Dinard : book your hotel

Enchanting Dinard overlooks the English Channel on the picturesque Côte d'Émeraude (Emerald Coast) in France's north-west. Once a sleepy fishing village, in the 19th century it was discovered by wealthy aristocrats, many of them English or American, looking to take the sea air and enjoy the benefits of thalassotherapy and ocean bathing. They built themselves lavish villas sitting atop seafront cliffs, in the process turning the town into one of France's most fashionable summer resorts.

Dinard sits on a headland bordered on three sides by water, with leafy boulevards in its historic centre converging on elegant squares ringed by chic cafés, lively bars and convivial bistros. Its sandy, calm-water beaches and a pleasantly mild, Gulf Stream-influenced climate make Dinard a perfect destination for a seaside holiday. Your Dinard accommodation is also ideally located for exploring more of Brittany and the Emerald Coast, where your first stop should be the beguiling port town of Saint-Malo, just a short hop away across the Rance estuary. Visiting for a romantic weekend with pampering spa treatments? Looking for a seaside Dinard hotel for your family holiday? Joining the lovers of British film who arrive for the Festival du Film Britannique in September? You'll find the accommodation to match your needs in the Accor portfolio of hotels in Dinard, France, and Saint-Malo.

We recommend a relaxed walk along the enchanting Promenade du Clair de Lune as the first of your activities in Dinard. Meandering for several kilometres along the waterfront from Plage du Prieuré beach to the Pointe du Moulinet Dinard headland, the moonlight walk takes you past fragrant gardens and opulent Belle Époque mansions overlooking the sea, all the while affording breathtaking views across the Rance estuary to fortified Saint-Malo and its ramparts. Along the way, discover the sculptures and bas reliefs dotted along the path and, at Quai de la Perle, a luxuriant palm grove planted in the 1930s. In summer, you can stroll the promenade after dark to the accompaniment of a music-and-light show. Perched high on the Pointe du Moulinet promontory is perhaps the most iconic mansion, the Villa Les Roches Brunes Dinard, designed in the eclectic style of the 1890s, and now hosting exhibitions and concerts. Come late in the day – it's one of the best places in Dinard to marvel at the spectacular Channel sunset.

Its delightful beaches were what drew the very first tourists to Dinard, and they remain the heart and soul of the resort today, each with its own distinct atmosphere. Watched over by the regal Casino Barrière de Dinard and a broad promenade lined with café terraces, sandy Plage de l'Écluse beach is a lovely spot for sandcastle-building, swimming or just sitting back in one of the distinctive blue-and-white-striped beach tents while you enjoy the views of the Saint-Malo skyline across the water. In the centre of town, with a backdrop of elegant 19th-century stone mansions, charming Plage de Saint-Énogat is a popular spot for boat activities including kayaking, sailing and windsurfing. The fine sand of long Plage du Prieuré faces the calm waters of the estuary – prefer not swim in the sea? Take a dip in the piscine de mer seawater swimming pool instead. If you'd like to get away from the crowds, the north-facing beach of Plage de Port-Blanc is a tranquil option. Outside town but within easy reach of your Dinard hotel, you'll find a host of other idyllic sandy strips strung along the Emerald Coast.

Your Dinard hotel is a perfectly situated starting point for Brittany excursions, whether you're hiking, biking or driving. The Grande Randonnée path GR34, one of the most popular hiking routes in France, snakes along the magnificent Brittany coastline from Mont Saint-Michel to Saint-Nazaire – but don't worry, you don't have to do it all! The stretch near Dinard takes in wild headlands, secluded beaches and quaint fishing villages – and the buses running along the coast will get you back when you're ready to return. For pedal-pushers, the Circuit Émeraude Bords de Rance is a pleasant 38-kilometre circuit amid dramatic sea vistas and lush, rolling countryside.

Blessed with the bounty of the Channel, seafood is a local speciality, with menus at the best restaurants in Dinard featuring lavish platters of king scallops, mussels and oysters. The other renowned Breton classic, the crêpe, is also a staple in Dinard's welcoming bistros. The hearty savoury variety, the galette, is made from buckwheat flour and served with an array of fillings such as ham and cheese, and often topped with a fried egg. For a quick street-food snack, tuck into a galette-saucisse, a grilled sausage wrapped in a crêpe, and follow it up with a buttery kouign-amann pastry as dessert. Pick them up, along with a wealth of other regional delights, at the buzzing daily Les Halles Dinard market; on outdoor market days (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), the stalls also spill outside onto Esplanade des Halles. Even though Brittany does produce some excellent white wines – try a white Muscadet – it's more renowned for its dry apple cider, a favourite tipple at Dinard's lively pubs. A beloved local apéritif, chouchen is made with fermented honey and apple juice – it's delicious served ice cold.

Like to take your own romantic journey back to the glamorous Belle Époque? Then book a luxury room or suite at our charming Dinard boutique hotel, Royal Émeraude Dinard - MGallery, housed in an elegant stone building dating from 1892 and located right in the historic centre of Dinard. Sink into one of the plush leather armchairs in our refined, conservatory-style bar to sip a finely crafted cocktail. Here you can savour the atmosphere of the golden age of hospitality – alongside all the contemporary comforts you expect from a 4-star Accor hotel. Looking for something more affordable? We have a range of hotels offering bed-and-breakfast packages just across the Rance estuary in neighbouring Saint-Malo, both in the delightful old town and near the beach. You'll still be within easy reach of all Dinard's attractions.

Regular ferries run to Saint-Malo from British ports including Poole and Portsmouth, while fast TGV trains connect Saint-Malo and Paris in about 2.5 hours. From Saint-Malo, it's a delightful 10-minute ferry ride to Dinard, or around 20 minutes' drive. The drive from Paris to Dinard via the A11 autoroute takes roughly 4.5 hours.