In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · France
Dinan
Half a day to a full day: walk the ramparts, see the castle and timber houses, then move on. One night if you want a quiet evening by the port.
Dinan is a well-preserved medieval town in inland Brittany, with a castle, stone ramparts and a working port on the Rance river. It's compact enough to see in a few hours and works best as a stop between Rennes and the coast.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (many places closed or 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 €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 and ambulance 18 · 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 | €1.50–3.00 |
| Crêpe (galette) | €7–12 |
| Menu du jour (lunch) | €14–20 |
| Beer (demi / pression) | €4–6 |
| Castle entry | €6–8 |
| Railway Museum entry | €5 |
| Taxi from Dinan to Dinard | €25–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DNR · Dinard–Pleurtuit–Saint-Malo Airport
- About 20 km (12 mi); seasonal flights from the UK and Ireland. Bus or taxi to Dinan.About 12 mi (20 km); seasonal flights from the UK and Ireland. Bus or taxi to Dinan.
- RNS · Rennes–Saint-Jacques Airport
- About 60 km (37 mi); train from Rennes station to Dinan.About 37 mi (60 km); train from Rennes station to Dinan.
Typical fares
- Train Rennes → Dinan
- about €12, 45 min (check)
- Bus Dinan → Dinard
- about €3, 20 min (check)
- Taxi Dinan old town → port
- €8–12
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
Walkable: the old town is about 1 km (0.6 mi) across. Steep cobbled streets down to the port; a shuttle bus runs in season or you can drive down. Parking outside the ramparts is easier.Walkable: the old town is about 0.6 mi (1 km) across. Steep cobbled streets down to the port; a shuttle bus runs in season or you can drive down. Parking outside the ramparts is easier.
See and do
Known for
- Medieval ramparts and timber-framed houses
- Château de Dinan (castle)
- Port of Dinan on the Rance river
- Fête des Remparts (medieval festival, odd-numbered years)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dinard | Bus or taxi, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Saint-Malo | Bus or train via Dinard, about 40 min | About 1 h |
| Mont-Saint-Michel | Car via the A84, about 1 h 15 min; bus from Dinan? check | About 1.5 h |
| Rennes | Train, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Old town (intra-muros)
- Inside the ramparts; walking distance to castle, restaurants and the port stairs.
- Near the train station
- Quieter, cheaper hotels; 10–15 min walk uphill to the old town.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sa koot |
| Where is the castle? | Où est le château ?oo ay luh sha-toh |
| A crêpe, please | Une crêpe, s'il vous plaîtoon krep seel voo pleh |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ?par-lay voo zahn-gleh |
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
- Steep cobbled streets between the old town and the port: wear flat shoes.
- The castle keep may be closed for restoration at times: check the official site.
- Restaurants in the main square are tourist-priced; walk a block or two for better value.
Very safe. Watch your step on the cobbles and keep an eye on bags in the main square. The port area is quiet at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Dinan yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Medieval ramparts and timber-framed houses
- Château de Dinan (castle)
- Port of Dinan on the Rance river
- Fête des Remparts (medieval festival, odd-numbered years)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Dinan, revision 5296558 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296558
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/dinan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.