Dinard, on the Emerald Coast, facing Saint-Malo across the Rance estuary, is the Breton seaside resort of Belle Époque villas, beaches and the British Film Festival. To visit Dinard well, this guide explains what to see, how to get to Saint-Malo, what its climate is really like and when to go.
What the Météo-France normals show: summer is cooler than in Paris (22.3 °C, or 72 °F, in the afternoon in August in Dinard, 3.3 °C (6 °F) less than at Paris-Montsouris), and over the year the Dinard station gets about as much sunshine as Paris (1,733 hours against 1,717, Destination de Voyage calculation). A climate for walking by the sea rather than lazing in a heatwave.
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Dinard at a glance
- Location Ille-et-Vilaine, Emerald Coast, west bank of the Rance estuary, facing Saint-Malo
- Train no station in Dinard any more; TGV to Saint-Malo, then bus or ferry shuttle (Wikipedia)
- Air Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo airport, in the neighboring municipality
- Main beaches L’Écluse, Le Prieuré, Saint-Énogat, Le Port-Blanc
- Entry Schengen area: US and UK citizens need no visa for short tourist stays (travel.state.gov, GOV.UK)
- Best time June to September; May for quiet walks
What to see in Dinard: the highlights
The Belle Époque villas
Dinard has many listed villas from the 1900s and 1910s. The story begins with William Faber, an American living in Dinan, who had houses built on the Pointe du Moulinet in the mid-19th century and sold them on to English-speaking friends: the origin of the British colony. After 1865, villas in very varied styles multiplied on the Pointe de la Malouine and in Saint-Énogat. Bay windows and English-style gardens: the British influence can still be read in the architecture.
The Promenade du Clair de Lune
Laid out to cope with the influx of visitors in the late 19th century, replacing a suspension footbridge considered unsafe, the Promenade du Clair de Lune follows the estuary to Le Prieuré beach at its eastern end. It is the classic walk, with the view of Saint-Malo.
L’Écluse beach and the Hitchcock statue
The main beach, at the foot of the town center, L’Écluse is lined by the casino, the seawater pool and the conference center. On the seawall, a statue pays tribute to Alfred Hitchcock and his film The Birds, linked to the British Film Festival held every fall.
The coastal path
According to Wikipedia, a coastal path links Le Prieuré beach to Le Port-Blanc, passing small unsupervised beaches (La Malouine, Port-Riou, Notre-Dame-du-Roc). It is the best way to see the villas, the rocky headlands and the bay together. Watch the tide on the low sections: check the day’s tide table before setting out.
The Rance tidal power station
Located in the neighboring municipality of La Richardais, the tidal power station, a technical feat of the 1960s, links Dinard and Saint-Malo by the road that runs over the dam. Wikipedia describes it as a major tourist site on the Emerald Coast.
Dinard or Saint-Malo: where to stay?
| Criterion | Dinard | Saint-Malo |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Seaside resort, villas, quiet | Walled city, ramparts, livelier |
| Train | No station | TGV station |
| Beaches | Four main beaches | Beaches in town |
| Link | Ferry shuttle to Saint-Malo | Ferry shuttle to Dinard |
The easiest option without a car: arrive by train in Saint-Malo and cross to Dinard on the ferry shuttle. Our Saint-Malo guide covers the walled city and its ramparts.
Around Dinard: how far is it?
| Place | Interest | Straight-line distance from Dinard |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Lunaire | Neighboring seaside resort | about 3 km (2 mi) |
| Rance tidal power station | Dam and power station | about 3 km (2 mi) |
| Saint-Malo | Walled city, ramparts, TGV station | about 4 km (2 mi) |
| Saint-Briac-sur-Mer | Village and beaches | about 5 km (3 mi) |
| Cancale | Port and oysters | about 16 km (10 mi) |
| Dinan | Medieval town on the Rance | about 20 km (12 mi) |
| Cap Fréhel | Cliffs | about 20 km (12 mi) |
| Mont-Saint-Michel | Abbey | about 40 km (25 mi) |
How to read it: Saint-Malo is just opposite, Saint-Lunaire and Saint-Briac next door; Dinan and Cap Fréhel are easy day trips, and Mont-Saint-Michel remains a possible excursion. Straight-line distances, not travel times.
