Car Rental Saint-Malo

Introduction

Saint-Malo was once a pirates' nest; later it became a fortress to defend France against the Vikings and even later the British. Nowadays the city is one of the main tourist attractions in Brittany. The medieval, walled city was nearly destroyed during World War II, but afterwards beautifully restored. Over 200,000 tourists visit this historical gem annually.

Population

The city has approximately 55,000 inhabitants.

Location

Saint-Malo is located on the northern coast of Brittany, in the northwest of France. The city lies on the Gulf of Saint-Malo which is bounded on the north side by the British Channel Islands Jersey and Guernsey.

Economy

Saint-Malo's port plays a central role in local economy. Fertilizer, wood and agricultural produce are exported via the port, mainly to Great Britain and Ireland. It's also an important passenger port. There are direct ferry connections with Portsmouth and Poole. Tourism is another pillar of economy; not only local tourism, but also tourists who travel via Saint-Malo's port to the British Channel Islands.

Airports

Dinard Pleurtuit Saint-Malo Airport is mainly used by budget airline Ryanair. It's situated 8 kilometers southwest of the city center and is easily reachable by rental car via the Avenue du Général de Gaulle (D301) and next the D168. The way to the airport is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

The old, walled city is best explored by foot, but there's also a touristic train which, at a substantial sum, runs along the main places of interest. City bus transport is good. There are two bus stations: near the train station and just outside the old city wall (St. Vincent). The city buses only run until the middle of the evening. There are also good train connections with Rennes, and a few times a day there's a TGV connection with Paris. There are ferry connections with Portsmouth and Poole on England's south coast.

Traffic and Parking

The narrow streets in the old fortified town are all one-way streets. This makes it difficult to orientate yourself and the historical center is also best explored by foot. There are parking lots to park your rental car outside the city walls, near the port, but there are also some parking garages of Q-Park inside the city walls.

Hotels

Saint-Malo has a large choice of accommodations, but if you absolutely want to stay in the old town, we advise booking your hotel room well in advance. There are also some hotels along the coast east of the historical city. For a beautiful view of the coast (and Saint-Malo) you can book a hotel in Dinard, just west of Saint-Malo.

External Sources

For more information about Saint-Malo, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Saint-Malo
• Official website Saint-Malo
• Tourist Information Saint-Malo