Le Havre Etretat Normandie Tourisme

Discover Le Havre

Surprisingly, Le Havre has become a phenomenon, a curiosity since 2005.

The Porte Océane (Ocean Gate) is back in the spotlight again. Filmmakers love its graphic appearance, while tourists can discover its modernity and cultural potential. It’s becoming a trend. And finally, we can see that it’s a great place to be.

Le Volcan la colombe Niemeyer

Le Havre - architecture classified as World Heritage

Le Havre is a city of builders. Listed in 2005 as a World Heritage Site for the modernity of its reconstruction.

It then saw big names such as Oscar Niemeyer and Jean Nouvel deliver up buildings ( Volcan , Bains des Docks Aquatic Centre ) which have become iconic. And that’s not the end of it. The reclamation of land formerly connected with port activity offers some great perspectives.

To fully understand this city, you have to start by visiting the Perret show apartment . A jump back in time is guaranteed. A showcase for the designers of the 50s whose shapes still inspire architects today, this apartment offers highly contemporary rooms and a modern layout, with a surprising amount of light. You’ll love it!

Entrée de l'appartement témoin Perret

A panorama of the city

After that, climb up to the 17th floor of the Town Hall tower to better understand the geography of the city. The panorama is breathtaking. You can see the white curves of Niemeyer’s Volcan (theatre and library), Avenue Foch (the Champs Elysées of Le Havre) leading to the twin towers of the Porte Océane and of course the lantern tower of the Church of St Joseph , one of the masterpieces of 20th-century architecture.

Bibliothèque Niemeyer

After that, if you want to finish in style and relax, plunge into one of the pools of the Bains des Docks Aquatic Centre (Jean Nouvel) for a truly wonderful surprise.

MuMa Musée Malraux

The MuMa (Musée d’Art Moderne André Malraux)

Opposite the port piers, the first museum rebuilt after the war, originally designed as a museum – Maison de la Culture, inaugurated in 1961 by André Malraux , this building still combines elegance and modernity sixty years after its opening. Its Impressionist collections (the result of acquisitions, legacies, gifts and donations) are the second-largest in France after those of the Orsay . Fauvism is also fully represented: Dufy, Friesz, Marquet, Derain, Van Dongen… Needless to say, visiting is a must.

Muma Musée Malraux, les collections Eugène Boudin

Le Havre, a beach in the city

The beach : at the end of the tram line, it’s a dream, isn’t it? Located 800 metres from the town centre, it comes alive from spring to autumn. It takes on all its colours thanks to the presence of huts and restaurants. You can practise sports from canoe to stand-up paddle , from kite surfing to BMX and skateboard , and can even play boules! It’s a great place to be, lounging in the deckchairs on the terraces, watching a liner head off, marked by the three siren calls of the Port Watch.

Colors on the beach par Karel Martens pour Un été au Havre

Green in all its forms

You don’t have to run off to the country to go green. The City of Le Havre has two green lungs: the Forest of Montgeon (270 hectares), partly laid out for sport and relaxation, and Rouelles Park (160 hectares) for walking and discovering its fauna and flora. Beyond that, there’s exotic green in the Japanese garden , a symbol of the twinning of the ports of Le Havre and Osaka. In terms of history and travel, we have the Hanging Gardens, an old converted military fort, paying tribute to the botanists and explorers and their discoveries. Finally, in the heart of the city, the St Roch, Erignac and Holker Squares bring their own touches of greenery.

Le Parc de Rouelles

Le Havre, a way of life

Le Havre, with its geographical diversity, its wealth of history and heritage, has more than fifteen festivals where literature, music and dance take centre stage.

“Le Goût des Autres” (The Taste of Others) welcomes writers from around the world to share their books and beliefs with the public.

Festival Moz'aique

“Le polar à la plage” celebrates noir fiction, “Dixie Days” is all about jazz by the sea, “MoZ’aïque” echoing the port, the crossroads of the worlds, has become a festival of world music, “Ouest Park” , a 100% western feast combining rock, rap, electro … not forgetting the last one, the “festival béton” (concrete festival).

