BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide

Renting a boat in northern Brittany and Normandy: Saint-Malo, Granville, Deauville

Some of Europe's biggest tides, the Chausey islands, the Côte Fleurie: the guide to renting a boat between Saint-Malo and Deauville.

By Clément Lacaille, editor of Boat-Comparator · updated 7 Aug 2026

The Channel has nothing to do with the Mediterranean: here the tide runs the show, but in exchange it delivers scenery a flat sea never shows — sandbanks revealed, shifting archipelagos, strong currents between islands.

Saint-Malo, the corsair city

Its walled old town overlooks waters with some of Europe's largest tidal ranges. From Saint-Malo, reach the Chausey archipelago within the hour — the number of visible islets swings dramatically between high and low tide.

Granville, gateway to the Chausey

Another walled town, Granville is the closest port to the Chausey and a good base for a day exploring the archipelago on a small boat, planning around tide times rather than against them.

Deauville, the Côte Fleurie

Further east, Deauville and its famous boardwalk offer a more urban stretch of water, popular for a day trip along the Côte Fleurie toward Trouville and Honfleur.

The tide, condition number one

In this region the tidal range can far exceed that of the Atlantic coast further south: leaving and returning to port follow tide times, and some channels are only navigable at certain hours. Our Atlantic tides guide is the reference to check before booking here.

Budget

Prices stay within French standards: €100-250/day for a no-license boat, €200-600/day for a RIB. Compare offers in Saint-Malo, Granville and Deauville, and read our tides guide before leaving.

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