Stays in Rennes

Balthazar Hotel & Spa Rennes is a contemporary five-star in central Rennes, 200 metres from the Fine Arts Museum, which I would suggest to families with older children who enjoy a museum morning. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi, and pets are welcome. The wellness centre with its hammam, the gastronomic restaurant and the bar are mostly for the adults. Guests rate it 9.2 across 897 reviews, an excellent score.

I would choose Le Magic Hall for a Rennes stay with a bit of fun in it. Each room is decorated around a theme: cinema, dance, theatre or music. The hotel is in the city centre, close to the Palais des Congrès and Saint Pierre Cathedral, and a public garden is nearby. There is a terrace, and pets are welcome, so couples and families with a dog are covered.

Sezam Appart-Hotel Rennes has just 19 apartments, each with a kitchenette, and I find that a good fit for families who want to prepare simple meals and keep their own rhythm. It sits in the train station district, so arriving by TGV with children and bags is straightforward, and Rennes city centre is a short walk away. There are no pool or restaurant facilities to rely on, so this is an independent, self-catering base.

Hôtel Kyriad Rennes Centre Gare faces the SNCF station in central Rennes, and every room has its own cinema theme, a detail I think children will enjoy discovering on arrival. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed, with free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, a mini-bar and a courtesy tray, and a lift serves the floors. Breakfast is a buffet with local products, and pets are accepted. Guests rate this three-star 8.8 across 2,182 reviews.

Mama Shelter Rennes has air-conditioned family rooms with private bathrooms and free WiFi, so everyone can share one space. The indoor pool is the highlight for children on a grey Breton day, while adults can use the spa, sauna and fitness centre. The modern restaurant serves French cuisine with diverse dietary options, which helps with allergies or picky eaters, and pets are welcome. Guests rate this four-star 8.8 out of 10 across more than 1,700 reviews.

I see this Novotel as a family option for Rennes when the car stays parked and the children need space to burn energy. The playground and the seasonal outdoor pool do a lot of work on warm afternoons, and the restaurant serving French cuisine saves a trip out at dinner time. Rooms are air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, and pets are accepted. It sits on the outskirts, so the old town needs a short drive or transit.

Novotel SPA Rennes Centre Gare is 200 metres from the train station in central Rennes, so families arriving by rail are settled within minutes. The wellness area includes a swimming pool, a big plus for children on a rainy Breton day, along with a hammam and fitness room for adults. Rooms and suites are comfortable and contemporary, and WiFi is free throughout. Guests rate it 8.6 out of 10 across nearly 1,900 reviews, a strong score for a station hotel.

Le Saint Antoine is the Rennes hotel I would point families towards when an indoor pool matters: its spa has an indoor swimming pool and a steam room, welcome on a rainy Breton afternoon. It stands 250 metres from the train station and 200 metres from the National Theatre, so arriving by train with children is easy. Private parking suits those who drive. Rooms include a coffee machine, and pets are accepted.

Hotel Arcantis Le Voltaire offers families a quiet, green setting about 2 km from Rennes city centre, a welcome contrast after a busy day in town. En suite rooms come with a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi, and the buffet breakfast is served every day of the week. Pets are accepted, so the family dog can come along, and the cosy bar gives parents a calm spot in the evening. The train station and cultural sites are easy to reach.

I would choose Hôtel Anne de Bretagne for a stay in the centre of Rennes, close to the old city with its cafés and restaurants. Rooms are air-conditioned, and free Wi-Fi covers the whole hotel. A buffet breakfast is served daily, and there is a bar for an evening drink. The hotel is family-friendly and welcomes pets, which makes it an easy address for travelling households.

I would book the Brit Hotel du Stade Rennes Ouest for a family travelling by car, since it is a 10-minute drive from Rennes city centre with easy access from the N24. Free private parking removes the usual city headache. Rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned, with private bathrooms, satellite TV and free WiFi, which helps everyone sleep. A bar, a terrace and a 24-hour reception round out a practical three-star stop.

I would choose this ibis budget for a family or pet-friendly stop in Rennes, particularly for a match at Roazhon Park or a visit to the University Hospital, both nearby. There is a terrace and a shared lounge, free Wi-Fi, and a choice of continental or buffet breakfast. Electric vehicle charging is available, which suits drivers of electric cars on a longer trip.

Aparthotel Adagio Access Rennes Centre suits families who like to cook: each studio has a fully equipped kitchen with hotplates, a microwave and a fridge, so meals with children can follow your own schedule. The buffet breakfast is served in a bright dining room for mornings off. Pets are welcome. The aparthotel is about five minutes on foot from the city centre and close to Sainte-Anne metro station, and the A11 motorway is easy to reach by car.

