Getting Around Rennes
Rennes is a compact, walkable city, and its public transport network makes it easy to reach most places a visitor is likely to want to go. The historic centre sits on a hill at the confluence of the Ille and Vilaine rivers, and much of it can be covered on foot. For longer hops, the city has a metro, an extensive bus network, rental bikes, taxis and ride-hailing, plus a straightforward connection from its airport.
Walking
Walking is the first choice in the compact city centre. The historic centre occupies the former line of the ramparts, and the main sights cluster closely together, so you can move between the Parlement de Bretagne, the Place des Lices, the cathedral area and the Thabor park without needing transport. Note that the old town is built on a hill, with the north side more elevated than the south, so expect some slopes as you explore. The city hall (mairie) sits right in the centre, a useful landmark for orienting yourself.
Metro and Trams
Rennes is served by a metro system, which is notable because the city was once the smallest in the world to have one. The network is operated as part of the Star city transport system and consists of two metro lines, using VAL and Neo VAL technology. There is no tram network in Rennes; the metro and buses form the backbone of public transport.
- Line A runs northwest to southeast, linking JFK, Villejean University, Sainte-Anne, Gares and La Poterie.
- Line B runs northeast to southwest, from Cesson via Sainte-Anne and Gares out to Saint-Jacques.
The hub for the metro is the mainline railway and intercity bus station, Gares, where the two lines meet. Principal routes run from early morning until around 00:30, and the metro runs an extra hour longer, until almost 02:00, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Star is the city transport system, combining the metro with a large network of bus lines. The Gares hub is where metro, mainline trains and intercity buses all come together, making it the natural starting point for most journeys.
Tickets and passes are simple to use:
- A single ticket is valid for one hour with unlimited transfers.
- Day passes are available, as are multi-day passes for longer stays.
- Longer-term passes (KorrigoCards) can be bought from the Gares travel centre; you will need photo ID, which is scanned onto the card.
For regional travel beyond the city, BreizhGo is the regional bus company, connecting over twenty villages and small towns to Rennes. Routes a visitor might use include services from Saint-Malo, Dinard and Vitré. Rennes bus station sits next to the railway station and the Gares metro stop.
Bikes
Rennes has plenty of cycle lanes, and following the canal makes for a pleasant excursion. STAR, le vélo is the rental bike system and is part of the public transport network. You register online and pay a deposit, which lets you pick up a bike from any of the docking stations around the city. You then pay per trip or for a 24-hour period, with electric bikes costing more. Longer tariffs are available, up to twelve months.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis wait at Gares, and there are over a dozen operators in the city. Taxis also wait outside Arrivals at the airport. A taxi ride from the airport into the city centre is a convenient option if you have luggage or arrive late.
Driving and Park & Ride
It is best to avoid using a car in the city centre: many routes are barred to private vehicles, and parking is scarce and expensive. If you do drive, the Parcs-relais Park & Ride system is the practical solution. Several metro and bus stations have car parks that are free to enter and, importantly, free to exit when you use your transport ticket. These are located at stations in the north, east and south of the city, including J.F. Kennedy, Villejean-Université, Cesson-Viasilva, Les Gayeulles, Saint-Jacques-Gaîté, Les Préales (bus only), Henri Fréville and La Poterie. Note that some of these car parks are closed on Sundays.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Rennes Bretagne Airport (RNS) is located at Ave Joseph le Brix in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, southwest of the city centre. It has regular flights from Europe and London, mostly by budget carriers, plus domestic flights from Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse. Air France also flies from Paris CDG, though this route is affected by the French law banning domestic flights on journeys that can be done overland in less than two and a half hours. The airport has the usual facilities, including car rental.
To reach the city from the airport:
- Bus C6 runs daily, roughly every 30 minutes, between 05:00 and 00:00. It takes about 20 minutes to Centre Commercial Cesson and stops by the art museum on Quai Émile Zola. (The old bus 57 from the airport has been discontinued.)
- Train: Saint-Jacques de la Lande railway station is a short distance east of the airport. It has trains every few hours on the TER Breizh line between Rennes and Messac-Guipry; the ride into Rennes takes about 5 minutes.
- Taxi: Taxis wait outside Arrivals, and a ride downtown is a straightforward option.
If you are flying into another airport, note that Nantes Atlantique has a similar choice of flights, Paris Charles de Gaulle offers global connections, and Dinard–Pleurtuit–Saint-Malo now handles only private aviation.
Arriving by Train or Coach
Gare de Rennes is clean and modern, with the Gares metro and bus station just outside. The historic centre is a short walk north of the station. Trains run hourly from Paris Montparnasse, taking about 90 minutes nonstop, and continue onward to Saint-Brieuc and Brest. From Nantes, an hourly regional train takes about 80 minutes nonstop; from St Malo, an hourly regional train takes about an hour; from Quimper, an hourly train takes about two hours via Lorient and Vannes; and from Caen, a twice-daily train takes about 3 hours 20 minutes via Avranches, useful for Mont St-Michel.
Long-distance coaches also serve Rennes. Blablacar runs services from Paris (Bercy-Seine) via Le Mans, and Flixbus has late-night runs. Be aware that some Blablacar services from other French cities are car-share rides and may start or drop off some distance from city centres. The bus station is next to the railway station and the Gares metro stop.