Making the most of Le Havre
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
Passenger facilities occupy the tidal dock immediately inside the port entrance. The gangway may be particularly steep and long, but assistance is provided for people with impaired mobility.
Reaching Le Havre city from the ship involves a fairly uninteresting 25-minute walk of about 4 km. Most cruise lines provide complimentary town-centre shuttles, but often announce them only the previous night so excursion sales are not disrupted. Princess Cruises asks a substantial 19.95 Euro for this brief transfer; for two people, a taxi is more economical.
A local shuttle now links the port with Le Havre for 10 Euros return, valid all day. There are 2 stops: the city centre, departure point for Bee Le Havre City Tour and Hon Fleur tours, and the reasonably sized Port Mall, before the shuttle returns to the ship. Buy tickets inside the terminal. The service runs only when enough cruise ships are in port.
Fixed-price taxis cost 8 Euro to the town centre and 10 euro to the railway station.
Bicycles can be hired for 10 euro/day, while car rental starts at 90 euro/day.
Ships calling at Roger Meunier Pier look across to the city centre rebuilt by Perret, which UNESCO lists as a world heritage site.
Among the services at the new Cruise Welcome Centre are tourist and practical advice, the free "Le Havre tourism & shopping" brochure, touring assistance, free WiFi and several shops. Taxis wait outside on port days.
Le Havre and Haropa Port have announced plans to transform the Pointe de Floride site. The scheme includes three cruise terminals to replace current facilities and will provide shore power for vessels. Two new terminals are planned, beginning with the south quay, alongside a complete refurbishment of two existing facilities. Most work was scheduled between 2023 and 2025.
Paris is roughly 2-3 hours away, so an excursion organised by the cruise ship is advisable.
Take the printable Le Havre map ashore.
Le Havre's busy French port has several sights, among them Granville Abbey, St Adresse Fort and the Seine Estuary. In general, however, 1 or 2 hours is enough to see Le Havre itself.
The city's position also creates an excellent base for some of Normandy's prettiest towns and villages. These include Honfleur's appealing harbour and inspiring Etretat, distinguished by elegant mansions, sheer white cliffs and powerful waves breaking below.
Getting around
Bus Verts lines 20, 39 and 50 travel from Le Havre to Honfleur in approximately 40 minutes. Services are limited on Sundays and holidays. Expect to pay around 5 euro each way directly to the driver, as return tickets are unavailable.
Buses depart at the railway station, reached by a short taxi journey or a walk of around 500 metres from the shuttle drop-off. Follow signs for "Les Gares" or ride the tram. A tram ticket costs 1.50 Euros for any journey lasting up to one hour.
Bus 50 leaves for Honfleur at around 12.40, while Bus 20 departs Honfleur at approximately 4 pm. The journey over the Pont de Normandie takes about 30 minutes.
Arrive at the bus station promptly, because a full bus may leave without permitting standing passengers. This happens particularly when several cruise ships are visiting. Since tickets are sold only by the driver, buses often depart half an hour late.
Le Havre City Sightseeing Tour lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes, providing a panoramic city view. The route covers greater Le Havre and uses audio-guided commentary to explain its 500 years of history.
Local taxis provide tours too.
Nearby places
Honfleur sits just across the river Seine, and Bee Le Havre operates return shuttles to this nearby town.
Rouen combines half-timbered houses, churches and cafés with the worthwhile Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Nearby, the Old Marketplace marks where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake in 1431. The train takes only 55 minutes, but check the day and time carefully because French rail timetables can be difficult to understand.
Paris lies about 200 km from Le Havre. Most cruise lines offer guided visits, a sensible choice for a first trip, and/or transport-only transfers to the city centre for independent exploration. This arrangement lets you explore at your own pace. Within Paris, use the subway, or metro, regular buses, numerous hop-on-hop-off tourist buses, 'free' bikes or hired bicycles, especially during quieter summer weekends. Alternatives include the Batobus shuttle boat or even a private Seine cruise.
Le Havre railway station is around a 30-minute walk or 10-minute taxi ride from the cruise terminal. Independent travel to Paris is straightforward, but avoid the final return train because taxis may not be waiting at Le Havre station. The rail journey lasts about 2 hours and costs 31 Euro one way per person, with occasional special fares available.
Food and shopping
Normandy is a paradise for food-focused visitors. Apples produce cider and calvados, while milk and cream become camembert, livarot and pont-l'évêque cheeses. Many recipes use cider or calvados, including rabbit cooked in cider and pork served with calvados and apples.
The brand-new des Docks Vauban shopping centre includes plenty of pavement cafés. Free WiFi and comfortable seating inside make it convenient for using a laptop or tablet, and the centre is only a few blocks from the railway station.
Money
The currency is the Euro.
Staying connected
Free WiFi is available in the new cruise terminal. Wait until the crew has gone for a stronger connection.
For a local emergency, dial 112.
Opening Hours and
Most French shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks remain open throughout the day. Smaller shops and firms are the exception and may shut for lunch between 12.30pm and 2pm. Large shops typically trade from 8 or 9am until 6.30 or 7.30pm Monday to Saturday; smaller ones open Tuesday to Saturday, with some also trading on Monday afternoon. Even when other businesses close, boulangeries and food shops can usually be found open, normally until noon on Sunday.