Major city · France
Guérande
Give Guérande one night: walk the 1.4 km (0.9 mi) ramparts and the salt marshes in an afternoon, then move on to La Baule or the Croisic coast.Give Guérande one night: walk the 0.9 mi (1.4 km) ramparts and the salt marshes in an afternoon, then move on to La Baule or the Croisic coast.
Guérande is a walled medieval town on a hill above the Guérande peninsula salt marshes, in Loire-Atlantique. The ramparts survive in full, about 1,434 m around four gates, and the salt pans still work: roughly 250 paludiers harvest salt here each summer. The old town is small enough to cover on foot in half a day, so most travellers use it as a stop between Nantes, La Baule and the Croisic coast rather than a base for a week.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- avoid Jul–Aug (crowds, heat), Nov–Feb (many sites closed)
- Airport
- NTE
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Guérande112 ▾
- European emergency (English)112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
- Police station, Guérande02 40 24 90 42
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Guérande, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyGuérande is a small, low-crime town; the real risks are uneven ramparts, coastal weather that turns fast…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency (English) · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNTE Nantes Atlantique (About 80 km (50 mi) by road; roughly 1 h by car, longer by bus and train via Nantes or Saint-Nazaire.).NTE Nantes Atlantique (About 50 mi (80 km) by road; roughly 1 h by car, longer by bus and train via Nantes or Saint-Nazaire.).
- Getting aroundThe old town is walkable in 20 minutes end to end; leave the car outside the walls.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
- Metro or bus rideBus journey, Loire-Atlantique€2 (≈ US$3) (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–25 (≈ US$12–30)
- Budget bedFamily room or gîte (up to 4), a night, per room€110 (≈ US$130)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NTE Nantes Atlantique (About 80 km (50 mi) by road; roughly 1 h by car, longer by bus and train via Nantes or Saint-Nazaire.)NTE Nantes Atlantique (About 50 mi (80 km) by road; roughly 1 h by car, longer by bus and train via Nantes or Saint-Nazaire.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Feb
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Mar
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Apr
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
May
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jun
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jul
Avoid
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Avoid
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Sep
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Oct
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Dec
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Nov–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) low), wettest Jan (13 rain days), driest Jul (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Guérande: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
13 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
11 rd
Mar
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
11 rd
Apr
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
May
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
9 rd
Jun
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
Aug
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
Sep
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
11 rd
Nov
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
12 rd
Dec
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
13 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town is walkable in 20 minutes end to end; leave the car outside the walls. Buses across Loire-Atlantique cost about €2 a journey and the ticket is valid 2 hours, connecting with the Nantes and Saint-Nazaire networks. Trains run to Le Croisic and Saint-Nazaire; a car is the practical way to reach the salt marshes and La Brière.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Le Croisic
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Car or train toward Le Croisic, then walk the harbour
Fishing port and the Côte Sauvage; pair with the salt marshes.
La Baule
goDoor to door: About 25–35 min
Car or bus via La Baule-Escoublac
Long sandy beach and Belle Époque seafront; easy half-day.
La Brière regional park
goDoor to door: About 45–60 min
Car to Port de Bréca or Île de Fédrun, then a chaland boat
Marsh channels by flat boat; book a departure in summer.
Door to door: About 1–1.5 h
Car on the N171/A11, or train via Saint-Nazaire
Too much for a rushed return; sleep there or stop en route.
Saint-Nazaire
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Car on the N171, or train
Submarine base and shipyards; good wet-weather option.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Inside the walls (intra-muros)
Walk to everything; few rooms, book ahead in summer.
Around the Porte Saint-Michel
Edge of the old town, easier parking and quick access to the ring road.
La Baule or Le Croisic
Coastal bases 15–25 min away; more beds and beach, less medieval.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- €90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
- High
- €150 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × €120 | €120 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €110 | €220 |
| Bus journey across Loire-Atlantique2 × €2 · check | €4 |
| Salt-marsh guided visit2 × €8 · check | €16 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €39 |
| Trip total≈ €215 per person per day, bed included | €429≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in euros; travel to Guérande excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Crêpe or galette | €6–12 (≈ US$7–14) |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €14–20 (≈ US$17–25) |
| Fleur de sel, small jar | €5–12 (≈ US$6–14) |
| Bus journey, Loire-Atlantique | €2 (≈ US$3) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–25 (≈ US$12–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Parking inside the walls is limited; use the lots by Porte Saint-Michel and Porte Bizienne.
- Salt-marsh visits are seasonal and often guided only: check times before you drive out.
- Summer weekends and the May medieval festival fill the old town; book beds early.
- Rampart walkways are uneven and unlit in places: watch your step after rain.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency (English)
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
- Police station, Guérande
- 02 40 24 90 42
Pocket card
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GuérandeGuérande
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency (English)112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
No embassy in Guérande; the US and UK have embassies in Paris, and most countries keep consulates in Nantes or Paris (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus journey, Loire-Atlantique: about €2 (≈ US$3), valid 2 h (check)
- Nantes Atlantique → Guérande by car: about 80 km (50 mi), roughly 1 h (check)about 50 mi (80 km), roughly 1 h (check)
- Paris Montparnasse → Nantes by TGV: about 3 h, then onward by car or train (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- S'il vous plaît — Please (seel voo PLEH)
- C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
- Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-yay par kart)
- Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)
Service is included by law in France; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Guérande. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds, heat), Nov–Feb (many sites closed) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NTE: last bus and train departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: intra-muros, Porte Saint-Michel, the salt-marsh visitor sites.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (ramparts, Saint-Aubin, Porte Saint-Michel museum, salt-marsh houses) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialGuérande tourist office
- officialMaison des Paludiers, Guérande
- officialTerre de Sel, salt marshes
- secondaryWikivoyage: Guerande, revision 5046567 (CC BY-SA 4.0)