Brittany’s Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast) is legendary. The magnificent coastline in the department of Côtes-d’Armor is dominated by pink rock formations and rose-coloured sandy beaches. If you asked me what to see in Perros-Guirec, an exploration of the coast would be right at the top of my list of essentials.
The gorgeous pink granite coast is one of the top things to see in Perros-Guirec
Perros-Guirec is the most popular resort town on the Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast), home to pristine sandy beaches and breathtaking hikes along a pink coastline. It is also the most common departure point for boat excursions to les Sept-Îles (the Seven Islands).
And given that climate change has made French summers more and more unforgiving, Perros-Guirec is also one of the most heatwave-resistant areas in the France! I took the pictures for this post at the height of one of the worst heatwaves this summer, and the mercury never went over 30°C (86°F), while in many other parts of France it was a sweltering 40°C (104°F).
Contents
- How to get to Perros-Guirec by train and bus
- Is Perros-Guirec worth visiting?
- How long to stay in Perros-Guirec
- Things to do in Perros-Guirec: Top 12 sights
- 1. Plage de Trestraou (Trestraou Beach)
- 2. Plage de Trestrignel (Trestrignel Beach)
- 3. Pointe du Château (Point of the Castle)
- 4. Ploumanac’h
- 5. Plage de Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec Beach)
- 6. Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path)
- 7. Les Sept-Îles (The Seven Islands)
- 8. Église Saint-Jacques (Saint-Jacques Church)
- 9. Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté (Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté Chapel)
- 10. Port de Perros-Guirec (Port of Perros-Guirec)
- 11. Plage des Arcades (Beach of the Arcades)
- 12. Vallée des Traouïero (Valley of the Traouïero)
- Other destinations near Perros-Guirec
How to get to Perros-Guirec by train and bus
Getting to Perros-Guirec by public transport is possible and not too difficult, even though the town does not have its own train station.
The most common way to get to Perros-Guirec is to take a train to Lannion, a charming town about 11 km away. From the Gare de Lannion (Lannion Train Station), you can then take local bus service E to the city centre of Perros-Guirec.
The catch is that Bus E does not run very frequently throughout the day. Google Maps usually accurately provides the schedule; otherwise, you can check here. If you find yourself with a wait of more than an hour, that gives you the perfect opportunity to visit Lannion, which can be explored easily on foot.
Is Perros-Guirec worth visiting?
Perros-Guirec is one of the most sought-after seaside towns in the Côtes-d’Armor region of Brittany for the following reasons:
- Easy access to the Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast) – Quite honestly, the pink rock formations are some of the most beautiful natural sights I’ve ever seen in my life. They can be accessed easily on foot, especially via the Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path) walk, which I’ll cover later in this guide.
- Beautiful beaches – If you just want to enjoy the sun and the sea, Perros-Guirec is home to some beautiful sandy beaches, the most popular being the Plage de Trestraou (Trestraou Beach), Plage de Trestrignel (Trestrignel Beach) and the lovely Plage de Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec Beach). As an added bonus, the sand has a sweet, rosy hue.
- Boat excursions to les Sept-Îles (the Seven Islands) – Perros-Guirec is the most convenient departure point for boat tours to les Sept-Îles (the Seven Islands).
How long to stay in Perros-Guirec
If you’re wondering how long to stay in Perros-Guirec, I would say that a weekend would be the bare minimum if you wish to explore the Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast). However, if you hope to comfortably visit most of the sights listed below, I would recommend staying in Perros-Guirec for at least three or four days, if not more.
Things to do in Perros-Guirec: Top 12 sights
You’ll find below my list of what to see in Perros-Guirec. I’ve tried to classify them more or less in terms of popularity and importance, as well as group those located in the same area together. If you want, you can even visit all the sights in the order in which they appear in three or four days.
1. Plage de Trestraou (Trestraou Beach)
Located less than a ten-minute walk from the Perros-Guirec town centre, the 1.4 km-long Plage de Trestraou (Trestraou Beach) is probably the most well-known beach in the area, and is also the departure point for boats leaving for excursions to les Sept-Îles (the Seven Islands), some of which you can see from the shore.
There’s a good selection of amenities a stone’s throw from the beach including restaurants, bars and kayak and sailboat rentals.
2. Plage de Trestrignel (Trestrignel Beach)
Plage de Trestrignel (Trestrignel Beach) is one of two beaches located a short walk from the Perros-Guirec town centre, the other being Plage de Trestraou (Trestraou Beach). Plage de Trestrignel (Trestrignel Beach) is even closer, at a five-minute walk from the town hall, and is popular with families thanks to its calm waters. You can spot two of les Sept-Îles (the Seven Islands) from the beach.
3. Pointe du Château (Point of the Castle)
From Plage de Trestrignel (Trestrignel Beach), when you’re facing the sea, you’ll see Pointe du Château (Point of the Castle) on your right. If you follow the path that runs along the beach (not the boardwalk lower down but the asphalt road), you’ll find yourself at the point, which offers some lovely, and usually secluded, views of the sea.
4. Ploumanac’h
Ploumanac’h was previously a fishing village, but now serves mainly as an entry point for those hoping to explore the Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast) on foot via the breathtaking Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path), which in my opinion is an absolute must-see. You can get to Ploumanac’h from the town centre of Perros-Guirec by taking Bus E or the Macareux Bus.
