Making the most of Honfleur
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Honfleur is a charming, picturesque harbour on the Seine estuary, where the Seine meets the Atlantic Coast.
Honfleur's traditional port has three docks: the western "Old Dock", the eastern Republican Dock, built in 1840, and the larger Carnot Dock, added later in 1892.
Ships of up to 2500 tons reach Honfleur through a 500 m channel linked to the Seine mouth and protected by a lock chamber since 1995. The port's distinctive character comes from serving both sea and river traffic.
Ships are due at Quai de Seine, around 1.5km from the town centre, where taxis are usually available at the pier. From the shuttle-bus stop, town centre is a 5- to 10-minute walk.
The new terminal is fully accessible for people with reduced mobility. It contains a Tourist Office of Honfleur information point and a boutique selling souvenirs and quality Normandy regional products.
Harbour webcam.
Bring a printable map with you.
Colourful Honfleur on the Seine estuary embodies Normandy for many visitors. A birthplace of impressionism and romanticism, this picturesque port gained stature through maritime links with the Americas: Samuel de Champlain and Cavelier de la Salle sailed from here. Honfleur is now among northern France's most popular holiday destinations.
Summer brings scores of visitors to this living museum of half-timbered houses and cobbled streets. Along one side of the 17th century harbour are two-story stone homes with low, sloping roofs; the other side has tall, narrow buildings with wooden fa\ccades topped by slate roofs.
The Eugene Boudin Museum holds a rich collection of pre-impressionist and contemporary work by Norman artists.
At the Maritime Museum, model ships and maritime objects provide engaging evidence of seafarers from earlier centuries.
Wooden St. Catherine's Church, with its separate bell tower roofed in unusual chestnut-wood shingles, is a striking town-centre sight. Narrow cobbled lanes leave the central square, each offering a pleasing surprise and a strong draw for keen photographers.
Vieux Bassin is Honfleur's old port and the heart of its life, attracting visitors from far afield. Still operating, it is ringed by the place's characteristic crooked, slate-fronted houses. Converted salt stores now hold art galleries and cafés, constantly busy with people enjoying the spectacle.
Nearby places
Around Honfleur lie rolling countryside and the beaches for which this part of Normandy is known.
Deauville, 11 miles away, is an attractive 19th century resort with long sandy beaches, wooden beach huts and boardwalks.
Food and shopping
Antiques and Works of Art are Honfleur's speciality. The old quarter is full of galleries and antiquity shops to browse.
Honfleur has an unsurprising abundance of seafood (espensive) restaurants, where the catch of the day is a dependable choice.
Seafood is naturally popular in Honfleur, and early risers can watch fishing boats arriving in the morning.
On Saturdays, the lively open-air market has everything for a gourmet picnic, from potent cheese to excellent local cider.
Money
The local currency is the Euro.
Staying connected
For local emergencies, call 112.
Opening Hours and
Most French shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks remain open all day. Smaller shops and enterprises may close for lunch between 12.30pm and 2pm. Larger shops typically open 8 or 9am to 6.30 or 7.30pm Monday to Saturday; smaller shops usually trade Tuesday to Saturday, although some open Monday afternoon. Boulangeries and food shops can still be found open when others are shut, normally until noon on Sunday.