Cycling in Saint-Malo: the cycle path map and routes

The Sillon is Saint-Malo's cycling showcase: about 3 kilometres along the seafront, from the Porte Saint-Vincent (old town) to the Pointe de Rochebonne (Paramé), with no climbing. You ride facing the sea, with the breakwaters and sand on one side and the seaside villas on the other. Two spaces sit side by side: the seawall promenade (the digue) on the beach side, which is first and foremost for pedestrians, and the Chaussée du Sillon road on the villa side, where the real cycle facility is.

On the road, a two-way cycle track runs from the old town for about 700 metres, from the Palais des Congrès to the Voie de la Liberté junction. It continues as cycle lanes (Chaussée du Sillon, Avenue Pasteur, Boulevard Chateaubriand, Avenue Kennedy, Boulevard de Rothéneuf), in a 30 km/h zone, as far as Rothéneuf. On the seawall, bikes are tolerated but must go at walking pace among the walkers: their presence is debated, and after petitions from local residents in summer 2026, the town opted for awareness signs rather than a ban. The prevailing wind is from the north-west, so the return from Rochebonne can be into the wind: worth bearing in mind if you are riding with children.

La Vélomaritime is the long-distance cycle route that runs along the north coast of France for more than 1,500 kilometres, from Roscoff to Dunkirk. It crosses Saint-Malo and continues towards Cancale (18 km), Le Vivier-sur-Mer and the Mont Saint-Michel (68 km). It is EuroVelo route 4, signposted in both directions with the Vélomaritime logo; note that the loop into Cancale is not signposted.

According to France Vélo Tourisme, the Saint-Malo to Cancale section (18 km, about 1 hour 15) runs entirely on shared roads, including 8 km of provisional route: there is no separate path all the way. In Saint-Malo, a cycle track and then cycle lanes line the road for about 5 km, from the Sillon to Rothéneuf. Beyond Rothéneuf, you take minor roads through Saint-Coulomb, with crossings of departmental roads that are busy in summer. There is little climbing (44 m in total, highest point 48 m), but the official Vélomaritime website gives the stage its toughest rating, “Je me dépasse” (“I push myself”), mainly because of the traffic and the road crossings.

There is no continuous greenway from Saint-Malo to Dinan. The waymarked route (the V42, formerly V2, which the V403 also follows) starts with the sea bus across to Dinard, because the road over the Rance barrage is not recommended by bike. In Dinard, the greenway starts on rue de la Corbinais and follows the old Dinard to Dinan railway line for about 17 km, through Pleurtuit, Tréméreuc and Pleslin-Trigavou, to Saint-Samson-sur-Rance. It is closed to cars, with a stabilised surface and plenty of shade, but it crosses roads: the D64 at Bourgneuf and the D366 near Pleslin-Trigavou call for care.

The route is not flat: it climbs gently from about 28 m above sea level in Dinard to about 84 m near Pleslin, then drops back down to the Rance by road at Saint-Samson. From Saint-Samson to Dinan harbour there are another 6.8 km, partly on minor roads, then along the Rance. In total, Dinard to Dinan harbour is about 23 to 24 km. On arrival, the medieval town looks down on the Rance from its ramparts; from the harbour, the cobbled and very steep rue du Jerzual climbs to the old town: you will probably be pushing your bike. To go further, the Ille-et-Rance canal towpath starts at the écluse du Châtelier, in Saint-Samson-sur-Rance, and the V42 links Dinan to Rennes in about 79 km.

There is no continuous cycle path between Saint-Malo and Dinard. The Rance estuary separates the two towns, and the road across the Rance barrage (D168) has no cycle facilities at all: the Département d'Ille-et-Vilaine identifies it as dangerous for cyclists, and France Vélo Tourisme considers it too dangerous by bike. A cycle track on the barrage is planned, but not before 2031-2032.

The best solution is the sea bus (bus de mer), which links Saint-Malo (cale de Dinan, below the ramparts) to Dinard in 10 minutes. Two companies run the crossing, Compagnie Corsaire and Bateaux Rouges, and both take bikes. In Dinard, the boats land at the Promenade du Clair de Lune (reached by stairs) or at the cale de la Vallée, which is easier with a bike. It is by far the most enjoyable option: you cross the estuary with views of the ramparts and the Dinard villas.

Saint-Servan is the southern quarter of Saint-Malo, between the harbour and the Rance estuary. Less touristy than the old town, it has an authentic charm with the Tour Solidor (14th century), the Anse Solidor (a picturesque little marina), the Cité d'Alet (a fortified Gallo-Roman site) and spectacular views of Dinard and the estuary.

The Saint-Servan circuit is about 8 kilometres as a loop from the old town. There is no dedicated cycle path, but the streets are quiet and much of the route is in a 30 km/h zone. Watch out for the descents towards the Anse Solidor and the Cité d'Alet: they are steep and the climbs back up require some effort. An e-bike is a real bonus here.

From the Rochebonne headland (end of the Sillon), you continue east towards Rothéneuf. This section is the link between the urban Saint-Malo network and the coastal Vélomaritime. Cycle lanes line the road (Avenue Kennedy, Boulevard de Rothéneuf); at the end, residential streets lead to the sculpted rocks of Rothéneuf.

The terrain is gently undulating. Nothing insurmountable on a city bike, but electric assist makes the ride noticeably smoother. Once at Rothéneuf, you discover another side of Saint-Malo: the wild coast, coves, paths between rocks and absolute peace.