The redeveloped Southampton Quay has become the trendy venue, the beach is the place to be for six months, while the Halles Centrales are the temple of gastronomy and local products.

Le Havre Etretat Tourisme 186 Boulevard Clemenceau Le Havre - 02 32 74 04 04

Eglise Saint Joseph du Havre, vue de nuit

le havre tourist information

  • 1 Understand
  • 2.1 By train
  • 2.2 By boat
  • 2.3 By cruise ship
  • 2.4 By plane
  • 3 Get around
  • 7.2 Mid-range
  • 7.3 Splurge
  • 9.2 Splurge
  • 10.1 Consulates

Le Havre is a port city at the mouth of the Seine, on the English Channel (French: Manche ) in the region of Upper Normandy in France . Listed on the World Heritage List for its reconstructed city centre, Le Havre is challenging its reputation as an industrial city. It is a city full of contrasts, which should be explored to discover its particular charm.

Understand edit

Le Havre, originally le Havre de Grâce (Harbour of Grace), was founded in the early 16th century at the mouth of the Seine as the main harbour for Paris. Goods transferred at Le Havre between ocean-going vessels and barges which went to and from Paris via the Seine.

Le Havre was heavily bombed during the Battle of Normandy in 1944. The reconstruction of the town was undertaken by Auguste Perret using reinforced concrete. This project has led to the city being added to the UNESCO World Heritage List .

Get in edit

Map

By train edit

Trains run from Paris regularly, taking about 2 hours: most stop at Rouen en route. There is also a TGV from Marseille once a day.

By boat edit

Ferries run to Portsmouth and Newhaven in southern England daily. This service is provided by LD lines . Crossing times are from 3 hr 15 min [dead link] . Popular alternative routes going to areas close to Le Havre include Newhaven to Dieppe , and Poole to Cherbourg .

By cruise ship edit

The cruise terminal is just south of the ferry terminal. At the cruise terminal, you can pick up a map of the downtown city (very useful). A shuttle bus brings you downtown in about 5–10 minutes (2½ km). The dropoff point is on east side of rue de Paris , just before rue Victor Hugo . From this point, you can easily move about the downtown core.

By plane edit

The nearest airports offering scheduled international and domestic flights are at Deauville ( DOL  IATA ), Beauvais ( BVA  IATA ), and Paris Charles de Gaulle ( CDG  IATA ).

By car edit

Traffic in the southern approach to Le Havre has benefited from the construction of the huge Pont de Normandie over the Seine estuary. However, whilst certainly impressive from an architectural standpoint, during busy summer weekends the entire structure can seem more like a car-park. Expect long delays (up to an hour) to cross the 4 km toll bridge (about €6).

There is an Avis car hire agency at Gare du Havre (train station), on the corner of Cours de la République and Magellan Street. From City Hall, it's a 20-minute walk (1½ km) east along Boulevard de Strasbourg .

Get around edit

The centre of town is easily covered on foot.

A local bus service runs regularly around town.

The ferry port and train station are a short walk out from the centre of town and buses run on these routes.

Rent a bike for a few euros at the tourist office or at the bus parked along the beach during the season.

