Does your cruise call at Le Havre, France?
If you’re lucky enough to stop off in our home town, here’s a guide full of tips and our selection of the best attractions in the cruise port of Le Havre over the course of a day: architecture, nature, history, art, shopping, games…
Stay in town or explore Normandy with one of the shore excursions from Le Havre.
1. Explore Le Havre or go on an excursion?
It depends on what you want to see and your criteria: price, time on the road…
Here are the pros and cons of each option.
Why choose to visit Le Havre?
For:
- Surprising modernist architecture, listed by Unesco. The town was rebuilt by Auguste Perret after being destroyed during the Second World War.
- Free day
- Seafront, with beach (but sand only at low tide)
- Works of art in the city
- Art Museum
- No time wasted on the road
- A city that inspired Impressionist painters
Against:
- It’s not typical French architecture, not the image you get of France when you come from abroad.
Why choose excursions from Le Havre?
For:
- Excursions can take you to some of the most famous places in Normandy and even France: Honfleur, Etretat, Mont-Saint-Michel, D-Day beaches, Rouen, Giverny…
- Places of great historical value
- See options on Getyourguide or Viator or our list with tips
Against:
- Larger budget
- Honfleur, Etretat and Rouen are less than an hour’s drive away, but the other sites are much further, so you’ll spend more time in transport than on site.
In section 10 of this article, we present the options in greater detail.
2. How do I get to the center from the cruise terminal? Distance, shuttle
The Terminal (which is currently being rebuilt) is not far from the city center.
You can reach downtown Le Havre:
- on foot:
the walk is flat, partly in the port and partly in the city – one of the sites of interest closest to the cruise terminal is the container arch (not far from the MUMA museum). It’s a 25-minute walk to reach it. - by cab:
about 10 euros (but there aren’t many cabs or Ubers in the city) - with your cruise line’s shuttle:
MSC, Royal and Aida have a shuttle - with the Bee-Le-Havre Shuttle:
if you book a tour with them, they have a free shuttle at 10am.
3. Things to do in Le Havre cruise port: the must-sees
In one day in Le Havre, you can see:
- Perret architecture in reinforced concrete
- The astonishing Saint Joseph’s Church, with its 107-metre-high hollow tower and 12,768 blown-colour tiles
- The MuMa Museum, which is glazed to delicately bring the skies and light of Normandy into the works of the painters on display.
- Le Havre Cathedral, one of the few buildings spared from the destruction of World War II (with elements from the 16th and 17th centuries)
- The waterfront, which inspired many Impressionist artists, with a long, car-free promenade
- The many works of art in town, especially the arches of colorful containers and the UP3 statue on the beach.
- Les Halles centrales, a small covered market in the city center
- Street art, including the Le Gouzou character by artist Jace
- …
Find out more in our article on Le Havre’s top attractions.
And see our suggested 1-day walking itinerary, further on in the article.
4. Free activities in Le Havre
You can admire the architecture, stroll along the waterfront, discover the works of art, enjoy the many children’s play areas, see how the French shop at Les Halles Centrales covered market…
If you like walking, you can also climb up to the Hanging Gardens, set on a former military fort with views over the city. Access is free (except for greenhouses).
5. Getting around Le Havre
Option 1: on foot
Downtown Le Havre is very accessible. It’s very flat, with lots of wide sidewalks.
Only in certain parts of the upper town are the roads on a slope: to get to the orientation table, the hanging gardens or the Sainte-Adresse bunkers.
Option 2: by bike
At the cruise terminal, it is possible to rent bicycles
Option 3: local buses
But you can’t buy tickets on board. You need to find a purchase terminal.
Option 4: Tourist bus
The Bee-Le-Havre company has a bus that gives a guided tour of the town (but it’s not a hop-on-hop-off).
USE OUR GUIDE TO PLAN A
DREAM TRIP TO Normandy
All the information you need for your trip:
- 8 maps that make planning easier
- 160+ pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- 300+ photos to help you choose
6. Where to shop in Le Havre
If you want to go shopping in Le Havre, you have several options:
- stores in downtown Le Havre, with unique décor, jewelry and clothing boutiques (as well as souvenir stores)
- the Coty shopping center, with a wide range of clothes, but only well-known brands
- Les Docks shopping center
Find out more in our article on shopping in Le Havre.
