Ferry to St Malo

St Malo

The Falkland Islands owe their French name, Îles Malouines, to sailors from Saint-Malo who made the voyage there in the early 1700s, and the Spanish "Malvinas" comes from the same root. Another Malouin, Jacques Cartier, sailed from the harbour in April 1534 on the first of his voyages to what is now Canada. The sea is still the town's business: every four years the Route du Rhum, the solo transatlantic race, starts from here, drawing crowds to the pontoons. Inside the granite ramparts the old town is compact enough to explore in an afternoon, and both Cancale, famous for its oysters, and Mont-Saint-Michel are within about an hour's drive.

The ferry port at St Malo

Address: Gare Maritime du Naye (Terminal du Naye), 35400 Saint-Malo.

By road: A toll-free dual carriageway, the N137, links St Malo with the rest of the French road network. At each exit, follow the signs for the Terminal Ferry du Naye.

On foot: The walled city and the town centre are a 5 to 10 minute walk from the terminal. The railway station is about 2 kilometres away, a 25-minute walk, and a bus stop is a 3-minute walk from the terminal. A taxi to the town centre costs around €8.

Airport: Dinard–Pleurtuit–Saint-Malo airport is about 12 kilometres away.