le havre tourist information

  • The view of the port ( bassin du commerce ) with its lovely bridge and both the Volcano and steeple of St Joseph's church in the background. Nice both in the day or at night. On the north quay, the casino (gambling, fine restaurants, hotel, spa).
  • St Vincent district is an old district near the beach which didn't suffer too much from the terrible bombings that flattened the city in 1944 and in which 5,000 people died in the ruins in a few hours. The little church and the square around it evoke a village atmosphere in southern France. During the season, painters gather on the square and give an impression of "Montmartre".
  • Take the funiculaire (cable car) for an easy climb to Le Havre's upper plateau. From the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), it’s a 7-minute walk (600 metres) along avenue René Coty to the lower terminal is located on rue Gustave-Flaubert (corner rue du Docteur-Vigné ). A one-way ticket costs €0.40. Once at the top, turn right from the upper terminal (heading east), along rue Félix-Faure , another 7-minute walk (500 metres) brings you to a superbly panoramic view of the beautiful city and its harbour. You can return down the Escalier Olivier-Senn , then stroll through narrow historic streets, zig-zagging back to the city center. Returning to the lower terminal takes about 12 minutes, all downhill.
  • 49.49088 0.10116 1 Saint-Joseph church ( Église Saint-Joseph ), Boulevard François Ier . St Joseph's Church was a key project designed by August Perret in the rebuilding of the city. Its tall tower is lined with coloured glass lending the interior a unique tranquility. ( updated Aug 2016 )
  • 49.49389 0.10784 2 Town Hall ( Hôtel-de-ville ). The town hall is situated on one of the largest squares in France. The interior has information on the city. It is possible to climb the tower for view of the lay out of the city. Showflat, designed by city designer August Perret, is now open for public viewing. ( updated Aug 2016 )
  • 49.48499 0.10262 3 Malraux Museum ( Musée Malraux or MuMa ), 2 boulevard Clemenceau , ☏ +33 2 35 19 62 62 . M W-F 11:00-18:00, Sa Su 11:00-19:00 . This museum houses the largest Impressionist collection in France outside of Paris. €10 . ( updated Aug 2016 )

le havre tourist information

  • 49.48779 0.10907 6 Natural History Museum ( Muséum d'histoire naturelle ), Place du Vieux Marché ( near the cathedral ). Closed on Th morning and M 10:00-18:00 . In an old building which miraculously survived the terrible bombings on September 5, 1944. Interesting museum with a lot of activities for children. Free . ( updated Aug 2016 )
  • Climb the tower of Hotel de Ville for an overview of August Perret's planned city.
  • Enjoy the beach in good weather (restaurants, bars, night life).
  • Relax in the glow of the unique St Joseph's Church .
  • Drive over the River Seine on the gorgeous bridge 49.43058 0.27419 1 "Pont de Normandie" . Then you will be in Honfleur , one of Normandy's prettiest places.
  • Enjoy a walk in the posh residential area of Ste Adresse overlooking the Le Havre bay and enjoy nice views of the bay and the city
  • Visit the port - whether on a boat or by bike: more information in many languages from the tourist office situated along the beach.
  • Rent a bike at the tourist office for a couple of euros and enjoy the seafront and the city centre at its best. You can also ride to Harfleur (eastern suburb) which is a lovely medieval town! Montivilliers, a few miles away is also worth a visit. Nice abbey and town center.
  • After the beach, enjoy a forest in the middle of the city: 49.51898 0.14385 2 "forêt de Montgeon" .
  • 49.50443 0.09412 3 Les jardins suspendus (fort de Sainte Adresse). Lovely walled garden and greenhouse in an old fort overlooking the city and the sea. Nice views! A nice walk on the walls!
  • Football: Le Havre AC were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in Ligue 1, the French top tier. Their home ground is 49.49906 0.16954 4 Stade Océane (capacity 25,000) 5 km east of city centre.