7. What to do with children in Le Havre
If you’re visiting Le Havre with children, they should love the container arch and the architecture of Le Volcan (the big white building at the heart of the city).
And there are plenty of playgrounds in the town center for all ages. We’ve listed them in this article, along with their addresses and game types.
8. Where to get coffee in the morning?
For lovers of coffee, croissants and other French delights, here are a few suggestions.
Take the time to visit one of our roasters. Le Havre has been the world’s leading coffee-importing port since 1815, and was even number one until the 1930s. The city has preserved its roasting know-how.
For example, the Duchossoy burner installed in Le Havre since 1950, which offers a wide range, or the coffee shop “Ombra Coffee Roaster” in the pedestrian streets, which has been offering specialty coffees since 2019.
And to buy good products to enjoy:
- croissants or baguettes: we recommend the Portier bakery around Les Halles Centrales
- macaroons: we recommend the Auzou chocolate shop around Les Halles Centrales
- Artisanal ice creams: we recommend the Hautot chocolate factory, near Halles Centrales.
Please note that many stores are closed on Mondays, and many take vacations during the first 15 days of August.
9. Where to eat lunch?
In Les Havre, you’ll find many different restaurants: brasseries, Michelin-starred restaurants, world cuisine, crêperies…
Among our favorites:
- Restaurant Calice et Mandibule: Claire and Manu’s canteen, with a menu that blends local Normandy produce with Senegalese and Moroccan flavours.
- Restaurant Le Margote: creative bistronomic cuisine from a chef who loves Normandy produce
- Restaurant Jean-Luc Tartarin: Michelin-starred gourmet cuisine with precision and mastery
Many are closed on Mondays. And reservations are recommended.
See our article on the best restaurants in Le Havre.
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.
10. Excursions from Le Havre: Honfleur, D-Day beaches…
Here’s an introduction to the best shore excursions. Find out all our tips in our article dedicated to these excursions and all our advice on renting a car.
Visiting Honfleur from Le Havre
Honfleur is one of the most emblematic places of Normandy. Its historic center is fascinating, with half-timbered houses, tall narrow buildings around the harbor, a unique church… The region has inspired and continues to inspire many artists!
Read more about our article on Honfleur
How to get there?
- Rent a car for the day: 45min drive
- Most cruises offer excursions to Honfleur, sometimes combined with Deauville.
- Or you can book an excursion on Getyourguide – see program and availability
- Bee Le Havre also offers excursions
- You can also get to Le Havre station. Buses run between Le Havre and Honfleur (via the Pont de Normandie). This is line 122. But be sure to leave enough time to get back. The bus does not drop you off at the cruise port.
- Or book a private shuttle: see details and availability
Visiting Étretat from Le Havre
One of our favorite places to visit in Normandy is Etretat, known for its impressive white cliffs and needle-shaped rock formation.
And as French people, we grew up with the stories of the fictional character Arsène Lupin, who hid his treasure inside.
The heart of the town has charming old houses typical of the area and from the beach you can climb the cliffs on both sides for incredible views.
How to get there?
- Rent a car for the day: 45min drive
- You can take the 509R bus, which runs every hour or hour and a half. It takes 1 hour each way. Please allow plenty of time to return to the boat. He leaves and returns to the bus station.
- Or book a private shuttle: see details and availability
Visit the D-Day landing beaches from Le Havre
Those interested in the history of the war can take a shore excursion from Le Havre to visit the landing beaches and some of the World War II monuments.
However, you should be aware that you’ll be spending a lot of time in transit.
Omaha Beach is a two-hour drive from Le Havre, so you’ll need to allow at least 4 hours’ travel time in a day.
How to get there?
- Rent a car
- Book a cruise excursion
- Book a specific excursion
American-friendly tours include Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, the Overlord Museum and the American Cemetery.
See program and book
Canadian-friendly tours include Juno Beach, the Canadian Cemetery and Abbaye d’Ardenne.
