Brest is a city on the west Atlantic coast of France. It has a long history of navigation. There are very large tides here.

Get in

By plane

Brest is served by a regional airport [1], located to the north-east of the city. It's used mainly by Air France for its domestic routes (Paris-CDG, Paris-Orly, Lyon, Marseille, Nice) and a route to London, but also by Easyjet (Lyon), Ryanair (Marseille), Flybe (Birmingham, Southampton), and other companies for regular routes (Bordeaux, Toulon, Barcelona) or special services. A bus shuttle service connects the airport to the closest tram station (Porte de Guipavas). The fare is the same as other trams and buses of the bibus network.

By boat

Brittany Ferries operates a daily route between Plymouth (England) and Roscoff (about 55 km to Brest) and a weekly route between Cork (Ireland) and Roscoff.

By train

The SNCF provides TGV route to Paris (8/day) and regional trains routes to Rennes or Quimper.

By car

Brest is linked with Rennes (N12) and Nantes (N165) by toll-free divided highways.

See

• Océanopolis, ☏ +33 298 34 40 40. This giant aquarium has 3 thematic pavilions (polar, tropical and temperate) that offers a discovery of the world's oceans. Located at the Moulin Blanc port. 

• Brest Castle, ☏ +33 298 22 12 39. The houses the Navy Museum, which has a collection of craft models, paintings and sculptures. 

• The Tanguy Tower [2], located near the Recouvrance bridge, houses a permanent exhibition on the history of the town.

• Art gallery, 24 rue Traverse. Phone: +33 298 00 87 96.

• The Vallon du Stang Alar houses a famous botanic garden and greenhouses.

Drink

The Blind Piper Pub is one of many Irish pubs in Brest. It's located in the block southwest of the Liberté square. They got their Kilkenny right and fresh. Ambience was one to be expected.

Go next

• The islands Molène and Ouessant, in the mer d'Iroise