Every time I think of Quiberon, I can almost smell the freshly baked gaufres (waffles), taste the fresh, chewy taffy and feel the salt-tinged wind blowing in my face. My great-grandparents had long owned a condo in this coastal resort town in Brittany and my great-aunt still spends her summer hanging out at the beach in Quiberon, which is why my memory is laced with memories of lazy beach days and treats on the boardwalk here.
Quiberon is a small city that sits at the tip of a sliver-thin 15 km peninsula (called the Presqu’ile de Quiberon, which appropriately translates as “almost” island), which is flanked on the western side by the windswept, rocky and very picturesque Cote Sauvage (“wild coast”). Quiberon itself fans out around the beach and ports, where boats depart several times daily for the very popular Belle Ile and fishing boats pour into to unload their catches.
What to do in Quiberon
Go to the Beach
Quiberon has a great, 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 beachy boutiques, gaufre and crepe stands, candy shops selling salt water taffy and other sweet beach treats and more. In the summer, the boardwalk and beach are often jam packed with people shopping and soaking up the sun.
>>Read more about the Best Beaches in France
Check out the Cote Sauvage
On the western side of the Quiberon peninsula is the rocky and windswept Cote 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 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 in town, 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 by on your bike.
Go to Belle Ile
Brittany’s largest island, Belle Ile is an immensely popular spot in the summer, but its ample size gives you plenty of room to explore even during the busy summer months. A short ferry ride from Quiberon, Belle Ile lives up to its name, as this island has a cute town, great beaches and is well worth the ferry trip.
Although an easy day-trip from Quiberon, those interested in staying overnight on Belle Ile 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 the beauty of the island.
Eat a fresh gaufre
I know almost half of this post about Quiberon somehow comes back to gaufres, but theses freshly made traditional Belgian waffles are found all over the city and smell and taste delicious. In Quiberon, you will find plenty of vendors selling these crispy waffles fresh off the press. They dust ‘em up with powdered sugar, hand them to you in a piece of paper and you are ready to go.
Go to the market
On Wednesday (in the summers) and Saturday mornings, visitors to Quiberon will also 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 near the cote sauvage, but also pick up some freshly shucked oysters.
>>Read more about shopping in France’s markets
Stuff your face with crepes and cider
When people think of a quintessential French food item, many immediately think of crepes—the thin, French style pancake (though Americans are convinced this word is pronounced CRAY-pe, it is actually pronounced ka-rep). Crepes are a specialty of the regional cuisine of Brittany, and they are almost always washed down cider, another regional specialty of Brittany. The best part of a meal of crepes? You can have a savory one for dinner or lunch and a sweet one for desert.
>>Read more about the Regional Cuisine of Brittany
Weather in Quiberon
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 Cote Sauvage) can make a light jacket or windbreaker necessary. Bring layers, but expect beach-going weather in July and August.
>>Read more about weather in France
How to get to Quiberon
By Car
Take highway D768, which 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 ending at the port and Grande Plage. High summer traffic on this 2-lane road on the peninsula can be rather hellish (especially on weekends), so those coming in by car may opt to park at the 1200-place Semaphore car park and wither walking or taking the free shuttle the 1.5 km to the beach.
>>Read more about driving in France
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 mins and costs about €3. From Septembner to June a SNCF bus service links Auray to Quiberon, which takes just under an hour and costs about €6.50.
>>Read more about Train travel in France
By Bus
I’ve said it a million times, but there is just no easy way to take the bus in France in most cases. As stated above, if you are relying on public transportation, take the train to Auray and then either hop on the tire-bouchon seasonal train to Quiberon or take the bus that runs in the off months.
Where to Stay in Quiberon
Because Quiberon is a well-known resort town even among French nationals, there are many small hotels, chamber d’hotes (bed and breakfast type of accommodations in people’s homes) 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. However, because Quiberon is a resort town, it is also a town with lots of hotels in France.
Photo Credits: Quiberon cote sauvage
, quiberon beach , Belle Ile
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