See program and book
Visiting Rouen from Le Havre
Rouen is a cultural and historical city. In terms of historical buildings, it is the most fascinating to visit.
It has a high concentration of listed buildings and just walking around is fascinating. And its cathedral is one of the most impressive in Normandy and France, and has played an important role in history.
Find out more in our Rouen article.
How to get there?
- Rent a car: 1h drive
- Taking the train from Le Havre station
- Book an excursion on your cruise
Visiting Paris from Le Havre
Paris is a two-hour drive from Le Havre, if there are no traffic jams. So 2h30 to 3h often.
Personally, we don’t recommend a trip to Paris for the few hours you have in Le Havre. You’ll spend several hours on the road, but only 4 hours discovering this immense city…
Visiting Mont-Saint-Michel from Le Havre
Mont-Saint-Michel is a 2? hour drive from Le Havre, if there are no traffic jams.
Personally, we don’t recommend an excursion to Mont-Saint-Michel for the few hours you have in Le Havre. You’ll spend several hours on the road, for only 3 hours this place…
11. What to do when it rains in Le Havre
Le Havre is not as humid as other parts of Normandy, but the city is located in the north of France, by the sea, and therefore receives frequent showers.
If it doesn’t rain much, I recommend wearing a good poncho and still enjoying the sunny day program. And you never know, the rain may stop.
The main areas you can still enjoy on a rainy day:
- The underground of the Volcano and its library
- The rue de Paris because it has covered passages for window shopping and the cathedral
- The MuMa Museum
- Les Halles Centrales, a covered market
12. Departure or arrival in Le Havre: best hotels
If you decide to spend a night in Le Havre before or after your trip, here’s our selection of the best hotels:
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
1-day walking itinerary in Le Havre
Step 1
- Get off the shuttle at the Volcano
- Admire the Bassin du Commerce with its beautiful arched bridge. The statue next to it is in memory of those who died protecting our country.
- Cross the road and admire Oscar Niemeyer’s architecture: the white Volcano building by the Brazilian architect
- Cross the back passage and visit the covered market for a snapshot of life in France – Note that the covered market is closed in the early afternoon, but becomes lively again at 3:00 p.m.
- Walk to the City Hall and enjoy the gardens – appreciate Perret’s architecture – square concrete blocks
- Walk to the beach on Avenue Foch, one of the largest in Europe
- Take a look at the pretty garden in Square Saint-Roch with its weeping willow
- Before the gate-shaped buildings, turn left and walk towards St. Joseph’s Church.
And then… Step 2
Option A – for art lovers
- Take the street opposite the church towards the sea
- Go left along the marina (towards the cruise ship)
- Visit the MUMA art museum (except Mondays)
- Walk towards the double-container arch
- Return to the Volcano via the Rue de Paris and its protected arches to do some shopping, and visit the cathedral on the way.
Option B – for those who prefer the outdoors and can walk uphill
9b. Take the street opposite the church towards the sea
10b. Turn right onto the beach promenade
11b. At the Sainte Adresse sign, either go up or continue along the flat promenade and take the stairs.
12b. Enjoy the view from the panoramic viewpoint
13b. Return on foot
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Other tips
Other things to know
- The currency is the euro
- Tipping is not mandatory. At the restaurant, you can leave a few euros if you are very satisfied with the service.
- The European emergency number is 112
- Sunday is a day of rest in France, stores are closed, except food stores, until lunchtime. The Muma Museum is normally open.
- Many stores and museums may be closed on Mondays (the Muma Museum is closed).
- If you’re looking for clothes, a few stores should be open on Mondays and Sundays at the Docks (not the same direction as downtown).
- It is a large seaport, so English is common, but some French people will not speak English at all.
Arrival at the cruise port of Le Havre
When your cruise ship arrives in Le Havre, I recommend you go out on deck to see the Perret architecture in its entirety.
And wave, because Claire and Manu might see you from the windows of their respective apartments. LOL.
How safe is Le Havre?
Downtown Le Havre is a safe destination. The streets are wide and busy. But, as in any tourist destination, be careful with your belongings.
