Last Updated on June 21, 2026 by Colin Le Conte
Table of Contents
Marina Guide
We love the Vauban marina. Through the large lock gates, the marina is almost in the heart of Saint-Malo, located just outside of the walls. This does mean it is a busy and sometimes noisy marina but is well worth a visit.
The harbour staff are very helpful and speak good English.
This is the new Capitainerie building in St Malo. Looks very impressive, large and includes a restaurant.
It is now in full service. Harbour office, bar/restaurant and facilities.
The new La Trinquette restaurant in the new building looks good and is very busy on a sunny evening, catching the last rays of the sun. Do book if you want a table in the evening.
They open at 8am and do server coffee and croisants.
Marina Gates and Tides
Lock times – Opening Hours – Brittany Boating
Vauban Marina lock times – https://www.saintmalo-cancale.port.bzh/page/horaires-de-l-ecluse
Tides https://tide.frbateaux.net/52
St Malo lock and lots of other information, wind speed, Vauban lock, Rance lock https://nautisme.lefigaro.fr/bloc-marine/fiche-port/informations-port-sai…
The lock operates as follows and is based on Saint-Malo HW. The time listed for Entry is the time the lock gate opens to the sea. It‘s better to arrive 15mins before.
Normally the lock opens at the time stated and lets the boats in the lock, leave. It then lets you in. After about 10 mins the lock closes and the water height is adjusted. At the set time for the next opening, they open the gates and let you out, so you will normally be in there for half an hour.
The people on the wall of the lock now throw down a line with a ball on the end. You need to do a simple knot and connect it to your rope so you can pass the rope up. Make sure it has a big loop ready so they can put it over the bollard.
When the exit gate opens, you can just leave, there are no lights.
The times published for the opening of the gate are interesting. From the outiside, the outer gate closed at the published time so do get there at least 10 mins before.
You will then wait in the lock for up to 30mins as they want to close the road on the marina side for as short a time as possible. So they open that lock gate around the published time for leaving the marina.
Entry
- 2.5 hours before HW
- 1.5 hours before HW
- 0.5 hours before HW
- 0.5 hours after HW
- 1.5 hours after HW
Exit
- 2 hours before HW
- 1 hour before HW
- High Water
- 1 hour after HW
- 2 hours after HW
The above is based on my calculation based on the lock times in 2015. Please check with the Harbourmaster or other sources of information if the timing is critical for you.
Douane / Preavis forms
Port of Entry
“If you wish to come to the port of Sablons (to use the Port of Entry), you will have to contact us two days before your arrival so that we can see if we have a place available. Moreover, there is not a particular port to come to, it is you who choose VAUBAN or SABLON.”
This is the form
There are 2 email addresses that you need to send the form to. I have typed them below so you can cut and paste them as they are long! dipn35-paf-spafp-uct@interieur.gouv.fr; ddtm-dml@ille-et-vilaine.gouv.fr
The Saint Malo douane do not normally respond.
Visitors to Saint Malo (a Port of Entry) on their boat on 15th April 2026 confirmed that on arrival at the Douane office, fingerprints and photos were taken of people who were not on the EES system and facial recognition used for the people who were already on the system. This replaced the stamping of the passport.
The customs (Douane) are where the cars check-in for the ferry.
It is not in the building where you buy the tickets or the passenger building.
It appears you either need to go into one of the marinas, or there are 2 holding buoys outside of the Sablons marina. These are not for overnight stays.
Contact information
Marina Office
Email address: ports@saintmalo.plaisance.bzh
Telephone 00.33.299.565.191
Saint Malo Marinas require the following form to be completed prior to your visit:
Marina Information
The marina can get very busy in the summer, so even smaller boats may have to go alongside the wall and raft up. They do get large regattas as well, sometimes with over 100 boats. Do call them first.
The Saint Malo marinas have been split into 2 separate pages. The marinas are very different and worthy of a separate page.
The marina can also accommodate large boats along the wall. Do check though as I was told it is run by a separate company and they charge a lot more.
The lock entering the marina is huge, but so are the boats that sometimes use it.
On the way out of the lock – the lights can be quite hard to see
The man or lady in the dinghy comes to meet you as you arrive at the marina
Official website see https://bretagne.plaisance.bzh/nos-ports/saint-malo/
https://www.noonsite.com/Countries/France/StMalo
Bakery
There is a bakery just inside the main gate. More for sandwiches and salads than a boulangerie. They have their croissants delivered soon after 8am so are effectively closed until the first delivery.
We also tried the boulangerie at the Cathedrale in 2026 and the Croissants were really good.
Market day
Tuesday, Friday
Dinard Markets – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings all year round on Esplanade des Halles, Place Rochaïd.
We visited the market in June 2026 and it had grown and was very good. Well worth the trip. It is a few streets inland of the beach.
Extra information
Weather – https://www.meteo.fr/marine/naviweb/bulletins/1330.html
Weather
https://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=112
https://www.windfinder.com/forecast/dinard
9 day – Saint-Malo – https://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/StMalo/forecasts/latest
https://france.meteofrance.com/france/meteo?PREVISIONS_PORTLET.path=previ…
Video of leaving marina
I have produced a sped-up video of leaving the lock gates and heading for the Rance Barrage – https://youtu.be/XAxifYkv0LM
Webcam – see https://www.ville-saint-malo.fr/webcams/