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Voykit pocket guide · France
Carnac
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Carnac: see the menhir alignments and relax on a beach, then head back.
Carnac is a small Breton town famed for its dense megalithic sites and nearby beaches. One day covers the main stone rows and a quick swim; longer stays suit beach‑goers or hikers.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (warm, sunny, open beaches)
- Avoid
- Oct–May (cool, some sites have limited hours)
- 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 €55–85 excl. bed · Mid €85–130 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 and ambulance 15
- 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 | €1–2 |
| Crêpe (sweet or savory) | €3–5 |
| Bottled water | €1 |
| Public bus ticket | €1.50 |
| Entry to Saint‑Michel tumulus | Free |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LRT · Lorient Bretagne Sud Airport
- about 30 km (19 mi) north, shuttle or taxi to Carnacabout 19 mi (30 km) north, shuttle or taxi to Carnac
Typical fares
- Auray ↔ Carnac TER
- ≈ €9 each way, ticket bought on board or at station
- Bike hire (day)
- ≈ €12
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
Walk between stone sites (all within 2 km (1.2 mi) of town centre). Bicycles and local buses serve the beaches; taxis available from Lorient airport.Walk between stone sites (all within 1.2 mi (2 km) of town centre). Bicycles and local buses serve the beaches; taxis available from Lorient airport.
See and do
Known for
- Carnac stones (menhir alignments)
- Saint‑Michel tumulus
- Beaches on the Atlantic coast
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Auray | TER Bretagne train, 12 min from Carnac station | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Les Chaumières de Kerimel
- Eco‑farmhouse guest rooms, €110–120 per night for 2, breakfast included
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Excuse me | Bonjour / Excusez‑moibon‑zhoor / eks‑kyoo‑zay mwa |
| How much does it cost? | C’est combien ?say kohm‑byan |
| Where is the beach? | Où est la plage ?oo eh lah plazh |
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
- Summer beaches can be crowded; arrive early for parking.
- Check tide times for safe swimming in the Golfe du Morbihan.
Generally safe; watch for strong currents in the Gulf of Morbihan and keep belongings secure on busy beaches.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Carnac yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Carnac stones (menhir alignments)
- Saint‑Michel tumulus
- Beaches on the Atlantic coast
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Carnac: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Carnac, revision 5279176 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5279176
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/carnac). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.