Events edit

  • Every year on the first Sunday after August 15, a traditional parade is organized in the city. Flowered carriages, people in costumes, floral floats, music, etc.
  • Every second year (the first one took place in 2006), Le Havre is home to a Contemporary Art Exhibition in the casino and everywhere in the streets of the city centre.
  • Every year, on the first weekend of September, Le Havre holds a "Fishermen's Festival"
  • In May is "Fest Yves" a traditional festival from Brittany in quartier St François.
  • Every July 14, traditional fireworks on the beach (at 23:00).
  • In 2017, Le Havre celebrates its 500th anniversary. A lot of works of art to discover during all the Summer.
  • Normandy is famous for its cider and its cheese . Go to 49.49027 0.10448 1 " Les Halles " (south of the city centre near pedestrian aerea and Volcano), a covered market where you will find a selection of little shops selling excellent products (vegetables, cheese, meat, bakeries, wine, cider, and a small supermarket).
  • You can buy local products in one of the seasonal sheds along the beach and at the tourist office.
  • Chocolates "la tour" (the tower) 49.49092 0.10536 2 Chocolaterie Auzou (near Espace Coty - Coty Mall).
  • Fresh fish from the fishermen (fish market) Opposite the ferry, in front of "maison de l'armateur" on "quai de l'ile" (island quay).
  • 49.49028 0.12948 3 Docks Vauban , Quai Frissard . 10:00-20:00 . Shopping centre inside a 19th-century building - Adidas Originals, Amazon Locker, Brice, Carnet de vol, Eram, Esprit, Footlocker, H&M, Jules, La Grande Récré, La Halle, Levi's, Mango, Marionnaud, Micromania, New Yorker, Plein Ciel, Quiksilver, and Zara. ( updated Aug 2016 )
  • 49.49567 0.11169 4 Espace Coty , 22 Rue Casimir Périer . 10:00-20:00 . ( updated Aug 2016 )

Quartier St-François offers a great selections of different restaurants (style, nationality and prices). A lot of "crêperies" (French pancakes).

A selection of fine restaurants is to be found everywhere in the city (the casino is one of the best "Le Havre des sens"). More information at the tourist office.

Budget edit

  • 49.488688 0.103848 1 Whoopies Diner , 16 Rue Emile Zola . ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.494921 0.109682 2 Le Lafayette , 6 Av. René Coty . Brasserie ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.495192 0.103659 3 Le Chiquito , 47 Rue Raymond Guénot . ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.487533 0.113328 4 Chez Sophie , 51 Rue du Général Faidherbe . ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.487986 0.112845 5 Crêperie Maryvonne , 13 Rue Jean de la Fontaine . Savory crêpes. ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.495006 0.121922 6 Le Gavroche Le Havre , 9 Pl. Danton . Brasserie ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.489336 0.106018 7 Dai Duong , 67 Rue Richelieu . Vietnamese ( updated Feb 2023 )

Mid-range edit

  • 49.495388 0.10319 8 La Taverne Paillette , 22 rue Georges Braque , ☏ +33 2 35 41 31 50 , [email protected] . 12:00-00:00 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.491533 0.110992 9 La Papillotte , 38 Pl. du Chillou . French cuisine ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.49562 0.096746 10 Restaurant La Sirène , 48 Rue Dr Cousture . ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.487716 0.110193 11 La Petite Gourmandise , 68 Rue des Drapiers . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Splurge edit

  • 49.49425 0.103276 12 Restaurant Jean-Luc Tartarin , 73 avenue Foch , ☏ +33 2 35 45 46 20 . two Michelin stars. €40-180 (Aug 2016) . ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.488841 0.108201 13 Restaurant Les Enfants Sages , 20 Rue Gustave Lennier . ( updated Feb 2023 )
  • 49.49198 0.10852 14 Chocolate Passion ( Near the Hotel de Ville ). Amazing Chocolate store and tea salon where one can go to drink the best hot chocolate in the world.  
  • Quartier St-François is also home to several bars
  • In the city centre, and the beach.

All sorts of hotels are to be found like in another French big city.