5. Plage de Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec Beach)
Plage de Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec Beach), which is accessible on foot from the Ploumanac’h village centre, is the first thing you’ll see when looking for the Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officer’s Path) trailhead. This is one of the prettiest beaches in all of Perros-Guirec thanks to the pink boulders framing the crystal clear waters.
In the middle of the beach, you’ll see the Oratoire de Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec Oratory), a tiny chapel built in honour of Saint Guirec, perched on a pink rock.
If you climb the stairs on the left (when facing the sea), you’ll also see the Chapelle Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec Chapel). Follow the path to explore a part of the coastline, including Plage de la Bastille (Beach of the Bastille).
6. Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path)
The Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path) is a hike that takes you along the Côte de Granit Rose (Pink Granite Coast), from the side closest to Perros-Guirec town centre, all the way to Ploumanac’h. The path is well-maintained and easy to follow, and in my opinion is essential for travellers to Perros-Guirec.
One of the most popular access points for the Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path) is on the right (when facing the water) of Plage de Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec Beach) in Ploumanac’h. You can follow the path all the way back to the Perros-Guirec town centre, but if you don’t want to walk that much, most of the key sights are from the trailhead to Borne 20 (Boundary Marker 20), which should take about an hour from Plage de Saint-Guirec (Saint-Guirec Beach).
On this stretch of the Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path), you’ll see the pink, rocky coastline in all its glory. Look out for landmarks such as the Phare de Mean Ruz (Mean Ruz Lighthouse) which is (surprise, surprise) pink, la Maison du Littoral (the Coastal House), and l’Ancienne Poudrière (the Old Gunpowder Depot), which is also pink.
I’ve written a separate guide on this stretch of the Perros-Guirec Sentier des douaniers (Customs Officers’ Path) that lets you know exactly what you’ll be seeing.
7. Les Sept-Îles (The Seven Islands)
Les Sept-Îles (the Seven Islands) is an archipelago of mostly uninhabited islands which now serve as a bird reserve where you can spot puffins, cormorants and northern gannets.
Perros-Guirec is the main departure point for boat excursions to les Sept-Îles (the Seven Islands). Armor Navigation is the main trip provider, with their tours running from April to late September and lasting from 1 hour 45 minutes to 2.5 hours. At the moment, commentary is only in French, but even if you don’t speak French the boat ride is enjoyable and the bird reserve is amazing to witness.
The point of departure is at the Gare Maritime (Ferry Terminal) at Plage de Trestraou (Trestraou Beach). You’ll see it on the left-hand side of the beach when you’re facing the sea.
8. Église Saint-Jacques (Saint-Jacques Church)
The Perros-Guirec town centre is quite compact, but still contains a few nice surprises, such as the Église Saint-Jacques (Saint-Jacques Church). Rumoured to have been founded by Saint Guirec, not much is known about this church, which could date back to as early as the 9th or 10th century.
9. Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté (Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté Chapel)
If you’re walking back to Perros-Guirec from Ploumanac’h, you might come across Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté (Notre-Dame-de-la-Clarté Chapel), which was built in a flamboyant Breton style and was partially constructed using pink granite, giving it its rosy hue.
10. Port de Perros-Guirec (Perros-Guirec Port)
The Port de Perros-Guirec (Perros-Guirec Port) is located a 20-minute walk from the city centre (be prepared to climb steep slopes) and also accessible by bus. This is a favourite spot for visitors looking for a spot to dine or have a drink at the end of the day.
11. Plage des Arcades (Beach of the Arcades)
This pebble beach is located a 15- to 20-minute walk from the Perros-Guirec city centre. Due to the rocks, not many people come here to sunbathe or swim, which means it is always peaceful. I wouldn’t make a detour just to come here, but if you’re walking from the town centre to the port you’ll come across it.
12. Vallée des Traouïero (Valley of the Traouïero)
If you’re staying for a few days in Perros-Guirec, you might want to visit the Vallée des Traouïero (Valley of the Traouïero), which is located inland and is home to lush vegetation and interesting rock formations. The area is composed of two valleys that can be explored on foot.
The most common point of access can be found on Route de Randreus. Take Bus E (direction Lannion) to Carr. de Ploumanac’h, and then walk to Route de Randreus. Follow Route de Randreus to the south until you see signs marking the trailhead to the valley on your left. The full walk is about 5 km and isn’t difficult at all, and there are several entry/exit points along the way in case you don’t want to do the whole thing.
I’ve written a separate guide detailing some of the key points of interest in the Vallée des Traouïero (Valley of the Traouïero).
Other destinations near Perros-Guirec
- Lannion is a pretty town that serves as an access point to Perros-Guirec and is worth a day trip. If you’re hoping to save money on accommodation during peak tourist season, you can even stay in Lannion and then take the bus to Perros-Guirec each day.
- Major Breton cities near Perros-Guirec include Brest and Saint-Brieuc, which can be reached via train from Lannion.
- There are many other seaside resort towns on the north coast of Brittany near Perros-Guirec, some of the most well-known being Roscoff and Paimpol.
