There are still a good few months left of 2024, but if you’re already looking ahead to next year and keen to plan a trip, there are a few destinations you might want to consider.
The top trending destinations for 2025 have been revealed by American Express Travel and among the most noteworthy were Brisbane, Paros, Sun Valley, and Nikko.
Nowhere in the UK made the top 10, but the closest spot was Brittany in northwest France.
The region was praised for its ‘distinctive culture, coastal scenery’ and miles of seaside walking paths. But there are many more reasons to visit.
Here’s a closer look at the destination, which just so happens to be home to an enchanting town that looks like something straight out of a Disney movie…
How to get to Brittany
When travelling from the UK to Brittany, many people will likely head to Rennes, the region’s capital, as you can quickly and easily fly from London to Rennes Bretagne Airport.
Nonstop flights take a little over an hour from London Gatwick, with prices starting from £49 if you travel with Easyjet, according to Skyscanner.
Other airports across the UK offer connecting flights, but these take much longer and are much more expensive.
Alternatively, if you didn’t want the hassle of getting on a plane, you could travel to Brittany by train. From London, passengers can take the Eurostar to the Garde du Nord in Paris, which takes two hours and 20 minutes.
From there you can continue your journey on the TGV Atlantique high speed rail service. It will take another hour and 30 minutes to get to Rennes. A similar direct rail service also exists from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport (2h38min).
Where to go in Brittany
As Brittany is an entire region of France, there plenty of cities, medieval towns, and villages within the area to visit, as well as some beautiful, and wild coastlines. Each of these will have their own attractions and stunning sights to see, so you definitely won’t be short on options when making up your itinerary.
One picturesque town that you might want to consider visiting during your trip is Dinan, as the Medieval location is said to look like a Disney movie location.
Travel blogger The Travel Hack said: ‘Dinan is the kind of town that is so pretty and so quaint I didn’t actually believe [it] existed in real life. Sure, towns like this exist in Disney films and between the pages of fairytales but in real life….not so much.
‘In real life, the modern world creeps in and places that are this beautiful slowly become commercialised and lose their original charm. But Dinan really is like stepping inside a Disney film.’
And they aren’t the only one that feels this way. TikToker @postcardsbyhannah, showed off the pretty town, which is tucked between hillside and the River Rance, in a viral video saying: ‘The prettiest town in northern france, it reminds me of the location for Beauty and the Beast. Dinan is located in the north of Brittany, near St Malo.’
The town is surrounded by 2.7km of rampart, and features a 14th-century castle, small marina, quaint cobblestone streets (including the famously steep but beautiful Rue du Jerzual), and interesting half-timbered houses.
For those that would rather take a city break, then you might be keen to visit the aforementioned Rennes. Here you’ll want to check out the old town (Centre Historique de Rennes) where you’ll find colourful and patterned half-timbered houses plus historic sites such as the opera house and town hall, and there’s also the impressive Cathédrale Saint-Pierre.
The city also boasts plenty of museums (including an art museum, local history, and a science one), as well as plenty of markets, restaurants, and gardens to visit, with Parc du Thabor being a popular spot according to Tripadvisor users who say the ‘beautiful’ space is good for everything from resting, to partying, and having picnics on hot days.
If this eclectic city isn’t for you, then there are numerous other places in Brittany to choose from, and you might even want to consider making your holiday a road trip, as there’s so much to see.
The Brittany Tourism website claims that the region can be divided up into 10 unique geographical destinations.
They write: ‘Discover the ‘Terres Océanes’ at the western tip, the Forest of Broceliande, the green inner lung, the little ports of Cornouaille (Brittany’s Cornwall), and the pink granite rocks. From its bays, gulfs, capes and salt marshes to its capital city, Brittany is a marvel.’
All 10 areas include the Brocéliande forest, Brittany Loire Ocean, Morlaix Bay (for the pink granite coast), Rennes, Cap Fréhel (majestic headlands), Quimper Cornouaille (a wild, unspoilt area by the sea), Saint-Brieuc Bay (scenic seaside with turquoise water), Morbihan Gulf (home to around 40 small islands), Kalon Breizh (known as the heart of Brittany and where you’ll find some stunning mountain views), and Brest terres océanes (Europe’s biggest harbour).
What to eat in Brittany
It’s no secret that France is home to some truly fabulous food and drink (croissants, crêpes, and champagne, oh my!), and you’ll be spoilt for choice when eating in Brittany.
If you’re heading to a coastal area, there will be plenty of fresh seafood to enjoy, from oysters to scallops, but one regional speciality you have to try no matter where you are is kouign-amann.
This is a sweet caramelised treat that originates from the town of Douarnenez in Finistère, Brittany. It’s round, buttery and sugary, made from a laminated Breton dough, with a crispy outside and soft middle. Yum!
Galettes (buckwheat pancakes with sweet or savoury fillings) are also served all over Brittany, as well as Kig Ha Farz, a hearty dish that consists of various meats simmered in a broth, served with a buckwheat flour pudding/dumpling.
Breton butter is also a must-try, slathered simply onto some freshly baked bread. The salted butter is some of the best you can buy in France, made with milk, cream and salt from Guérande.
And to finish off your feast, you’ll want to see if you can find some of Plougastel’s famous strawberries. The red berries were brought back from Chile by botanist Amédée-François Frézier in 1714, and the plant soon became acclimatised to the milder climate of Brittany.
Ciflorette, Charlotte, Mara des bois and Gariguette are said to be the most common varieties of the strawberry.
What’s the weather like in Brittany?
Brittany has a moderately climate, in the summer temperatures warm up to around 20C in July, with some rainfall.
In winter you can expect the weather to get pretty wet, with temperatures in November around 10C. This drops to an average high of 8C between December and February, but there are sometimes lows of 5C.
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