Itinerary: Dinard in 1, 2 or 3 days
- Day 1: the Promenade du Clair de Lune, Le Prieuré beach, the town center and its market, L’Écluse beach and the Hitchcock statue.
- Day 2: the coastal path to Saint-Énogat and Le Port-Blanc, the villas of the Pointe de la Malouine; Saint-Lunaire in the afternoon.
- Day 3: ferry shuttle to Saint-Malo, or Dinan and the Rance tidal power station.
When to go to Dinard
According to the normals for the Dinard station (1991-2020), June to September are the most pleasant months: 20.2 to 22.3 °C (68 to 72 °F) in the afternoon, 7.1 hours of sunshine a day in July. May and September combine mild weather and calm. October to December are the wettest months (89.0 mm, or 3.5 in, and 14.0 rainy days in November). Winter stays mild for northern Brittany (9.1 °C, or 48 °F, in the afternoon in January) but grey and windy.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rainy days | Sun / day | Sun vs Paris | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.1 °C (48 °F) | 3.8 °C (39 °F) | 64.0 mm (2.5 in) | 11.8 | 2.2 h | +0.3 h | ⚠️ Mild but grey |
| February | 9.8 °C (50 °F) | 3.6 °C (38 °F) | 56.0 mm (2.2 in) | 11.3 | 3.3 h | +0.3 h | ⚠️ Mild but grey |
| March | 12.2 °C (54 °F) | 4.9 °C (41 °F) | 47.6 mm (1.9 in) | 10.1 | 4.3 h | −0.1 h | ⚠️ Cool, first sunny spells |
| April | 14.5 °C (58 °F) | 6.2 °C (43 °F) | 53.9 mm (2.1 in) | 10.4 | 6.0 h | +0.1 h | ✅ Spring, walks |
| May | 17.3 °C (63 °F) | 9.1 °C (48 °F) | 56.0 mm (2.2 in) | 9.0 | 6.5 h | +0.1 h | ✅ Pleasant, quiet |
| June | 20.2 °C (68 °F) | 11.8 °C (53 °F) | 54.1 mm (2.1 in) | 8.4 | 6.9 h | +0.1 h | ✅ Ideal |
| July | 22.1 °C (72 °F) | 13.6 °C (56 °F) | 46.1 mm (1.8 in) | 7.6 | 7.1 h | −0.1 h | ✅ Ideal, sunniest |
| August | 22.3 °C (72 °F) | 13.7 °C (57 °F) | 58.3 mm (2.3 in) | 9.0 | 6.5 h | −0.4 h | ✅ Ideal |
| September | 20.3 °C (69 °F) | 11.8 °C (53 °F) | 60.2 mm (2.4 in) | 9.4 | 5.7 h | −0.2 h | ✅ Very good, quieter |
| October | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 9.7 °C (49 °F) | 81.3 mm (3.2 in) | 13.1 | 3.7 h | −0.1 h | ⚠️ More frequent rain |
| November | 12.4 °C (54 °F) | 6.5 °C (44 °F) | 89.0 mm (3.5 in) | 14.0 | 2.7 h | +0.3 h | ❌ Wettest month |
| December | 9.7 °C (49 °F) | 4.2 °C (40 °F) | 85.5 mm (3.4 in) | 13.8 | 2.1 h | +0.3 h | ⚠️ Wet, windy |
Dinard vs Paris: cooler in summer, milder in winter
| Month | Dinard high | Paris high | Difference | Sun / day Dinard | Sun / day Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.1 °C (48 °F) | 7.6 °C (46 °F) | +1.5 °C (+3 °F) | 2.2 h | 1.9 h |
| April | 14.5 °C (58 °F) | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | −2.1 °C (−4 °F) | 6.0 h | 5.9 h |
| June | 20.2 °C (68 °F) | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | −3.2 °C (−6 °F) | 6.9 h | 6.8 h |
| July | 22.1 °C (72 °F) | 25.7 °C (78 °F) | −3.6 °C (−6 °F) | 7.1 h | 7.2 h |
| August | 22.3 °C (72 °F) | 25.6 °C (78 °F) | −3.3 °C (−6 °F) | 6.5 h | 6.9 h |
| October | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | +0.0 °C (0 °F) | 3.7 h | 3.8 h |
How to read it: in summer, it is 3.6 °C (6 °F) cooler than in Paris in the afternoon in July, and the Dinard station records only 0.7 days at 30 °C (86 °F) or more in July, against 5.5 in Paris. It is a good refuge during heatwaves. On the other hand, it rains more often: see our ranking of the rainiest cities in France.
| Season | Expected rainy days over 3 days |
|---|---|
| Winter (December-February) | 1.2 |
| Spring (March-May) | 1.0 |
| Summer (June-August) | 0.8 |
| Fall (September-November) | 1.2 |
Events in Dinard
- British Film Festival: every fall (Wikipedia); dates on the town’s website.