  • 49.49483 0.10541 1 Hotel Carmin , 15, rue Georges Braque , ☏ +33 2 32 74 08 20 . Decent and clean budget option near Hotel de Ville. Very friendly staff. Free Wi-Fi. Breakfast costs extra. €65-119/night .  
  • 49.49423 0.14289 2 ibis budget Le Havre Les Docks , 38 Rue Dr Piasceki , ☏ +33 892680674 . From €33.50 . ( updated Apr 2017 )
  • 49.49147 0.11243 3 Pasino du Havre , Place Jules Ferry , ☏ +33 2 35 26 00 00 . 4 stars with nice spa. ( updated Sep 2023 )
  • 49.49139 0.10081 4 Vent d'Ouest , 4 rue Caligny ( opposite St Joseph's church ), ☏ +33 2 35 42 50 69 , [email protected] . ( updated Sep 2023 )
  • 49.49149 0.12504 5 Novotel , 20 cours La Fayette, Quai Colbert ( Near the station ), ☏ +33 2 35 19 23 23 , [email protected] . ( updated Sep 2023 )
  • 49.4903 0.11698 6 Mercure , Chaussée Georges Pompidou ( between the station and the city centre overlooking "bassin du commerce" ), ☏ +33 2 35 19 50 50 , fax : +33 2 35 19 50 99 , [email protected] . ( updated Sep 2023 )
  • 49.49124 0.10654 7 Art Hotel , 147 rue Louis Brindeau ( opposite the Volcano in the pedestrian area ), ☏ +33 2 35 22 69 44 , [email protected] . ( updated Sep 2023 )
  • 49.493179 0.125546 8 Nomad , 5 rue Magellan ( near the train station ), ☏ +33 2 35 41 35 32 , [email protected] . ( updated Aug 2016 )
  • 49.491393 0.123865 9 Novotel , 20 cours La Fayette - Quai Colbert ( near the train station ), ☏ +33 2 25 35 05 56 , [email protected] . ( updated Aug 2016 )

Consulates edit

Go next edit.

You can reach from Le Havre any part of Normandy in any direction in less than 2 hr, including the famous Mont Saint-Michel .

To the north:

  • Étretat and its exceptional natural site (beautiful white cliffs). (25 km)
  • Fécamp and its "Bénédictine Palace" where the famous liquor is made and also has a nice little town with a long beach and a little port. (40 km)
  • Veules les Roses is a charming village along the shortest river in France. Lovely houses and a nice beach. (65 km)
  • Dieppe is an important fishing port and a lovely seaside resort. (100 km)

To the south:

  • Honfleur is a little 17th century harbour. (25 km)
  • Beuvron en Auge is a lovely picturesque village. (35 km)
  • Lisieux has a cathedral and basilica. (55 km)

To the west:

  • Caen has a World War II memorial (90 km)
  • Bayeux has the medieval tapestry and is near the famous landing beaches (115 km)

To the east:

  • Harfleur and Montivilliers are eastern suburbs suburb of Le Havre. (15 km)
  • Marais Vernier is a village of thatched cottages. (40 km)
  • Pont Audemer is a nice little town with canals. (45 km)

le havre tourist information

Le Havre by night

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A Unesco World Heritage Site since 2005 and a regular port of call for cruise ships, Le Havre is a love letter to modernism, evoking, more than any other French city, France’s postwar energy and optimism. All but obliterated in September 1944 by Allied bombing raids that killed 3000 civilians, the centre was completely rebuilt by the Belgian architect Auguste Perret – mentor to Le Corbusier – whose bright, airy modernist vision remains, miraculously, largely intact.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Museum of Modern Art Andre Malraux in Le Havre, France.

Musée Malraux

Near the waterfront, this luminous and tranquil space houses a fabulous collection of vivid impressionist works – the finest in France outside Paris – by…

Église St-Joseph

Église St-Joseph

Perret’s masterful, 107m-high Église St-Joseph, visible from all over town, was built using bare concrete from 1951 to 1959. Some 13,000 panels of…

FRANCE - JULY 17:  The hanging gardens in Le Havre, Seine Maritime, France - The greenhouses of the hanging gardens developped in ancient fort on the heights of the city.  (Photo by Xavier TESTELIN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Jardins Suspendus

The Jardins Suspendus (Hanging Gardens) is an old hilltop fortress transformed into a beautiful set of gardens, whose greenhouses and outdoor spaces…

