City guide
What to do in Concarneau: the complete guide
The walled town on its islet, the fishing port, the Marinarium, the Sables Blancs beach, Pont-Aven and the Glénan islands: what to do in Concarneau and the surrounding area.
6 min read
Concarneau is a real fishing port, one of the leading ones in France, and a fortified town set in the middle of its harbour. Both can be visited on the same day.
The Ville Close
Surrounded by ramparts, the old town sits on an islet linked to the quay by a bridge. You enter through the Porte du Passage, wander along Rue Vauban among shops and crêperies, and climb the ramparts for the view over the harbour.
The Musée de la Pêche, in the Ville Close, is closed for renovation: it is due to reopen in 2027.
What to see in Concarneau
Heritage siteVille Close de ConcarneauConcarneau · An hour and a half to two hoursA fortified islet set in the middle of Concarneau’s harbours, ringed by granite ramparts, pedestrian and still lived in.
CastleChâteau de KérioletConcarneau · 1 to 1 h 30In Concarneau, Kériolet is a 19th-century neo-Gothic fantasy mixing granite, Breton symbols, sculpted decoration and a story worthy of a novel.
FestivalFestival des Filets BleusConcarneau · Half a day to 5 daysThe Festival des Filets Bleus in Concarneau: music, dance, costumes and a popular celebration on the quays. The 2026 edition is over; the 2027 dates are still to come.
The Marinarium and the Passage ferry
The Marinarium, attached to the oldest marine biology station in the world, shows life in the bay in aquariums; it opens mainly in summer, so check its dates before you go. Right opposite, a small ferry crosses the harbour in a few minutes to the Passage district.
The beaches and the Cabellou walk
The Sables Blancs beach is the closest to the centre. The Pointe du Cabellou, to the south, can be reached on foot along the coastal path, with the Ville Close as a backdrop.
At sea and in the bay
- ActivityConcarneau : visite guidée de la ville close et du centreConcarneau · 2 hoursA 2-hour guided tour of Concarneau: the fortified Ville Close on the water, then the centre, the marinarium, the lanes, galleries and shops.See prices and bookPartner link GetYourGuide
- ActivityConcarneau ou Port-la-Forêt : sortie en voilier de 2 h en soiréeConcarneau · 2 hoursTwo hours of evening sailing in Concarneau Bay, from Concarneau or Port-la-Forêt, from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.See prices and bookPartner link GetYourGuide
- ActivityDe Port-Manec’h à Concarneau : la côte en bateauConcarneau · 4 hoursFour hours on a RIB with Nico, a professional skipper, from Port-Manec’h to Concarneau, to discover the hidden corners of the coast.See prices and bookPartner link GetYourGuide
Around Concarneau
Pont-Aven, the painters’ town, is twenty minutes away. In season, boats leave for the Glénan archipelago and its turquoise waters. The Trévarez estate and the Pointe de Beg-Meil round off the stay.
Less than half an hour away
VillagePont-AvenPont-Aven · Half a day minimum, a full day with the museum, the Bois d’Amour and the galleriesPont-Aven brings together a river, mills, flowery footbridges, galleries and the memory of Gauguin, in a small town that has become one of Brittany’s great places for art.
MuseumMusée de Pont-AvenPont-Aven · About 2 hoursIn the town of painters, more than 5,000 works and documents tell the story of Pont-Aven’s artistic adventure, from Gauguin, Émile Bernard and Paul Sérusier to the artists who carried on their legacy.
ViewpointPointe de Beg-MeilFouesnant · 45 minutes to 1 h 30.A headland in Fouesnant with fine views over La Forêt Bay, Concarneau and the Glénan islands, along a coastal path where some stretches depend on the tide.
CastleChâteau de TrévarezSaint-Goazec · 2 h 30 to 3 h 30In Saint-Goazec, Trévarez is a Belle Époque château of pink brick and stone, surrounded by a vast park with the Jardin remarquable label and marked by the bombing of 1944.
Where to stay in Concarneau
Stay in Concarneau
Places to stay that are still available, with current prices, compared across the main booking platforms.
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