A Perfect Day in Honfleur, France: What You Shouldn’t Miss

When we visited Honfleur last year, we found it just so beautiful that we already want to go back. Here are all the reasons we loved our day in Honfleur.

Honfleur is a lovely coastal town in the Normandy area of France. Known for its picture-postcard harbour, cobbled streets, and vibrant history, Honfleur makes for an unforgettable day trip. Whether you’re a lover of art, history, or just a good old wander through beautiful surroundings, you would love a day in Honfleur.

A suspension bridge with cable supports gracefully spans a river, cars traveling in both directions under a clear sky. Nearby hotels offer stunning views of this architectural marvel, providing guests an unforgettable backdrop to their stay.

Starting with a Thrill: Driving Over the Pont de Normandie

Your adventure begins en route to Honfleur, crossing the awe-inspiring Pont de Normandie. Spanning the Seine estuary, this cable-stayed bridge is nothing short of a marvel. At 2,143 metres long, it’s a breathtaking feat of engineering, and a little nerve-wracking if you’re not a fan of heights. We hadn’t researched our journey, I was driving, and all of a sudden turned a bend and saw this bridge, then within a few seconds realised I was going to be driving over it!

The sweeping arcs of the bridge climb steeply for spectacular views, giving you a sense of flying as you soar above the water. It’s as thrilling as it is beautiful, with the panoramic views of the Seine River and surrounding countryside well worth a moment of white-knuckled gripping of the steering wheel. You might feel your stomach flip as you ascend, but by the time you’re over, you might just find yourself ready for another go. I shared an Instagram Reel of it if you fancy a look!

The Vieux Bassin – The Honfleur Harbour

We found there was plenty of parking available, so we went straight to Vieux Bassin, Honfleur’s historic harbour. Parking for the day wasn’t too expensive and it was a large car park full of lots of visitors all coming for a day in Honfleur. This postcard-perfect spot is framed by narrow, colourful buildings that seem to shimmer on the water’s surface. Once home to bustling trade routes, the harbour is now a centre of leisure, home to fishing boats, yachts, and the odd tourist vessel bobbing gently on the water.

Take your time strolling along the quays. You’ll pass quaint cafes where locals and visitors sip leisurely coffees or tuck into fresh pastries..

Boat Trips from the Harbour

We went on a boat trip from the harbour and loved it. Even I enjoyed it, and I get seasick! If you’re itching to enjoy Honfleur from a different perspective, I highly recommend it. The tour had great English and also gave us a copy of the tour wording in English so we could follow along. These leisurely cruises take you out into the Seine estuary or along the coastline, offering a relaxing escape and some incredible views, including under the bridge I mentioned earlier!

The tours provide a bit of history along the way, so you’ll get the full lowdown on Honfleur’s maritime past. Depending on the route, you might spot coastal wildlife too.

Wandering the Cobbled Streets

After our boat trip, we went for a walk around Honfleur’s maze of narrow streets looking for somewhere to have lunch. The cobblestones underfoot hint at the centuries of footsteps that have passed before yours.

You’ll find every twist and turn lined with timber-framed houses, inviting courtyards, and flower-filled window boxes. Tucked between all this beauty are independent shops begging to be explored. And believe me, Honfleur’s shopping scene is unique to say the least. There is so much to see a day in Honfleur will not be enough!

Shopping with a Difference

The shops in Honfleur are a treasure trove of artisan goods, quaint curiosities, and lovely gifts. Whether you’re after some hand-crafted jewellery, a one-of-a-kind home item or, a bottle of cider or Calvados (apple brandy), you’ll find it during your day in Honfleur. Normandy’s local produce makes for plenty of tasty souvenirs, with shops selling everything from creamy cheeses to buttery caramels.

Lunch

Honfleur is renowned for its Normandy-inspired food, with an abundance of restaurants and bistros. Local menus are heavy on seafood, but we also found lots of crepes, both sweet and savoury. I had a delicious savoury crepe. Stuart and Ben both had burgers!

Would we recommend a day in Honfleur?

We absolutely loved our day there and would definitely recommend a visit, or if you are somewhere within a reasonable distance, then a day in Honfleur as part of another holiday.

We are already considering going back as a day in Honfleur wasn’t quite enough for us. The church looks gorgeous, but we just didn’t have time to see it.

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