Discover the beach of Le Havre in Normandy (France).
This beach of sand (at low tide) and pebbles (always…) is located in the heart of downtown. Go for a walk at different times of the day because it is painted with the beautiful lights so dear to the impressionists.
Here is our guide to plan your visit: access, parking, activities, restaurants…
Why visit the beach of Le Havre
Is the Le Havre beach worth it? Our review
Yes. We are not going to lie to you, some will be disappointed to see only pebbles at high tide. But we love this beach. The landscapes vary constantly, between sand and pebbles and with the skies and colors so appreciated by the impressionists.
If the low tide corresponds with the sunset or the sunrise, we recommend you to take off your shoes and go for a walk with your feet in the water to admire the spectacle of nature!
What is this beach known for?
Le Havre beach is known for many reasons:
- his inspiration from the impressionist painters
- its ideal conditions for kitesurfing enthusiasts
- the end of the world walk, which takes you to the foot of the cliffs of the Alabaster coast
- its beach huts
- its beautiful pebbles (even if they are not to everyone’s taste)
- …
To learn more about the City of Le Havre, see our complete guide.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Useful tips and map – Le Havre Beach, Normandy, France
Where is the beach of Le Havre?
- In the city of Le Havre
- Driving time from Rouen: 1 h
- Driving time from Caen: 1 h 15
- Driving time from Cherbourg: 2 h 30
- Driving time from Paris: 2 h 15
- Here is a map to help you locate Le Havre:
How to get to the beach
- You can easily reach Le Havre by train from Paris – the journey takes 2 hours – and from the station, the tramway brings you to the beach in 15 minutes
- Or you can come by car – from Paris, Rouen and Caen, it’s highway all the way – compare car rental prices
- If you are coming from the UK, your ferry can arrive in Le Havre, which makes an ideal stop before continuing south – book your ferry.
- or maybe it’s a stopover during your cruise
Parking – parking near the beach of Le Havre
All parking spaces on the beachfront are free.
However, as soon as you enter the city, the parking is not free.
There are 3 parking lots (in addition to the spaces along the beach): the one on the beach near the streetcar stop, the one at the CNH pool, and the one at the marina (next to the gas station). The latter involves a 10 minute walk to the beach.
Best time to visit
The beach of Le Havre is located in Normandy.
It is a region where the 4 seasons are well marked and which receives a lot of wind, on the edge of the Channel.
Therefore, the most favorable temperatures for sitting on the beach and swimming are during the months of July and August.
However, you can enjoy the beauty of the beach and its colors all year round, especially in winter.
As far as the week is concerned, the parking lots fill up quite a bit on nice weekends. Don’t arrive too late!
And for a magnificent show, the beach is facing west. It is therefore perfect to admire the sunset.
WHERE TO STAY IN Le Havre
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
On the waterfront:
Hilton Hotel with its modern decor and balconies – see prices, photos and availability.
Downtown, in the heart of Perret architecture:
Hôtel Pasino, for ultra-spacious rooms – See prices, photos and availability
Hotel Vent d’Ouest, a charming place to stay – See prices, photos and availability
Activities and Facilities: swimming, diving, eating…
Type of beach
- It is a beach of large pebbles mainly gray. And at low tide an area of flat sand appears. It is more or less wide according to the tide index.
- The beach starts at the entrance of the harbor and goes to the foot of the cliffs of the Alabaster Coast (on the side of the town of Sainte-Adresse). It is possible to walk along the promenade. On the other hand, on the sand, it is only possible to go up to the “border” with Sainte-Adresse, which is already not bad.
- Its width depends on the tidal index
Swimming
- Blue Flag!
The beach of Le Havre has the blue flag since 2003. This means that its bathing waters are considered excellent.
But always check the color of the flag before you swim! - The depth of the water varies greatly depending on the tide index and where you are along the beach. In the supervised swimming area at low tide, the slope is gentle
- You swim in the sea, do not go too far from the coast to avoid the currents
- Lifeguards
During the summer season, a large section of the beach is supervised by lifeguards. - In addition, in summer, posts with colored elements (yellow fish, train…) are installed along the beach to help you know where you are and find your stuff (or your children!)
