Lannion City
French city known for its historical architecture
In Lannion, a Breton river threads through timbered houses and medieval lanes; visitors come for the Léguer quays, nearby Côte de Granit Rose walks, seafood creperies, and ferry connections to Perros-Guirec and coastal trails.
Lannion at a Glance#
Costs: Affordable regional French budget - reasonably priced for Brittany; expect $80-120 per day for midrange travelers.
Safety: Very safe and relaxed - very safe and family‑friendly with lively summer atmosphere.
Best Time: May-September (coastal season) - may to September for best coastal weather and access to nearby beaches.
Why Visit Lannion?#
Set on the Trieux River, Lannion charms with a timber-framed old town, lively Breton music and easy access to the Côte de Granit Rose. Wander Vieux Lannion’s cobbled streets, enjoy crepes and galettes in local crêperies, and use the town as a base for coastal hikes and seaside photography. The combination of maritime scenery, Celtic cultural events and regional cuisine gives Lannion a distinctly Breton flavor.
Best Things to Do in Lannion#
Lannion Bucket List#
Basilique Notre-Dame de Brélévenez - Distinctive basilica set above the town with historic architecture and sea glimpses.
Old Port of Lannion (Quai de la Léguer) - Quayside area along the Léguer river with cafes and historic mills.
Medieval centre and half-timbered houses - Compact old town featuring half-timbered houses, pedestrian lanes, and local shops.
Radome Park and trails - Local park with walking trails and panoramic views over the town and estuary.
Local creperies and cider bars - Small family-run creperies offering Breton galettes and regional ciders off main streets.
Maison du Patrimoine local exhibits - Small heritage centre explaining Lannion’s maritime and telecoms history in exhibits.
Perros-Guirec and the Pink Granite Coast - Coastal day trip to Ploumanac’h, coastal paths, and the pink granite shoreline.
Île Milliau or Île de Bréhat - Short boat trips to nearby islets for coastal walks and seabird watching.
Best Time to Visit Lannion#
Visit Lannion in late spring and summer for the warmest, sunniest coastal weather and long daylight ideal for hikes. Brittany is generally wet year-round; winters are mild but rainy.
December - February
4-10°C (39-50°F)
Mild but very wet and windy; coastal storms happen, museums and cafés offer refuge while outdoor plans can be soggy.
June - August
12-22°C (54-72°F)
Cooler than southern France but pleasantly mild with long daylight-perfect for coastal walking, though expect occasional rain and lively summer towns.
March - May, September - November
8-16°C (46-61°F)
Showery, changeable weather with brisk mornings; spring flowers and autumn light are lovely, but pack waterproof layers for walking the coast.
Lannion's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 4°C to 21°C. Moderate rainfall (955 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 4° - 9° | 3° | 113 mm | overcast | 91% | 6.0 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.6h |
| February | Acceptable | 4° - 10° | 3° | 91 mm | overcast | 89% | 5.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.0h |
| March | Acceptable | 5° - 11° | 5° | 81 mm | overcast | 87% | 5.5 m/s | 0.5 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 6° - 13° | 7° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 5.4 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Good | 9° - 16° | 12° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 4.9 m/s | 1.3 high | 15.0h |
| June | Very Good | 11° - 18° | 15° | 51 mm | partly cloudy | 82% | 4.5 m/s | 1.5 very high | 15.8h |
| July | Very Good | 13° - 21° | 17° | 45 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 4.4 m/s | 1.5 very high | 15.5h |
| August | Very Good | 14° - 21° | 17° | 53 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 4.3 m/s | 1.2 high | 14.1h |
| September | Very Good | 12° - 19° | 16° | 74 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 10° - 16° | 13° | 95 mm | overcast | 85% | 4.9 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Acceptable | 7° - 12° | 7° | 113 mm | overcast | 89% | 5.3 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.1h |
| December | Acceptable | 5° - 10° | 4° | 115 mm | overcast | 91% | 5.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.2h |
How to Get to Lannion#
Lannion is a small Breton town with a local airport and a TER rail link to Guingamp (and onward TGV connections). The town is compact and well served by regional buses and trains for wider connections.
Lannion-Côte de Granit Airport (LAI): A small regional airport close to town with limited scheduled service; taxi transfers from the airport to central Lannion take around 10 minutes and cost approximately €10-20.
Brest Bretagne (BES) / Rennes (RNS): Larger regional airports with more frequent flights. From Brest or Rennes take a car or rail to Guingamp and then a TER to Lannion (Guingamp→Lannion is about 30-40 minutes by rail); total travel time from either airport is commonly 1-2 hours depending on connections.
Train: Gare de Lannion is served by TER trains to Guingamp (connection to TGV lines). Guingamp→Lannion is about 30-40 minutes on regional services; check TER BreizhGo timetables for connections and fares (typically modest).
Bus: Departmental and regional buses (Côtes-d’Armor / BreizhGo) supplement rail services, connecting Lannion with nearby towns and rural communities. Buses are useful for places not directly served by rail and for local journeys.
How to Get Around Lannion#
Use the TER rail link to Guingamp for mainline connections and local buses or taxis for last‑mile journeys. Lannion itself is best experienced on foot or by bike for short sightseeing trips.
- TER regional trains (€3-€15) - TER BreizhGo trains link Lannion to Guingamp and wider Brittany; they provide the main rail connection for visitors heading to or from TGV services. Timetables vary seasonally; reserve seats for peak travel if needed.
- Regional buses (BreizhGo) (€1.50-€8) - Regional bus services fill gaps between rail connections and provide direct links to smaller villages. Useful for off‑peak travel or reaching areas without a station; frequency varies by route.
- Taxi / local cabs (€10-€40) - Taxis are convenient for airport transfers and late‑evening travel when public transport is reduced. Useful for door-to-door service but pricier than buses.
- Car rental (€30-€80 per day) - A rental car is handy for exploring the coast and inland Brittany at your own pace; parking in Lannion is generally available but limited in peak season. Drivers should expect narrow rural roads in places.
- Bicycle / walking routes (€0-€20 per day) - Lannion and the surrounding coastline are well suited to cycling and walking; hire options exist locally and many scenic routes are signposted for leisure rides.
- Walking - Lannion’s centre is compact and easy to explore on foot: shops, restaurants and the riverfront are within short walking distances.
Where to Stay in Lannion#
Town centre / Gare - €40-90/night (limited rooms)
Lannion has a few budget inns and youth-hostel style options. Affordable stays are concentrated near the train station and town centre.
Old Town & Port - €90-160/night
Charming mid-range hotels and guesthouses are common, many within walking distance of the old town and waterfront.
Coastal resorts nearby - €160+/night (limited in-town)
Few high-end hotels in town; for luxury travelers consider coastal resorts a short drive away in northern Brittany.
Where to Eat in Lannion#
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Lannion’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Shopping in Lannion#
Lannion offers a mix of local boutiques, food shops and artisans in the pedestrian centre. The town’s markets and independent stores are the main draws for shoppers. For bigger brand shopping, larger nearby cities on the Breton coast provide more options.
Nightlife in Lannion#
As a university town, Lannion has a modest but active nightlife with several bars and cafés that stay open late. Live music and student‑focused venues appear regularly, especially on weekends. The atmosphere is informal and community‑oriented rather than club‑centric.