- Route du Rhum 2026: start from Saint-Malo on Sunday 1 November 2026 at 1:02 p.m., according to the Dinard Côte d’Émeraude tourist office, which gives tips for following the event from the coast.
- Rendez-vous aux Jardins and the Cowes-Dinard sailing race: listed by Wikipedia; dates from the organizers.
Where to stay in Dinard
| Area | Best for | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Center, L’Écluse beach | No car | Shops, market, beach, casino |
| Le Prieuré and the Promenade du Clair de Lune | Views of Saint-Malo | Ferry landing and estuary walk |
| Saint-Énogat | Quiet, families | Beach and a seasonal market |
Getting there and getting around Dinard
- By train: Dinard station was demolished in the 2000s; the TGV runs to Saint-Malo, with a bus connection (Wikipedia).
- By boat: a ferry shuttle links Dinard to Saint-Malo.
- By air: Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo airport.
- By car: via the expressways (no motorway to the coast); the road over the Rance tidal power station links Dinard to Saint-Malo.
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025): you may enter the Schengen area, including France, for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa; your passport should be valid at least three months beyond your stay, and officers may ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket.
- UK citizens (GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026): no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist; your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented: fingerprints and a photo may be taken at your first entry, free of charge.
- Health: take out travel insurance that covers medical costs; UK residents can also use a GHIC or a valid EHIC (GOV.UK). The State Department advises being up to date on CDC-recommended vaccinations.
- Swimming: according to GOV.UK, most beaches have lifeguards and flag warning systems; make sure you understand them before swimming. The small beaches along the coastal path are unsupervised.
- Emergencies at sea: 196 from the shore to reach the CROSS sea rescue center, according to the French Ministry for the Sea (mer.gouv.fr).
- Emergencies: 112 (European emergency number), 15 for medical emergencies (travel.state.gov, GOV.UK).
Practical tips for Dinard
- Tides: on the coastal path and the beaches, check the day’s tide times; the sea comes in fast over the foreshore.
- Wind: follow Météo-France weather warnings; the town relays alerts on its website.
- Clothing: even in summer, a windproof for the evening.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Dinard?
The Belle Époque villas, the Promenade du Clair de Lune, L’Écluse and Le Prieuré beaches, the Hitchcock statue, the coastal path to Le Port-Blanc and, nearby, the Rance tidal power station.
Is there a train station in Dinard?
No, not since the 2000s. You come by TGV to Saint-Malo, then by bus or ferry shuttle.
How do you get from Dinard to Saint-Malo?
By the ferry shuttle that crosses the estuary, or by the road over the Rance tidal power station.
Is Dinard hot in summer?
Moderately: an average of 22.1 °C (72 °F) in the afternoon in July, 3.6 °C (6 °F) less than in Paris (Météo-France 1991-2020, Destination de Voyage calculation).
When is the Dinard British Film Festival?
Every fall. The dates of each edition are published by the town and the organizers.
Our sources
- Météo-France: climate data sheet, 1991-2020 statistics, Dinard station (65 m, in the municipality of Pleurtuit); Paris-Montsouris station for the comparison (sheets checked 23 October 2026).
- Destination de Voyage calculation: temperature and sunshine differences with Paris, straight-line distances (Wikipedia coordinates), rainy days over 3 days
- Town of Dinard (ville-dinard.fr), checked 23 October 2026
- Dinard Côte d’Émeraude tourist office (dinardemeraudetourisme.com), checked 23 October 2026
- Wikipedia: « Dinard » (French article), checked 23 October 2026
- French Ministry for the Sea: how to alert sea rescue (196), checked 26 October 2026
- Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, France country information (last updated August 11, 2025) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for France (updated 22 October 2026).
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
To extend your trip, see our Brittany guide and our Saint-Malo, Quiberon and Belle-Île-en-Mer pages.
