{"id":1392,"date":"2026-07-18T14:18:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T14:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/?p=1392"},"modified":"2026-07-19T16:52:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T16:52:29","slug":"gulf-of-morbihan-scenic-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getcarhire.com\/blog\/gulf-of-morbihan-scenic-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"Gulf of Morbihan Scenic Drive: Vannes, the Megaliths and the Little Sea of Southern Brittany"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Gulf of Morbihan scenic drive is Southern Brittany at its gentlest and most beguiling. Mor Bihan means the little sea in Breton, and that is exactly what this is: a near-enclosed inland sea some 20 kilometres across, dotted with dozens of islands and ringed by oyster beds, medieval towns, prehistoric megaliths and a soft, almost Mediterranean light. Listed among the most beautiful bays in the world, it is a world away from the wild Atlantic headlands of the far West, and all the more lovely for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breton legend says the gulf was made from the tears of fairies driven from the forest of Broc\u00e9liande, who threw down their flower crowns, and each one became an island. There is an old saying that the gulf holds as many islands as there are days in the year; in truth there are around forty, from tiny private islets to the two you can visit, the \u00cele-aux-Moines and the \u00cele d’Arz. It is this scattering of green islands across silver water that gives the Gulf of Morbihan scenic drive its dreamlike quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the gulf is almost landlocked, there is no single coastal road around it, so this Gulf of Morbihan scenic drive makes a loop around the whole little sea, from the walled capital of Vannes down the Rhuys peninsula to the mouth, then round to the megaliths of Locmariaquer and the old port of Auray, with a ferry hop to the loveliest of the islands along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide links it all with real drive times, parking notes, the best stops and where to eat. Car hire in the region starts from around \u00a320 a day, and Brittany’s roads are toll-free, so the little sea is yours to explore at your own pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gulf of Morbihan Scenic Drive at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Route:<\/strong> Vannes, Sarzeau and Suscinio, Arzon and Port-Navalo, Locmariaquer, Auray, \u00cele-aux-Moines
Distance:<\/strong> About 70 miles (110 km) as a loop around the gulf
Driving time:<\/strong> Around 2 hours 30 of pure driving, but allow a full day, or better two
Nearest airport:<\/strong> Nantes (NTE), about 1 hour 15, the closest gateway to Southern Brittany
Best time:<\/strong> May to September for the light and the island ferries, though the gulf is lovely year-round
Roads:<\/strong> Toll-free throughout, gentle and well surfaced around the little sea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Table of Contents<\/h2>