The beach of Le Havre with children
The beach of Le Havre is very suitable for children. They appreciate:
- sand castles at low tide with wet sand
- the search for colored pebbles and pieces of rolled glass at high tide
- the 2 playgrounds (at the end of the beach and in the middle of the beach)
The beach of Le Havre with a dog
From October 1st to March 31st, dogs are allowed on a leash everywhere on the beach.
From April1st to September 30th the beach (gardens, pebbles and foreshore) is forbidden to dogs. But walking is still allowed for dogs on a leash.
Snorkeling, diving, surfing… water sports
Many water sports are practiced on the beach of Le Havre:
- kitesurfing (quite a bit of wind often)
- kayak (kayak rental available in summer)
- paddle board (rental available in summer)
- windsurfing
- Aquatic walking (longe côte)
- surfing (more rarely)
- diving (but not the best spot)
Restaurants
On the beach, from May to the end of September, restaurants are installed on the beach along the promenade (they are dismantled every winter). You will find a variety of menus: bar, seafood, Asian, traditional French…
The most historic is the Cabane des Frites à Victor.
Otherwise, not far from the beach you will find many other restaurants.
Some of our favorite restaurants are a little further away in the center of the city of Le Havre but without too much walking we recommend:
- Restaurant La Voile Bleue for its fresh mussels
- The restaurant of the Muma Museum with a view of the port exit
- or see our favorite restaurants in Le Havre (article to come)
No picnic tables on the beach of Le Havre, but you can sit on the pebbles!
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What to see at the beach: Photos
Besides walking on the beach at low tide or swimming, here are some other things to notice.
The white concrete sculpture anchored on the beach
Installed on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the city of Le Havre, this work by Lang/Baumann fits perfectly with the beach and the Perret architecture of Le Havre.
You can have fun with perspective by framing the church of Saint Joseph or the setting sun between its feet.
The beach huts
The beach is also known for its small beach huts that are installed in but and removed in October each year.
Originally white, they took colors with the artists of “Un été au Havre”. They will be white again in 2022 and will change their style according to the artists’ wishes.
The long walk to the end of the world
The advantage of Le Havre is that there is a very long promenade which allows to admire the sea up to Sainte-Adresse and what the locals call the “end of the world” at the foot of the cliffs which mark the beginning of the Alabaster coast.
The dykes
Around the Marina, at the southern tip of the beach, you can also walk along the seawalls for a slightly different view.
Another sculpture awaits you on one of them. It should not make you indifferent. Let it inspire you to take time, breathe and admire the landscape.
The orientation table
And to admire the beach and the city of Le Havre from above, go up to Sainte-Adresse to the orientation table.
On a clear day, you can see the coast on the other side of the Seine estuary with the town of Deauville.
The beaches of Le Havre and Sainte-Adresse, inspiration of the impressionists
And to finish, we do not fail to mention the numerous artists who were inspired by the beach of Le Havre (and that of Sainte Adresse in its continuity).
Along the walk, you will find some panels of works corresponding to the place.
According to some theories, it is even in Le Havre that impressionism started.
On the port, Monet painted in 1872 the canvas “Impression, sunrise”.
He decides to break down the view before him into keys. To represent its impression.
This is the end of realistic paintings. With his friends Renoir and Pissaro, modern art develops.
Find out more about Normandy and impressionism in this article.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Normandy
Inspiration destinations
- Deciding where to go in Normandy – the best destinations
- Our weekend ideas: best-of, romantic, unusual, seaside, luxury, family
- 16 seaside hotels in Normandy
- The most beautiful charming hotels in Normandy
Best of
Practice
- Where to stay in Normandy – best places and hotels
- See our tips for renting a car at CDG airport, Orly airport, Beauvais airport, Caen, Rouen, Bayeux…
