2023 Le Havre France Cruise Ship Port of Call!
Welcome to Le Havre, the perfect springboard for adventures in Paris, Normandy, and the charming town of Honfleur.
In this post, I’ll guide you through what to expect from your visit.
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Conclusion
Getting back, the bus dropped us just before the guard gate, requiring a short walk to the port. If I return, I’d definitely spend more time exploring this delightful town. It’s compact, clean, and welcoming.
A Quick Overview
Le Havre, located in Normandy, is about 122 miles northwest of Paris. Known for its connection to D-Day, many excursions to the Normandy landing sites, like Omaha and Utah Beach, sell out quickly. Unfortunately, we missed out on those, but we focused on exploring Le Havre and nearby Honfleur, which are strikingly different.
Le Havre is a bustling industrial port, heavily bombed during World War II, giving it a modern, industrial vibe—think the scale of Paris’s industrial areas. In contrast, Honfleur, untouched by bombing, boasts beautiful original architecture and charm.
Arrival at the Port
Upon arrival, you’ll dock at an industrial port with two berths. The North berth features a newer terminal with full amenities, including tourist info, car rentals, a café, and restrooms. We landed at the South berth, which is more basic and has somewhat steep gangways. It’s a small waiting area with a souvenir shop but no visible restrooms.
Getting to Your Destination
Many passengers use Le Havre as a disembarkation point to head to Paris, which is about a 2.5-hour train ride away. While day trips to Paris are possible, we recommend spending a few days in the City of Light to truly enjoy it.
In addition to the Normandy sites, consider visiting Claude Monet’s famous garden in Giverny, located about halfway between Le Havre and Paris. Just keep in mind that reaching Giverny by train involves transfers and a bus, so renting a car or joining a tour might save you time.
Disembarking groups create long lines for taxis and rideshares, especially with the traffic heading to the train and bus station, which is just a 5-10 minute ride away. Avis rental cars are available at the station, located at the corner facing Rue Magellan.
Exploring Le Havre
If you prefer to explore on foot, you can walk about 30 minutes to Place Perret, the unofficial town center. The walk isn’t the prettiest, but the destination is worth it. We opted for the ship’s shuttle bus, which cost $20 round trip and took about 15 minutes to reach the square.
Place Perret is quite lovely, with a tourist information office that has public restrooms—definitely a bonus! A short walk south leads to a pharmacy if you need supplies.
At Place Perret, we bought tickets for the shuttle bus to Honfleur from Bee Le Havre, which offers several local tours. Purchase your tickets early, as their fleet is limited.
Tip: We learned the hard way that our ticket included a ride back to the port, which we didn’t use. For a larger group, this was a costly oversight.
With some time before our bus tour, we indulged in a café at the square—after all, it’s France! Expect prices comparable to major U.S. cities, but the experience of enjoying café au lait and delicious pastries is worth it.
Discovering Honfleur
The bus ride to Honfleur took about 30 minutes, crossing the expansive Pont de Normandie. Be aware that Honfleur is very popular and can get crowded with tourists and locals alike.
Upon arrival, all tour buses gather near the east basin. From there, follow the waterfront to reach the main harbor area, filled with cafés and shops. Don’t miss exploring the charming, cobbled streets, where you can savor seafood and grab ice cream.
Honfleur is simply enchanting—its beauty is so captivating that you might expect characters from a fairy tale to appear around every corner.
While wandering, be sure to visit the Church of Saint Catherine, the largest wooden church in France, built in the 15th century. It’s a marvel that has survived the test of time.