By train, bus, plane, car
Here are some tips on how to get to the departure site on the way there or on the way back, on organising a weekend getaway, or just shortening a trail.
1️⃣ Getting here and trips by train 🚅
The main railway stations on the cycle route:
- Brittany: Morlaix (TGV high-speed train), Lannion (TGV high-speed train), St Brieuc (TGV high-speed train), St Malo (TGV high-speed train) and Dol-de-Bretagne.
- Normandy: Pontorson - Mont-Saint-Michel, Saint-Lô, Carentan, Cherbourg (TGV high-speed train), Bayeux, Caen, Trouville-Deauville, Le Havre (TGV high-speed train), Dieppe.
- Hauts-de-France: Rue, Rang-du-Fliers, Etaples Le Touquet, Boulogne Ville (TGV high-speed train), Calais Ville (TGV high-speed train), Dunkirk (TGV high-speed train).
View lines and stations on a map:
Getting to the route from abroad
Are you planning to join the route from abroad? Here’s a brief summary of the various travel options for joining the route from Belgium, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Italy.
| Country | Non-folded bikes allowed? | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | ✅ Yes (except Eurostar) | Prefer TER/Intercités |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | ⚠️ Partially | Possible via regional trains to the Belgian border |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | ❌ No (Eurostar) | Use maritime connections |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | ✅ Yes (some trains) | Reservation sometimes required |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | ✅ Yes (except TGV Lyria) | TER + regional trains recommended |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | ⚠️ Possible with connections | Via regional trains and TER |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | ✅ Yes (except TGV INOUI) | Via regional trains to the border |
Since October 2023, Thalys, which operated services between Paris/Brussels and Amsterdam, has become Eurostar. Bicycles are still permitted, but only if dismantled and stored in a cover measuring less than 85 cm or folded. More information.
ℹ️ With the "Belgique Hauts-de-France" offer, travel by TER from Lille Flandres or Paris towards destination in Belgium, and vice versa.
💡Tip: use the Deutsche Bahn website. Its "bike transport" filter suggests routes with multiple connections throughout Europe.
How to travel with your bike?
- If you dismantle your bike and place it inside a cover, it is considered to be hand luggage and you do not need to mention it in your booking.
- If your bike is not dismantled, it may be accepted on certain conditions on the TER, TGV, and Intercités trains.
Think about it! With the TGV INOUI, make your travel easier with the My Baggage service. This service takes care of your luggage (including bikes, considered as bulky luggage) wherever you want and delivers them to the address of your choice.
More information on the specificities of TER trains on the French website
2️⃣ Getting here and trips by bus 🚌
- Several long-distance national network bus companies serve ten of the cities on The Vélomaritime® cycle route. Only the Flixbus company offers an offer (sparingly) allowing the transport of an undisassembled bicycle with the bicycle rack system (excluding electrically assisted bicycles). Remember to book in advance!
- In Brittany: Breizhgo
- In Normandy: Cars Nomad | atoumod.fr
- In Hauts-de-France: hautsdefrance-mobilites.fr
Coach service with bike carriers
In Brittany
In summer, some bus lines are fitted with bike carriers (excluding electric bikes) in Côtes d'Armor and Finistère:
- Between Morlaix and Roscoff (line 929) with 5 stops.
- Between Lannion and Morlaix (line 30) with 6 stops.
- Between Trégastel and Lannion via Trébeurden, (on line D) and via Perros-Guirec (on line E) run by Transports TILT with 6 stops in all.
- Between St Brieuc and Saint-Cast-le-Guildo (line 202) with 5 stops.
- Between St Brieuc and Paimpol (line 201) with 5 stops.
- Between Dinan end Sables-d'-Or-les-Pins - Fréhel
In Normandy
- You can take your bike on board bus line no. 122 Caen <> Honfleur <> Le Havre every day of the week. This new service set up by the Normandy Region is free (included in your transport ticket), by reservation only and limited to 4 bikes per vehicle. Learn more
Within the Le Havre Seine Métropole area, all buses on the Lia network are equipped with bike racks that can accommodate up to two bicycles. Learn more.
3️⃣ Getting here and trips by plane ✈️
The airports located on the cycle route or nearby:
- Caen Carpiquet (20 km/12 ½ miles away): from Brest, Nantes, Bordeaux (via Brest or Nantes), Pau (via Nantes), Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, Nice and Figari (spring and summer) and also London-Southend and Dublin (via London).
- Brest, Rennes, Lille.
💡 Remember to check the bike transport policy of your air company.
4️⃣ Take a car to The Vélomaritime® and leave your vehicle where your cycle route starts 🚗
- You will find car parks for this purpose (free or paid) in several towns and villages. You can get information from the Tourist Office nearest to your starting place.
- You can see what is available on onepark.fr and book your parking place in the following towns and cities on the cycle route: St Malo, Caen, Cabourg, Le Havre, Dieppe, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais...
- Some accommodation (certified Accueil Vélo or not) can provide free or paid for parking for your vehicle: parking space, garage, etc.
- Several platforms offer parking rental between individuals: casapark, prendsmaplace...
💡 When you prepare your bike trip, we suggest you leave from a town close to a station, or one with a railway station, so that it is easy to return to your starting place :)
