Port-Musée Douarnenez: boats afloat, opening hours and prices

On the Port-Rhu, more than 2,800 m² of exhibitions, around 10,000 objects and more than 280 boats tell the story of the maritime cultures of the world. Several large historic ships can be visited directly afloat.

Suggested time: 2 h 30 to 3 h 30, half a day with activities
Type of place: Maritime museum on the quay and afloat, a national boat collection
Atmosphere: Maritime and immersive, between a former cannery, the Port-Rhu pontoons and real ships to explore
Getting there: Place de l’Enfer, 29100 Douarnenez, on the Port-Rhu. The museum has a quayside area and an afloat area; access to the boats can depend on the weather, the tide and works.

Who this place suits

With family: 10/10
As a couple: 9/10
With friends: 10/10
Solo: 10/10
With a dog: 1/10
Reduced mobility: 7/10

These scores are calculated from what the page records: official rating, facilities, difficulty, duration and location. They are a guide, not a substitute for contacting the venue, especially about accessibility.

About

The Port-Musée in Douarnenez is one of the most original maritime museums in France. Housed in a former cannery on the Port-Rhu, it combines a large quayside museum with a harbour area where large historic ships are preserved and, for some, open to visitors. Listed as a Musée de France, it holds a collection of national importance. More than 280 boats of all sizes and origins are kept here, from dugout canoes to fishing, trading and pleasure boats. Around thirty are on display, depending on the period and conservation possibilities. The quayside spaces cover more than 2,800 m² of permanent and temporary exhibitions. Around 10,000 objects from the maritime world complement the boats: rigging, tools, engines, shipboard objects, models, documents and testimonies. The photographic archives of Michel Thersiquel, Félix Le Garrec and Nicole Le Garrec are also a remarkable collection. Douarnenez naturally plays a big part. The history of the sardine, the canneries and the Penn Sardin is set within a wider story of the maritime cultures of the world. The museum compares the shapes, uses and techniques of boats from several continents rather than keeping to Brittany. The afloat area is what makes the visit unique. In 2026, large historic ships are displayed in the Port-Rhu, including the sand barge Dieu Protège and the steam tug Saint Denys, which can be visited depending on conditions on the day. The number of boats open can vary with maintenance, weather, tide and works. The Port-Musée is on its low-season hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm, closed on Mondays. Prices vary with the season, with a full price of €10 to €11.50, a child price of €5 to €5.50 and a family ticket of €23 to €26.

What you will see

More than 280 boats in a collection of national importance.
More than 2,800 m² of quayside exhibitions.
Around 10,000 objects from the maritime world.
Photographic archives by Michel Thersiquel and Félix and Nicole Le Garrec.
A museum in a former sardine cannery.
The history of the Penn Sardin and the canneries of Douarnenez.

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Boats from Brittany but also from many maritime cultures around the world.
Large historic ships preserved afloat in the Port-Rhu.
The chance to go aboard several ships, depending on visiting conditions.
Family activities and maritime skills during the school holidays.

Practical information

Address: Place de l’Enfer, 29100 Douarnenez
Accessibility: Reception for people with reduced mobility is reported for the quayside museum. The pontoons and ships afloat are much harder to access and have to be judged case by case.

Tips on the spot

Open Tuesday to Sunday from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm, closed on Mondays.
Prices are seasonal: adults €10 to €11.50, children €5 to €5.50, families €23 to €26 in 2026.
Allow at least 2 h 30; half a day is better with the boats afloat and an activity.
Access to the ships afloat can change with the weather, tide, maintenance and works: ask at reception which boats are open that day.
The pontoons and boats are harder for people with reduced mobility than the quayside halls.

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The quayside museum is listed as welcoming people with reduced mobility; the accessibility of the ships has to be judged separately.
If it rains, the quayside museum still has plenty to see, but bring suitable clothing for the pontoons.
During the school holidays, check the programme of family activities and meetings with former sailors.
Do not stop at the history of the sardine: the collection compares boats and maritime societies from five continents.
The museum closes for the season after 1 November in 2026: check the calendar if you come in late autumn.
Children particularly enjoy going aboard, but the stairs and passages on the ships can be steep.

Frequently asked questions

How many boats does the museum keep?

More than 280 boats of very different sizes, uses and origins.

Which boats can be visited in 2026?

The Dieu Protège and the Saint Denys are among the ships announced as open, subject to operating conditions on the day.

How big is the quayside museum?

More than 2,800 m² of permanent and temporary exhibitions.

How many objects does it keep?

Around 10,000 objects from the maritime world, in addition to the boat collection.

What are the opening hours in October 2026?

Tuesday to Sunday from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm, closed on Mondays.

How much is admission?

Prices vary with the season; in 2026 the full price is between €10 and €11.50.

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Photograph: Moreau.henri · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons