In this article, I invite you to discover Bénodet, a seaside resort in Brittany, along what is known as the Breton Riviera, specifically located in southern Finistère (this department actually has the most coastline in France). The town is also part of the Sensation Bretagne network, which unites 30 coastal towns and seaside resorts in Brittany. Bénodet is a small town of 3,600 inhabitants that is lively year-round. This tourist destination is a classified resort on the southern tip of Brittany, facing the Glénan archipelago, and is also situated at the mouth of the Odet river.
We discovered Bénodet with my favorite photographer in June 2023 as part of a blog trip with some fellow blogger friends we know well, which gave this 3-day weekend in Brittany a fun summer camp vibe.
Practical Information
- Getting there by train: TGV train to Quimper from Paris Gare de Montparnasse (nearly 4 hours), Bénodet is then a 20-minute drive from Quimper
- Pro tip: If you don’t want to rent a car on-site, there are bus connections (Flixbus) Quimper-Bénodet (Line 41) and in summer Bénodet-Concarneau (Line 48) at a cost of €2.50 per journey.
Bénodet Tourist Office
29 avenue de la Mer 29950 Bénodet
Table of Contents
What to see and do in Bénodet?
Bénodet is a small town and is therefore very easily explored on foot. It offers a fairly wide range of activities and has 4 beaches: Trez beach (which means sand in Breton); Coq beach (the name comes from the lighthouse of the same name); Saint-Gilles beach; and Letty beach (which opens onto the Mer Blanche, a lagoon forming a small inland sea located between the towns of Fouesnant and Bénodet). While strolling, you might notice a lovely uniformity of tones throughout the city, with the famous “Bénodet white” that residents must respect for their houses. Below, as usual, I offer a small selection of things to do and see if you come for a stay in Bénodet or the region.
Also to see/do: walk along the corniche loop in Bénodet to see its lighthouses, enjoy the seaside, and tour the town; learn to play Breton pucks, a traditional local game consisting of throwing fairly heavy pucks onto a wooden board (I don’t recommend practicing in the sand like we did, as the pucks get lost easily…); take a tour of the Saint-Thomas church in Bénodet.
Pro tip: the town offers free concerts in the summer facing the sea on the Butte du Fort, in collaboration with the Casino de Bénodet.
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Visit the Biscuiterie du Moustoir, François Garrec
This biscuit factory is a family business that has existed since 1967 and continues to use artisanal recipes. On-site, all products are made by hand, without dyes, preservatives, or artificial flavorings. The company works as much as possible with local suppliers for its cake ingredients. The site has also been offering free tours since 1999 (self-guided or guided tours at specific times), which allow you to discover the artisanal biscuit-making process. The tour circuit lets you see the manufacturing steps of the various products in real-time.
Recipes made at the biscuit factory: crepes and the Breton galette (a biscuit thinner than the ‘galet’ and a specialty of the factory); the Breton cake, another specialty (there are cakes of this type up to 6kg upon request); the four-quarters cake and the Breton prune flan; the kouign-amann (which means butter cake with a traditional bread dough base and 50% butter); wheat crepes (the factory can make up to 400 crepes per hour!), which can be kept for up to 15 days and can also be frozen; the filled Breton cake (raspberry or prunes from Agen, as there are no prunes in Brittany; this tradition stems from maritime history and the fight against scurvy).
The biscuit factory obviously also has a shop where you can buy all their products on site. In fact, they only sell directly on-site or online, so don’t hesitate to stock up during your visit to Bénodet.
Biscuiterie François Garrec
9 rue de Kergaouen
Free tours: tours on Thursday and Friday at 11:00 AM (mid-season) / in summer, tours every day from Monday to Friday 10:30 AM / 2:30 PM (no reservation needed)
Prices for some products: packs of 8 financiers €4.25; handmade pucks 200g €4.45; chocolate galettes €5.85
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Relax at the Relais Thalasso
If you want to relax and do yourself some good during your stay in Bénodet, you can go to the town’s Relais Thalasso & Spa to enjoy some thalassotherapy made in Breizh. The establishment houses a marine spa to benefit from the effects of seawater with different areas and also offers treatments and massages.
On the program:
- an aquatic area with a heated seawater pool at over 30 degrees, a jacuzzi, underwater jets, a swimming lane, and a swan neck fountain
- a sensory area with a frozen river (perhaps my favorite activity: a course in icy water up to mid-thigh with a pebble floor to massage the feet and activate blood circulation in the legs, perfect when you have heavy legs like me), an ice fountain, a tonic waterfall, and a sensory shower course
- a hot area with hammam and sauna
- a fitness room facing the sea
- a solarium and a nap room
- marine bubbles, cocooning cabins
- treatments: we tested the “Two thalasso treatments” package (€98 for two treatments with a total duration of 45 minutes, which includes access to the marine spa for the half-day) during this relaxing afternoon, a multi-sensory marine bath treatment + a seaweed wrap harvested on the Finistère coasts.
Relais Thalasso
Corniche de la Plage 29950 Bénodet
Prices: half-day offer from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM from €30 to €39 depending on the day and period / weekly packages also exist
Pro tip: access to the marine spa is free with a thalasso treatment booking
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Go for a boat ride on the Odet
We went for a short rental boat outing from the marina to cruise up the Breton coastal river Odet. The latter, nearly 63 km long, originates in the Black Mountains at Saint-Goazec in Finistère and then flows into the Atlantic between Sainte-Marine and Bénodet. It was an opportunity to discover the beautiful forest landscapes along the banks of the Odet, as well as beautiful mansions hidden from prying eyes. Apparently, there are also some very beautiful hikes to do in the surroundings. Regarding boat rentals, you can rent a boat with or without a license to explore the Odet river.
Boat ride on the Odet
Electro Marine Industrie
duration of the ride with skipper: 1h30
Port de Plaisance
Open from July 1st to August 31st
Prices: 2-hour rental: €70 + €5 fuel / 3-hour rental: €95 + €7 fuel / day rental: €140 + €15 fuel
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Take a walk on the GR34
If you are a fan of walks and hikes, you will also find what you are looking for in Bénodet and the surrounding area. The Bénodet tourist office sells hiking loops (30 detailed circuits in a guide for €7 or a guide to the town’s walks for €2), either by the sea or in the countryside. For our part, we went for a short walk in the Petit Moulin area on the GR34, the customs officers’ trail. This path on the Petit Moulin cove, where the sea comes inland, is easy to access as it is very flat and stretches for 2.7 kilometers. You can admire many species of birds and enjoy the quietness of the place.
GR34
Anse du Petit Moulin
open and free access
link to the map of this walk
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Go for a bike ride along the coast
If you want to discover the town, but also venture a little further, you can take the seaside bike path to get around faster, which will also allow you to see some beautiful landscapes. As for us, we rented bikes to pedal to the southern tip of Bénodet and go see Letty beach and the Mer Blanche, which I mentioned in the introduction.
Bike rental at Cycletty
5 Avenue De La Mer 29950 Bénodet
Prices:
Hybrid bike: hour: €3.40 – day: €11.50 – week: €42
Electric bike: €5 / hour – day: €20
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Go paddleboarding with UCPA Bénodet-Glénan
Since Bénodet is a great spot for water sports, during this stay we tested a stand-up paddleboarding outing with UCPA Bénodet Glénan. This center, which offers sports stays in the area, also rents equipment for several activities in the vicinity: stand-up paddles, kayaks, windsurfing… I opted for a wetsuit for this activity, because the water was a bit chilly, and having done paddleboarding before, notably in Cap d’Agde or in Mandelieu, I know that one can easily end up in the water.
The lagoon near the UCPA is a perfect place for a paddleboarding introduction, as the waters are shallow and there is very little current. It is therefore very pleasant to learn to stand on the paddle in these conditions, because it is completely different in choppy water. I even tried doing some yoga postures on the paddle and it made me want to do a yoga/paddle session one of these days!
Paddleboarding Introduction
UCPA Bénodet-Glénan Sports Village
1, route du Letty 29950 Bénodet
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Stroll through Bénodet by night
If you come in the summer season, don’t miss the magnificent colors of the sunset, and a night stroll is also very refreshing in hot weather. The favorite photographer certainly enjoyed himself taking beautiful photos.
My favorite spots in Bénodet
As usual, you will find below my selection of favorite spots in Bénodet (one accommodation and several restaurants) that we had the opportunity to test during our stay with the favorite photographer and our blogger friends. These spots often suggest discovering local products and some regional specialties to taste if you come to Finistère. To stock up on local products, don’t miss the market day, on Monday morning, at Place Méneyer.
The specialties: the Breton kir as an aperitif (like a classic kir, but replacing the wine with cider), which you will find in almost all restaurants in Bénodet; seafood, of course; salted butter caramel; buckwheat or wheat crepes; cider, because South Finistère is a cider-producing region and also has a “Cider Route“…
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A pastry shop in Bénodet? Pâtisserie Nektar
During a picnic by the seaside, we tasted some very good little cakes from the Nektar bakery-pastry shop, which has several locations in Finistère. Definitely worth testing if you visit Bénodet!
Nektar Bénodet
15 avenue de l’Odet 29950 Bénodet
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Where to eat ice cream in Bénodet? Glacier Bankiz
This is a great place to eat ice cream, which was revealed to us by locals! And when you see the long queue in front of the establishment during the summer season, you know they are right. The ice creams are truly delicious and the flavors are enticing, especially the “Plougastel strawberry” which I highly recommend.
Bankiz Artisan Ice Cream Maker
7 Corniche de la Plage, 29950 Bénodet
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Where to have a coffee in a nice setting in Bénodet? Concept 8
This decor/cafe shop opened in 2020 and offers decor products with a mix of vintage and contemporary items. It is also the right place to drink a coffee or eat a little treat on the colorful terrace of the establishment which overlooks the market square.
To taste: have a tea time or coffee time with a smoothie, tea/coffee, and macarons.