Le Volcan

Le Havre’s most conspicuous landmark, designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and opened in 1982, is also the city’s premier cultural venue. One…

Appartement Témoin

Appartement Témoin

Furnished in impeccable early-1950s style, this lovingly furnished bourgeois apartment can be visited on a one-hour guided tour that starts at 181 rue de…

Cathédrale Notre-Dame

Cathédrale Notre-Dame

When Le Havre's concrete expanses and straight lines overpower you, stop by this lovely Baroque church, which somehow eluded the intense bombing efforts…

Hôtel de ville du Havre

Hôtel de ville du Havre

This colossal building, built in 1958 to replace one flattened by allied bombing in 1944, was designed by architects Auguste Perret – that great…

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le havre tourist information

Latest stories from Le Havre

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May 31, 2019 • 4 min read

The Women’s World Cup is being held in France from 7 June to 7 July this year, and football fans from around the world are expected to fill stadiums, bars…

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Places to visit in Le Havre

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Updated on 25 June 2020

Boasting unusual UNESCO-listed architecture, a world-class art museum, thriving restaurant scene, parks and gardens, and a beach to boot – Le Havre is a cultural, coastal city with a difference.

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Eglise Saint-Michel

Cultural Heritage

Eglise Saint-Michel

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Cimetière Sainte-Marie

Cimetière Sainte-Marie

Église Saint-Joseph

Église Saint-Joseph

Musée d’art moderne André Malraux – MuMa Le Havre

Musée d’art moderne André Malraux – MuMa Le Havre

Serres des Jardins Suspendus

Natural heritage

Serres des Jardins Suspendus

Conservatoire Maritime du Havre

Conservatoire Maritime du Havre

Distillerie de la Seine : A la découverte des spiritueux Made In LH

Distillerie de la Seine : A la découverte des spiritueux Made In LH

Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Fermé)

Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Fermé)

La Halle aux Poissons

La Halle aux Poissons

Abbaye de Graville

Abbaye de Graville

Hôtel Dubocage de Bléville

Hôtel Dubocage de Bléville

Le Havre Port Center

Le Havre Port Center

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  4. Discover Le Havre

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  5. Le Havre : les incontournables d'une ville classée au patrimoine

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COMMENTS

  1. The Tourist Office

    Le Havre Tourist Office - beach. 186, boulevard Clemenceau. 76600 Le Havre. Tel. 02.32.74.04.04. E-mail. It's open: 3 April – 5 November 2023: every day: 9.30 a.m.-1 p.m. / 2 p.m.-6.30 p.m. 6 November – 31 March 2024: Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m.-12.30 p.m. / 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Open on Sundays and Mondays during school holidays.

  2. Discover Le Havre

    / Discover. / The essentials. Discover Le Havre. The port of Le Havre. A beach in the city. A city of architects. The Hanging Gardens. Plus. Surprisingly, Le Havre has become a phenomenon, a curiosity since 2005. The Porte Océane (Ocean Gate) is back in the spotlight again.

  3. Le Havre

    Le Havre is a port city at the mouth of the Seine, on the English Channel (French: Manche) in the region of Upper Normandy in France. Listed on the World Heritage List for its reconstructed city centre, Le Havre is challenging its reputation as an industrial city.

  4. Le Havre travel

    01 / Attractions. Must-see attractions. Le Havre. Jardins Suspendus. Le Havre. The Jardins Suspendus (Hanging Gardens) is an old hilltop fortress transformed into a beautiful set of gardens, whose greenhouses and outdoor spaces… Le Volcan. Le Havre. Appartement Témoin. Le Havre. Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Le Havre. Hôtel de ville du Havre. Le Havre.

  5. Places to visit in Le Havre

    Places to visit in Le Havre. Updated on 25 June 2020. Boasting unusual UNESCO-listed architecture, a world-class art museum, thriving restaurant scene, parks and gardens, and a beach to boot – Le Havre is a cultural, coastal city with a difference.