Lorient

Understand

Lorient is commonly referred to as la ville aux cinq ports ("the city of five ports"): military, fishing, commercial, passengers and yachting.

Getting there

1 Gare de Lorient. 4 hr by train west from Paris. 5 to 6 trains daily connect Paris to Lorient on the way to Quimper. Rennes, the main city in Brittany, is 1 hr 30 min from Lorient by train or by car. The bus station is next to the railway station. 2 Lorient South Brittany Airport (LRT IATA). Connections from Toulouse. (updated Mar 2026)

Getting around

By bus Buses go all around Lorient and to nearby cities such as Ploemeur, Guidel, Lanester, and Hennebont.

One way ticket – €1.45 (valid one hour) Daily ticket – €4 10 tickets – €12.5

See

Marina (Port de plaisance) – Near office de tourisme 1 Cité De La Voile. Submarine base built by the Germans during the Second World War. (updated May 2026) Beaches – 5-15 km from Lorient city centre, some beaches are connected by buses: Guidel, Fort Bloqué, Lomener 2 Guidel beach, [email protected]. (updated May 2026) 3 Fort Bloqué beach. (updated May 2026) 4 Lomener beach. (updated May 2026) Port Louis – Another town across the "rade de lorient"; Fort and museum of the East India company. 5 Ile de Groix. A nice island 45 min off Lorient connected by ferry. Hike or bike around the island. Departure 08:05, 11:00 13:45, and 18:45. Return from Groix: 06:50, 09:30, 12:30, and 17:30. The ferry costs €30 return (€35 weekend and summer). (updated May 2026)

Do

1 Festival Interceltique de Lorient. A week in August. Street concerts, food and drinks, Celtic music and shows daily. Hike the GR34 le sentier des douaniers coastal track along Brittany's coast. 2 Stade de Moustoir. FC Lorient promoted in 2025 and now play soccer in Ligue 1, the top tier. Their home ground Stade de Moustoir (capacity 18,000) is in town centre. (updated May 2026)

Eat

Crêpes. Expect to pay €4 in a creperie for a "complete" filled with ham cheese and egg. Kouing Amman (delicious sweet butter and caramel cake). Easily found during festival interceltique, otherwise check out bakeries.

Drink & nightlife

1 Bars and pubs around Place Jules ferry - Quai des Indes.. Expect around €5 for a pint of beer.. (updated May 2026)

Go next

Vannes – 40 min away by train or car on the way to Rennes and Paris. Quimper – 40 min away by train or car, westwards: smaller pleasant city. Quiberon and Carnac – Nice walks on the coast, about 30-45 min drive from Lorient.