Rennes Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Rennes Cathedral showing heritage architecture, heritage elements and a church or cathedral
Photo provided by © ATOUT FRANCE/Michel Angot
Rennes which includes street scenes, heritage architecture and heritage elements
Rennes showing heritage elements
Rennes which includes café scenes and street scenes as well as a large group of people

Markets, museums, historical buildings and an interactive science centre draw travellers to the centre of this city in the serene Brittany countryside.

Rennes is the capital of the Brittany region in northwestern France. A large, spacious plaza in its centre is surrounded by structures of great historical significance. Visit the many museums of art and history scattered around the city alongside parks, gardens and university buildings. The city hosts several annual music and film festivals.

Locate the Place des Lices in the town centre. Due to its accessible and practical location, it is a popular meeting point for locals and travellers. Browse the market in the central square, which leads to Place Rallier-du-Baty. Majestic townhouses surround the plaza.

The Rennes Cathedral, which dates back to the sixth century, has a neoclassical design with two towers full of window displays and elegant decorations. Walk around the interior and gaze up at the elegant arched ceiling and columns on either side of the nave. It is also known as Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Rennes.

Make your way to the 17th-century wonder, the Palais du Parlement de Bretagne, the last building to house Brittany’s old parliament. It now serves as the Courts of Appeal for the city of Rennes. The building’s grand design features a grey lower story, a white second floor and a roof decorated with gold spikes and statues.

Browse the vast archeological collection at the Musée de Bretagne from prehistoric to modern times. Discover the story of Alfred Dreyfus, a former army captain who was wrongly accused of a crime.

The museum shares a building with a grand library and the Espace des Sciences, a centre that brings science to life with interactive exhibitions. Take the kids to Merlin’s Laboratory, where they can do their own experiments.

Uncover the fascinating history of Rennes before enjoying the picturesque Brittany countryside.

Where to stay in Rennes

Place des Lices showing a house

Rennes Centre

4/5(21 area reviews)

Consider a visit to Parliament of Brittany and take some time to enjoy the abundant dining options during your time in Rennes Centre. If you want to see more of the city, jump on the metro at Republique Station or Saint-Germain Station.

Rennes Centre
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Dinan - Saint-Malo

Dinan - Saint-Malo might not have many top sights, but Le Couvent des Jacobins and Place des Lices are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Dinan - Saint-Malo

Saint-Hélier

You might enjoy the restaurants on your visit to Saint-Hélier. Visitors recommend a visit to Place de la Gare, and you can get around town on the metro at Gares Station.

Saint-Hélier
Espace des Sciences

Colombier - Champ de Mars

Colombier - Champ de Mars is a destination travellers like for its spas, and you might hop aboard the metro at Charles de Gaulle Metro Station or Colombier Station to explore sights like Le Liberte.

Colombier - Champ de Mars

Quartier Bourg-l'Évesque - la Touche - Moulin du Comte

4/5(5 area reviews)

While in Quartier Bourg-l'Évesque - la Touche - Moulin du Comte, you'll enjoy the restaurants. Catch the metro at Anatole France Metro Station to see top sights like Roazhon Park while you're in the area.

Quartier Bourg-l'Évesque - la Touche - Moulin du Comte
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La Touche

Even though there aren't top sights in La Touche, you can explore the larger area and take in top sights like Place des Lices. Jump on the metro at Anatole France Metro Station to see more of the city.

La Touche
Mama Shelter Rennes

Mama Shelter Rennes

4 out of 5
3 Place de la Trinite, Rennes, FRANCE
The price is ฿3,988 per night from 11 Nov to 12 Nov
฿3,988
฿4,535 total
11 Nov - 12 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Rennes. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 3 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (381 reviews)
Excellent stay, we booked the XL room and it was very big. Bar and restaurant plus dining option around are perfect. Only comment would be to improve the darkness in the room as the curtains are very shorts and lots of light is passing through

Reviewed on 29 Sept 2025

Mama Shelter Rennes
Campanile Rennes Centre - Gare

Campanile Rennes Centre - Gare

3 out of 5
28 Avenue Jean Janvier, Rennes
The price is ฿2,143 per night from 9 Nov to 10 Nov
฿2,143
฿2,456 total
9 Nov - 10 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Rennes. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (705 reviews)
All perfect - staff, room, location... Highly recommended

Reviewed on 31 Oct 2025

Campanile Rennes Centre - Gare
Hôtel Kyriad Rennes Nord

Hôtel Kyriad Rennes Nord

3 out of 5
2 Rue André Meynier and Yvonne, Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine
The price is ฿1,871 per night from 9 Nov to 10 Nov
฿1,871
฿2,157 total
9 Nov - 10 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Rennes. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (801 reviews)
This was a lovely hotel and we had no issues at all. We stayed one night as a stopover on the way back to Roscoff and we were very impressed with what we got for the price.

Reviewed on 29 Oct 2025

Hôtel Kyriad Rennes Nord
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Appart Hotel Odalys City Rennes Lorgeril

Appart Hotel Odalys City Rennes Lorgeril

3 out of 5
2, rue Lorgeril, Rennes
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Rennes. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Popular attractions Palais du Parlement de Bretagne and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (480 reviews)
Nice front desk staff

Reviewed on 4 Nov 2025

Appart Hotel Odalys City Rennes Lorgeril
Appart'City Classic Rennes Ouest

Appart'City Classic Rennes Ouest

2 out of 5
7 rue Pierre Joseph Colin, Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine
Stay at this aparthotel in Rennes. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Roazhon Park and Place des Lices are ...
7.8/10 Good! (387 reviews)
We booked our son in this accommodation as he was waiting for student accommodation, The price was expensive for what we got for 16 days, but all in all a good stay

Reviewed on 9 Oct 2024

Appart'City Classic Rennes Ouest
Appart'City Classic Rennes Beauregard

Appart'City Classic Rennes Beauregard

1, Rue Aurelie Nemours, Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine
Stay at this eco-certified residence in Rennes. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Le Couvent des Jacobins ...
7.8/10 Good! (421 reviews)
Friendly helpful staff. Upgraded to larger room . Enjoyed my stay. Thank you

Reviewed on 27 Mar 2023

Appart'City Classic Rennes Beauregard
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Rennes

4.1
Top destination
5 - Excellent
10
5 - Excellent 37%
4 - Good
11
4 - Good 41%
3 - Okay
5
3 - Okay 19%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 4%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

A very nice place.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

beutiful place and quite city. I didnt get taxi to airport on weekend. Taxi service is very few, prepare well in time or pre book if you need a taxi.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Rennes can be seen in half a day, the only reason I would tell people to go here is to use it as a base to get to Mont St Michel - but once that's done, get out of there; there is seriously nothing to do especially on a Sunday when it closes!

Cities near Rennes