Christmas
What to do in Saint-Malo during the Christmas holidays
A Christmas market at the foot of the ramparts, the walled city lit up, storms on the sea wall, Cancale oysters: our ideas for the 2026 Christmas holidays in Saint-Malo.
5 min read
The 2026 Christmas holidays run from Saturday 19 December to Monday 4 January 2027, for all three zones. In winter, Saint-Malo is calm again: you can walk the ramparts almost alone, and gales send the waves crashing over the Sillon sea wall.
Christmas 2026 events in Saint-Malo
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Late November to late December, dates to be confirmed | Christmas market, around thirty chalets | At the foot of the ramparts |
| All winter | Cancale oyster market | Port de la Houle, Cancale |
The walled city in winter
The walk around the ramparts is free and open all year round. At nightfall, the illuminated walled city and the Christmas market make a lovely combination.
What to see in Saint-Malo
Heritage siteSaint-Malo Intra-MurosSaint-Malo · A dayA walled city entirely encircled by 1,754 metres of granite ramparts, facing the Channel, to the rhythm of the highest tides in Europe.
ViewpointSaint-Malo RampartsSaint-Malo · 1 h to 1 h 30 for the full loop with photo stops.A panoramic loop of about 1.75 km around Intra-Muros, with views of the Sillon, Fort National, the Grand Bé, Dinard and the harbour basins.
BeachSillon BeachSaint-Malo · 3 hours to a full dayIn Saint-Malo, the Sillon stretches nearly 3 km of sand between Intra-Muros and Paramé, with a historic sea wall, breakwaters, lifeguarded swimming, restaurants, a shower, drinking water, a kids’ club and two Hippocampe beach wheelchairs in summer.
ActivityGrand Aquarium de Saint-MaloSaint-Malo · About 1 h 30The Grand Aquarium de Saint-Malo: 10 worlds, some 600 species and the Nautibus Expedition, for a self-guided visit of about 1 h 30.
Cancale oysters
December is the great month for oysters. The market at the port of La Houle in Cancale sells all year round, opened on request, facing the oyster beds.
Around Saint-Malo
VillageCancaleCancale · 2 hours minimum, ideally half a day. A full day with the Pointe du GrouinFacing the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, Cancale brings together the Port de la Houle, an oyster market open all year round, fishermen’s houses, oyster beds and a coastal path to the Pointe du Grouin.
ViewpointPointe du GrouinCancale · 1 to 2 hours.An iconic headland near Cancale with a panorama from the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel to the Emerald Coast, with views of Chausey, Cap Fréhel and the Île des Landes.
VillageDinan, historic centreDinan · A full day recommended, half a day minimumDinan unfolds more than two kilometres of ramparts, half-timbered houses, a castle, a basilica, the Rue du Jerzual and a port on the Rance, in one of the most spectacular medieval ensembles in Brittany.
Where to stay in Saint-Malo
Stay in Saint-Malo
Places to stay that are still available, with current prices, compared across the main booking platforms.
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Going further
Saint-Malo, in the journal
- The Route du Rhum 2026 village opens in Saint-Malo
- Where to stay in Saint-Malo: our hotels by district
- Route du Rhum 2026: how to follow the start
- Route du Rhum 2026 in Saint-Malo: the guide
- What to do in Saint-Malo during the All Saints’ holidays
- What to do in Saint-Malo: the complete guide
- What to do in Saint-Malo during the February holidays
- What to do in Saint-Malo when it rains
Christmas in Brittany
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