Last Updated on June 8, 2026 by Colin Le Conte
Table of Contents
Marina Guide
Paimpol is a lovely port. The approach to the marina is interesting once you pass Ile de Brehats and turn west. The passage between the buoys gets narrower and narrower and then you have the fairly large lock to pass through.
The marina is very good, as are the facilities. Nice shops, great places to eat and all on your doorstep.
It can, however, get very busy in the summer.
Marina Gates and Tides
Marina Opening Times 2026 – https://www.eskaledarmor.com/en/timetable-for-the-paimpol-lock/
Marina Opening Times
https://issuu.com/editionsarmoric/docs/port_paimpol_2026_web?fr=sNmYxODg1ODE0OTM
The lock gate opens on-demand within the published hours. The lock gates do go on “free flow” if the tide is high enough. We understand they go back to lock gates at HW.
Douane / Preavis forms
Please see https://digimapmarinas.com/home/latest-french-marina-entry-exit-rules/ for the latest information and the new procedure for entering and exiting marinas. It is good news and thank you to the French authorities and the ports and marina officials who worked so hard to introduce these new rules.
Contact information
E-mail – they are very good and quick at replying portdepaimpol@eskaledarmor.com
Marina Description
The Harbourmaster and his colleagues speak very good English and are very welcoming and helpful. They normally meet you in their little boat just inside the lock gates.
The lock gates open for through passage (free flow) up to 1 hour before high tide (depending on whether spring or neap) and they close at High water and become lock gates again.
They said they can normally find people a berth for their boat except for mid-July to mid-August when boats may have to raft up.
Beach
Quite a nice beach with a seawater swimming pool just past the L’Ecluse restaurant.
Visit www.paimpol-goelo.com for further information
Boulangerie
There was one to the south of Basin 1 but now appears to be open again (May 2014). There is a good boulangerie in the old square just behind the Restaurant du Port. We tried the boulangerie by the Tourist Information. Amazing cakes but the croissants and pain au chocolate were really flakey and a bit too crisp.
Market day
Tuesday
Some good and interesting shops as well
Things to do
Good walk to Abbey de Beauport. Well worth a visit with a small cafe.
Train to Pontrieux; you need 1 to 2 hours there max.
Ile de Brehats
See the following link
To get to the Ile de Brehats or to travel along the coast – the Tibus provides a cost-effective service but not very frequent – https://www.breizhgo.bzh/
Video of entering marina
Webcam – https://www.viewsurf.com/univers/plage/vue/16960-france-bretagne-paimpol-live
Videos
Entering the lock gates is fairly straightforward – see https://youtu.be/71UwziGDsc8 – this also shows the left basin
Once you are through the lock gates – there is a passage to the left of the marina building or pontoons on your right.
Reviews / Boating Reports
Gavin May report June 2023
- Very helpful staff.
- Abbey ticket office is closed 12.30 til 2pm; also buses are available from Paimpol.
- Some lock ropes are missing in 2022, and in 2023 starboard rear rope is missing. Had to retrieve some rusty old chains onto the boat from the quayside level. Check if there is anything to tie on to before taking that slot!
- Facilities are now by code, no longer bank card swipe.
- The noisy fair is usually from 26 May til 6 June.
- Two superb bakers. Come here just for that!
- Prebook at Tourist Office for Brehat Ferry as it can be heaving for tickets when you get there.
Gavin May report 2022
Maybe Tourist Office can give the dates of the fairground because it is hell if it is there. Otherwise, this is a good place for some days, 7 nights for the cost of 4 in June. It is not as tidal restricted as Binic. The walk to and visit of the Abbey de Beauport is good, and the partly ruined Abbey is very nicely restored
As an alternative, an hour each way walk towards the estuary mouth on the West side.
Although you can go to Pontrieux in your own boat from Lezardrieux, an alternative is to take the very infrequent, one-carriage train from Paimpol. As a day trip, there is not a lot in Pontrieux, so a couple of hours might be enough assuming a lunch! However, the place is extremely tranquil.
Another, and a better day trip is to take the bus and then ferry to Ile de Brehat, which needs about 5 hrs or so to walk both of the charming islands, Plan that bus schedule back to Paimpol; or it is a very long wait!
So, check no fairground, and book in for some days!
2014 report
Visited during the last week of May 2014. The fair was on. It is a big fair with large and quite professional attractions. It opens at 2 pm and by 8 pm is still very quiet, however, after that, it starts getting really busy. The Marina staff told us the fair was from 2 pm until 11 pm but they were wrong. On 2 nights running, it finished at 1 am the following morning. That really is too late. The fair takes up much of the area including the whole of the pier to the Capitanerie – so there is no way of avoiding it. The only good thing is the Marina charges winter rates while the fair is on due to the inconvenience.
Met a fellow boater who said you do NOT want to be in port when the festival is on (8 to 10th August 2025). It might be rather noisy. Or fun. The person said the area is fenced off and it may be difficulty to get back to your boat. Best check first https://www.paimpol-festival.bzh/
July 2025: Still very pretty. Staff super helpful. Harbour office has a games room for kids and a borrow library with various books magazines in various languages.