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Voykit pocket guide · France
Auray
Half a day is enough to see the medieval port and the basilica; add a full day if you take the summer train to Quiberon or Carnac.
Auray is a small medieval town in Morbihan, Brittany, best known for the Battle of Auray (1364) and its old port of Saint-Goustan. Most travellers use it as a rail gateway to Quiberon and Carnac, or stop for a few hours between Vannes and Lorient. The town itself can be seen in half a day.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (many restaurants close, wet weather)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire 18 · Ambulance (SAMU) 15 · European emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | €1.50–3 |
| Crêpe (galette) with filling | €8–14 |
| Menu du jour (lunch set) | €15–22 |
| Beer (pint) | €5–7 |
| Summer train Auray–Quiberon one way | €10 (check) |
| Bus Auray–Carnac one way | €5 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LRT · Lorient Bretagne Sud
- About 40 km (25 mi), bus or taxi; check connectionsAbout 25 mi (40 km), bus or taxi; check connections
- RNS · Rennes Bretagne
- About 120 km (75 mi), direct TGV to AurayAbout 75 mi (120 km), direct TGV to Auray
- NTE · Nantes Atlantique
- About 140 km (87 mi), TGV via VannesAbout 87 mi (140 km), TGV via Vannes
Typical fares
- Auray station → centre
- 10 min walk
- Summer train Auray → Quiberon
- about €10, 45 min (check)
- TER Auray → Vannes
- about €5, 15 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is compact and walkable. The railway station is a 10-min walk from the centre. A summer train (Tire-Bouchon) runs to Carnac and Quiberon; otherwise buses replace it.
See and do
Known for
- Battle of Auray (1364)
- Saint-Goustan port
- Basilique Saint-Gildas
- Summer train to Quiberon and Carnac
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carnac | Summer train (Tire-Bouchon) from Auray, about 15 min; bus in other months | About 30 min |
| Quiberon | Summer train, about 45 min; bus otherwise | About 1 h |
| Vannes | TER train, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Lorient | TER train, about 30 min | About 45 min |
| Pontivy | Bus or car, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Centre-ville (town centre)
- Walking distance to the port and basilica; most hotels and guesthouses.
- Saint-Goustan
- Historic port area with a few inns; quieter, more atmospheric.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moiex-kyoo-zay mwah |
| How much? | Combien ?kom-byen |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-syon, seel voo pleh |
| Where is the station? | Où est la gare ?oo eh la gahr |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- The summer train to Quiberon runs only from June to September; check the schedule.
- Many restaurants close on Sunday and Monday, especially outside summer.
- Parking in the centre is limited; use the free park-and-ride at the station.
Auray is a safe small town. Watch for pickpockets in the summer train crowds. The port area has uneven cobblestones; wear sturdy shoes.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Auray yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Battle of Auray (1364)
- Saint-Goustan port
- Basilique Saint-Gildas
- Summer train to Quiberon and Carnac
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Auray official website: www.auray.fr/
- Wikivoyage: Auray, revision 5279175 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5279175
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/auray). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.