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Voykit pocket guide · France
Vannes
Spend 1–2 days in Vannes: walk the medieval centre, take a short boat to a Gulf island, and return to a budget hotel.
Vannes is a compact Breton town with a walled medieval centre, a lively harbour and easy boat links to the Gulf of Morbihan. Its sights fit in a half‑day, but a full day lets you add a island trip and a meal of galettes. One night in a central hotel is enough for a quick stop; two nights give a relaxed pace.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–September
- Avoid
- January–February (cold, limited boat service)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
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 €50–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 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 · General 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 |
|---|---|
| Galette (buckwheat crepe) | €5–8 |
| Cider (glass) | €3–5 |
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Bus Pass Journée | €4.20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NTE · Nantes Atlantique
- TGV to Vannes, about 1 h 15 min
- BES · Brest Bretagne
- TGV to Vannes, about 2 h 30 min
Typical fares
- Vannes train station ↔ town centre
- ≈18 min walk (1.5 km (0.9 mi))≈18 min walk (0.9 mi (1.5 km))
- Kicéo bus Pass Journée
- €4.20 (check price)
- Boat to Île aux Moines
- ≈€12 round trip (check schedule)
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 the historic centre; use Kicéo city buses (Pass Journée €4.20, check) or Vélocéo bike hire (app). Train station 1.5 km (0.9 mi) north of centre, 18 min walk.Walk the historic centre; use Kicéo city buses (Pass Journée €4.20, check) or Vélocéo bike hire (app). Train station 0.9 mi (1.5 km) north of centre, 18 min walk.
See and do
Known for
- medieval walls
- Vélocéo bike hire
- Gulf of Morbihan boat trips
- Galettes and cider
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Île aux Moines (Moines Island) | Boat from Vannes harbour, about 30 min | ≈45 min total |
| Carnac megaliths | Train Vannes → Carnac, ~30 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Villa Kerasy
- Boutique hotel, spa, central, rooms €99+ per night
- L'Océan
- 2‑star harbour view, double €59–69, family €66–96
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moiexküzé mwa |
| Thank you | Mercimehr-see |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?seh kom-byan |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?oo son lay twah-let |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ?zhuh puh pay-yay par kart |
| I would like a coffee, please | Un café, s’il vous plaîtuhn kah-fay seel voo pleh |
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
- Bus Pass price from 2019; verify current fare.
- Bike‑hire app may need a French phone number.
- Boat timetables vary by season; check in advance.
Vannes is safe for tourists; petty theft is rare but keep bags close in crowded markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Vannes yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- medieval walls
- Vélocéo bike hire
- Gulf of Morbihan boat trips
- Galettes and cider
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: Vannes, revision 5315493 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5315493
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/vannes). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.