Concept 8
Rue du Meneyer, 29950 Bénodet
Open Monday and Thursday to Saturday
Pro tip: happy hours on Friday evening during the summer
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Where to brunch in Bénodet? Les Voiles
This restaurant, taken over in November 2022, offers a brunch served at the table on Sundays. Everything here is homemade with a maximum of local products and the menu changes each season. The place also functions as a tapas bar with cocktails in the evening and sometimes offers concerts on-site. The dining room is very cozy and perfect for brunching, but the establishment also has a small terrace in front of the restaurant.
The brunch consists of: a fruit juice of your choice, a hot drink of your choice, an avocado and salmon toast, scrambled eggs, cheese, charcuterie, a pancake, a waffle, two cookies, salted butter caramel, yogurt and granola, and a fruit salad.
Restaurant Les Voiles
37, rue du Poulquer 29950 Bénodet
open all year
Brunch every Sunday by reservation at €30 per person
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Where to have a romantic dinner in Bénodet? Restaurant l’Alhambra
This seaside restaurant is installed in part of an old villa built in the 20s by Dr. Boyer, with the help of the workers of the pacha of Marrakech, El Glaoui, whose doctor he had been. The villa, which bears the name of Ker Magdalen, the first name of the doctor’s wife, offers a unique architecture in the shape of a minaret. It offers a magnificent setting, with a terrace that overlooks the Coq beach. It is therefore the ideal spot for a romantic dinner with a very beautiful view of the sunset.
We tasted: the Breton kir as an aperitif and a very beautiful selection of wines; beautiful plate of oysters and langoustines (local, and extremely fresh); Caesar salad with crispy chicken and soft-boiled egg (€14); braised lamb shank with thyme and baby potatoes (€27); saint-pierre fillet with vegetable vierge, mashed potatoes (€31); the desserts were also very good with an exotic fruit soup (€9) and a two-chocolate tart (€9.50).
Restaurant l’Alhambra
1, corniche de l’Estuaire 29950 Bénodet
Price: children’s menu at €15 / starters between €14 and €22 / main courses between €16 and €31 / desserts between €9 and €10
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Where to eat seafood in Bénodet? Restaurant le Transat
If you are a seafood lover like me, I recommend you go and treat yourself at the restaurant Le Transat. We sat on the terrace facing the Odet to enjoy the last rays of sunshine during this iodized dinner.
To taste: shellfish platter (€30 for one person) with 5 oysters, 150g of langoustines, 6 shrimp, sea snails, and whelks; plate of 9 hollow oysters from the house Cariou €18; mussels and fries €14.50; wine by the glass between €4.50 and €7.20.
Restaurant Le Transat
Quai du Commandant l’Herminier 29950 Bénodet
Price: menu at €33 and menu at €43 / sailor’s menu at €11
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Where to eat facing Trez beach? La Pause
This restaurant located on Avenue de la Plage, across from Trez beach, can be a good option in the middle of a lazy day. It offers a dish of the day and an attractive and decent daily menu with a good value for money. When we visited, we ate a Teriyaki tuna tataki and a St-Pierre fillet with leek fondue and rice.
La Pause
4 avenue de la Plage, 29950 Bénodet
Price: daily special €15.90 / daily menu with starter + main course or main course + dessert €17.50 / daily menu starter + main course + dessert €23
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Where to eat a crepe by the water in Bénodet? La Paillote Iodée
This little beach hut has existed since 2020 and is located on the 4th beach of Bénodet, Le Letty. It is obviously only open for the summer season, from April to the end of September. It’s a somewhat hidden place and therefore the ideal spot to have a drink and eat a little crepe facing the sea, with your feet in the sand. A real dream spot and we really fell in love with this idyllic place!
La Paillote Iodée
Route du Letty 29950 Bénodet
open from 14/04 to 30/09
Prices: local Breton beers €3.80 for 25cl; glass of cider €3.20; crepes between €3 and €4.50
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Where to stay in Bénodet? Hôtel Le Bateau Libre
This small 12-room hotel, renovated very recently, is a beautiful place to stay in Bénodet. You will find many pieces of furniture picked up by the owners and a very pleasant, easygoing, and friendly atmosphere. The establishment also offers a very nice small terrace for sunny days, where you can sit to have a drink or eat a bite.
We stayed with the favorite photographer in room #15, very soothing and restful with its minimalist white decor. Although the rooms at the front of the establishment are a bit noisier because there is some traffic at night, I find that the hotel’s soundproofing is very good because you hear almost nothing once the windows are closed. And the bedding is also of high quality (which is always important to note). In the morning, we were treated to a country breakfast with very good, well-selected products, on the establishment’s communal table.
Hôtel Le Bateau Libre
17 rue de l’Église 29950 Bénodet
Room rates from €64 in low season for a single room
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Thanks to the Bénodet Tourist Office and Laurent from the AirPur agency for organizing this great stay (unpaid invitation). If you want to know more about the destination, do not hesitate to look at the articles of my fellow travelers, le blog de Lili, Parisian Touch and Globe-Trotting.
I hope that with all this, I have made you want to visit Bénodet and Southern Finistère, and if you also have your favorite spots and tips for this destination, do not hesitate to share them in the comments below!
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos not royalty-free, authorization from the photographer mandatory before any use