Mercure Rennes Centre Place Bretagne is in the centre of Rennes, near the metro, the Place de la République and Saint-Pierre Cathedral, so the old town can be explored on foot with children. Secure on-site parking is a help for families arriving by car. Rooms have satellite TV, a Chromecast for the family's own films, a safe and a private bathroom with Nuxe toiletries, and some are adapted for guests with limited mobility.

Hotel ibis Rennes Centre Gare Sud gives direct access to the TGV station and the metro, which I find the simplest arrangement for families travelling by train with luggage and children. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi and a private bathroom. The daily buffet breakfast has sweet and savoury options, and gluten-free products on request. The hotel is family-friendly and welcomes pets, and 3,301 reviews average 8.3 for this three-star.

Kyriad Rennes Nord Hotel has 58 rooms, including triples, which suit a family of three without needing two rooms. Every room has a bath, a television and WiFi, and three rooms are adapted for guests with disabilities. A full buffet breakfast is served daily, parking is free, which makes arriving by car straightforward, and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.3 out of 10 across more than 2,100 reviews, a reassuring score for a practical three-star.

Campanile Rennes Centre - Gare stands opposite the Rennes TGV station, a short walk from the city centre, so families arriving by train can drop their bags within minutes. Rooms are air-conditioned with a private bathroom and free WiFi, and a buffet breakfast is served every day before you head out to explore. Pets are welcome too. Guests rate it 8.3 out of 10 across more than 2,100 reviews, a solid result for a practical station hotel.

The choice between hotel rooms and apartments is what I find most useful for families at Le Nemours Rennes: an apartment gives a family more space right in the city centre. The historic centre, shops and restaurants are only minutes away on foot. The daily buffet breakfast features organic and local products, a good start before a day of sightseeing, and the 24-hour front desk helps with late arrivals. Wi-Fi is free, and pets are welcome.

I would choose Hôtel Le Florin for a family arriving in Rennes by train, as it stands right next to the station. Rooms are en suite, with a flat-screen satellite TV and free Wi-Fi. A continental buffet breakfast is served every morning, and restaurants are within walking distance for dinner. The reception is open 24 hours, which suits early departures and late arrivals.

I would choose the Mercure Rennes Centre Parlement for a stay in a former printing press in the centre of Rennes. The hotel has a fitness centre and offers free soft drinks and free Wi-Fi. Guest rooms have a TV, a minibar and tea and coffee facilities, each with a private bathroom. A buffet breakfast is served daily, and pets are welcome.

I would choose Le Victoria for a family trip to Rennes by train, as the hotel is in the centre close to the station. It is a boutique-style address with family rooms and rooms adapted for disabled guests. The brasserie-style restaurant serves classic French cuisine, which saves a search for dinner. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole property, and I find the atmosphere quiet and welcoming.

Garden Hotel Rennes Centre Gare suits families arriving by train, 400 metres from the station and about five minutes on foot from the République metro stop. Every room is served by a lift, useful with a pushchair, and has a private bathroom and a courtesy tray for a hot drink. The buffet breakfast features local and regional products, many restaurants are nearby, and meals on a tray can be arranged. A private car park helps those arriving by car.

Appart'hôtel Odalys City Rennes Lorgeril gives families the independence of an apartment close to Sainte-Anne metro station. Every studio and suite has a fully equipped kitchenette with a microwave and fridge, so simple meals for children are easy to prepare, and a private shower room. The Opera House and the Fine Arts Museum are nearby for a cultural outing, the fitness centre suits active parents, and pets are welcome, so the whole family can come.

B&B HOTEL Rennes Ouest Villejean is a short drive from Rennes 2 University in the west of the city, a practical stop for families visiting students or passing through by car. Rooms are simple, with a flat-screen TV, a desk and a private bathroom, and some are adapted for guests with disabilities. A buffet breakfast is served every day at an extra charge, and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.1 out of 10 across nearly 1,800 reviews.

Le Paris Brest Hotel is a simple, central option for families travelling by train: the TGV station and metro stop are directly opposite, and the old town is a short walk away. Family rooms are available, with free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV, and breakfast is served daily. The 24-hour front desk helps with late trains. The bus station across the street also makes a day trip to Mont-Saint-Michel easy to organise without a car.

Séjours & Affaires Rennes Longs Champs is a residence of modern studios, which suits small families who want to cook for themselves. Each studio has a kitchenette and a flat-screen TV, with wooden floors and a spacious bathroom. A shopping centre 50 metres away makes groceries easy. It sits 600 metres from the Rennes Atalante Beaulieu business park, so it is aimed at work trips, and Rennes Station is 4 km away. Pets are welcome.