authentically Breton atmosphere. If you want to see Dinard from a different angle, a trip out to sea is an unmissable experience that will enrich your stay and leave you with unforgettable memories.
13. The Rance dam and the cycle route
Just a few kilometres from Dinard, the Rance dam is a fascinating feat of engineering. Inaugurated in 1966, it was for many years the largest tidal power plant in the world, producing electricity thanks to the exceptional amplitude of the tides in the estuary (up to 13 metres of tidal range). A free discovery centre explains how this unique power station works and its role in the production of renewable energy.
The Émeraude Bords de Rance cycle route, starting in Dinard, is a magnificent 38-kilometre cycle route accessible to all. This signposted route runs alongside the estuary, through charming villages such as La Richardais, and along landscaped greenways offering changing panoramas between sea and countryside. Cyclists will discover a different side of the region, one that is more pastoral and unspoilt. There are a number of cycle hire points in Dinard for easy access to this route, which can be completed in half a day, with gourmet stops in the crêperies and restaurants along the way.
In conclusion, to visit Dinard is to immerse yourself in the elegant atmosphere of a seaside resort that has preserved its Belle Époque heritage while adapting to the expectations of contemporary travellers. With its fine sandy beaches, remarkable architecture, film culture and Breton gastronomy, the town offers a range of activities that will appeal to all types of visitor. Its proximity to Saint-Malo, accessible via the Navaway audio tour, also makes it an ideal base from which to explore the Emerald Coast. Whether you’re looking for seaside relaxation, heritage discovery or gastronomic delights, Dinard will charm you with its authenticity and unique character on the Breton coast.
FAQ : Visiting Dinard
When is the best time to visit Dinard?
The best period is from May to September, with a peak in July and August. Spring and early autumn offer a good compromise between pleasant weather and moderate crowds, especially as the British Film Festival takes place in October.
How do I get to Dinard from Saint-Malo?
The Compagnie Corsaire sea bus provides a 10-minute crossing from Dinan slipway to Saint-Malo. Regular buses also link the two towns in around 20 minutes. By car, allow 15 minutes via the Rance dam.
How long does it take to visit Dinard?
One day is all it takes to discover the main sites: the Clair de Lune promenade, Écluse beach, Pointe du Moulinet and the market. To fully enjoy the atmosphere, the beaches and the surrounding area, a weekend of two or three days is ideal.
Can you swim in Dinard all year round?
Swimming is pleasant from June to September, with water reaching 18-20°C in summer. Out of season, the beaches remain accessible for walking and contemplation, but the water is cool (12-15°C). The heated seawater pool at Plage de l’Écluse is open from May to September.
Where can I park in Dinard?
Several car parks are available: the Plage car park (closest to the centre), the Acacias car park and the Port-Blanc car park. In high season, it’s best to arrive early or use the park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts of the town. The town centre is within easy walking distance once you’ve parked.
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