Le Havre Cruise Port Decoded
Updated: Mar 19
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Quite possibly one of the busiest harbors in France, Le Havre is home to the embarking and disembarking Brittany Ferry fleet coming in and out of England regularly, as well as many cruise ships like the MSC Euribia, which I set sail with in December 2023.
Find a cruise to Le Havre (including pricing and reviews at the link) and set expectations well in advance that a visit to Le Havre port can be a long and arduous day. Many people have said to me, "oh I've got a port stop in Paris". Well...no you don't. Not really.
The distance from Le Havre to Paris is about 3 hours by car or public transport, meaning if you want to see Paris you will be on transport for 6 hours of your day. Keep this in mind as I review the many options for shore excursions within reach of Le Havre's port, below.
Understanding Le Havre (Paris Cruise Port)
With multiple options for where to go and what to do, this port will take some careful advanced planning. You'll be interested in seeing and doing it all from taking in the top sites in Normandy to gallavanting (quickly) through the Parisian neighborhoods like Montemarte.
It will be a whirlwind day, so I suggest you do your research and narrow down to one area.
Where You'll Dock
To learn more about where you'll dock, check out the information page here.
The dock is spitting distance if you're a bird, but as a taxi or a bi-ped, unfortunately there's quite a meandering walk to get into town (more on that below).
What To Do In Le Havre Port
You basically have to pick what means most to you. Have you seen Paris before? Skip it and see Normandy.
Have you seen Normandy? Skip that and visit Rouen, or perhaps artsy Etretat.
Not feeling super motivated? Stay close to port and explore quiet and modern Le Havre town itself.
Regardless of your options, you can't really just step off the ship without a plan. Below I illustrate the best general ideas to get you going on your adventures.
Port Destination: Paris
What to Do:
Take a ship tour or arrange one in advance through Viator for potential cost savings.
Port Destination: Rouen
What to Do:
Shop and wander, start at Place du Vieux Marche
Where to Eat:
Consider La Régalière for crepes and quaint timbered style surrounds, or perhaps La Petite Auberge for their escargot and cheese options, or lastly Le P'Tit Bec for traditional cuisine in a cozy timbered bistro.
Port Destination: Etretat
What to Do:
Visit the Jardin d'Etretat inspired by Claude Monet with views of the iconic cliffs, then head down to the old village
Where to Eat:
Eat at Hoa Binh for asian food and cute decor or La Flotille for open flame grill and big pots of mussels. Feeling like a crepe? Try Lann-bihoue for crepes.
Where to Shop:
Visit the small but very old Vieux Marche market stalls and cute streets. Pop into La Rose de Vents regional products store where you can stock up on supplies to bring snacks to the beach.
Port Destination: Honfleur
What to Do:
Visit the old church and stroll the streets
Where to Eat:
Eat at Brasserie de L'église by the old church or along the waterfront from mussels and drinks
Port Destination: Le Havre
What to Do:
Visit Graville Abbey
Where to Shop:
Docks Vauban modern mall (35 minutes walking)
How To Get Around
Depending on your chosen activity for the day, you'll want to consider that getting around requires more than just stepping off the ship.
For Paris
Take the organized ship tour. This will guarantee you will arrive back in time for the ship's departure that evening. It's a long day, and too much could go wrong trying to get back to the ship in time.
For Rouen
Take the regional/local SNCF train. Tickets can be purchased online in advance here. Expect to spend about $10 each way, or $20 RT. The ship will offer an excursion for Rouen (simple bus transfer), but it will be upwards of $70 round trip. You choose what is easiest for you!
For Etretat
Consider a taxi or pre-arranged Viator tour.
For Honfleur
Consider a shuttle or taxi from the port. Read up a little bit on Honfleur and neighboring communities here.
For Le Havre
On foot is doable, but local taxis will be easiest. We found that the taxi line was very long with people disembarking and chose to go on foot into town.
The train station was about a 35 minute walk, and the local mall with a Primark and Lidl was also 35 minutes. There were many options for dining in town, mostly Asian cuisine.
Last Thoughts
My best advice to any cruise ship passenger traveling through Le Havre is to keep in mind that travel time will easily eat through the majority of your day if you aren't careful. Be prepared with tours in advance, and ready for a full day.
