Le HavreCruise Port Guide
The ship berths 2.5 km from town, but Paris, Honfleur and the Normandy coast all start at the gate. Here's what fits in your day, with real prices.
Welcome to Le Havre
Pro Picks
Paris day trip · 10-11 hrsParis by coach with a Seine cruise
A shared coach takes you from the terminal to Paris for a view of the Eiffel Tower, a guided stop in the city and a one-hour Seine cruise, with a packed lunch. It runs 10 to 11 hours and the start moves if your ship is late, so read the all-aboard time first.
From $190.40/ person
Book Now →
Sidecar tour · 3 hrsHonfleur by vintage sidecar
You ride in a vintage sidecar from the cruise terminal over the Pont de Normandie into Honfleur's old streets, with a tasting of local products at a distillery. The price is for a group of up to two, and you can't drive it yourself.
See live price
Book Now →
UNESCO day trip · 10 hrsMont Saint-Michel by coach
A shared coach carries you to Mont Saint-Michel, with about 3 to 3.5 hours on the bus each way. Expect at least 2.5 km of walking on cobbles; the abbey climb is 350 stairs and its ticket isn't included.
From $168.79/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Le Havre in 3 hours
Classic car tour
Le Havre or Normandy coast in a 2CV
A driver takes up to three people in a vintage Citroën 2CV; the 2-hour option covers Le Havre's waterfront, the Sainte-Adresse panorama and the Jardins Suspendus. The driver narrates in French, and you must book at least 48 hours ahead.
Time required1 - 4 hours
Distillery tour
Distillerie de la Seine tour and tasting
A guided tour of a Le Havre distillery covers how its spirits are made and ends with a tasting of its pastis, vodka and gin. Transport isn't included and the listing doesn't say where it is, so confirm the distance before booking.
From$16.82
Time required1.5 hours
Le Havre in 8 hours
D-Day tour
Omaha Beach and Brecourt Manor D-Day tour
A driver-guide drives about 90 minutes to Omaha Beach, with the Omaha Beach centre, the US cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Pointe du Hoc and Utah Beach on the day. Lunch isn't included, and the driver meets you at the gate at the quay exit.
From$231.91
Time required8 hours
Coast and harbour day trip
Étretat cliffs and Honfleur harbour
An electric vehicle collects you at the terminal for a guided walk on the Étretat cliffs, free time for lunch, then a guided walk around Honfleur's old harbour. The listing promises you're back aboard by 4:00 or 5:00 pm, depending on your sailing.
From$336.36
Time required8 - 12 hours
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Le Havre.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Le Havre Etretat Normandie Tourisme: Le Havre cruise destination
- Ville du Havre: Un nouveau pôle croisières
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret
- Le Havre Etretat Normandie Tourisme
- Le Havre Etretat Normandie Tourisme: Coming to Le Havre
- France.fr (Atout France, national tourism agency): money matters
- Your Europe (European Union): travel documents for non-EU nationals
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: travel documents
- US State Department: France travel advisory
- European Commission: summer-time arrangements (Directive 2000/84/EC)
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Le Havre?
Sea cruise ships calling at Le Havre use the Cruise Terminal at the Pointe de Floride, on Quai Roger Meunier, so there is no pier to choose between. Le Havre's tourist office says it has check-in, baggage control, a shop, free WiFi and toilets. River cruise ships dock at a different berth, Quai de Marseille, near the city centre.
Is the Le Havre cruise terminal being rebuilt?
Yes. The city of Le Havre is rebuilding the Pointe de Floride with three new cruise terminals and a public esplanade at the tip. Its timeline has works starting in June 2024, terminals 2 and 3 due in autumn 2025, terminal 1 in spring 2026 and the works ending in 2026, so older guides may describe the terminal differently.
Can you walk into Le Havre from a cruise port?
No: the Le Havre cruise terminal is about 1.6 miles (2.5 km) from the city centre and the train station, which is more than a half-hour walk. Le Havre's tourist office says shuttles run between the terminal and the centre and there is a taxi rank at the terminal. River cruise ships dock at Quai de Marseille instead, about a 15-minute walk from the centre.
Is there a shuttle from the Le Havre cruise terminal to the city centre?
Yes: Le Havre's tourist office says cruise terminal to city centre shuttles are available, and there is a taxi rank at the terminal, which is 2.5 km (about 1.6 miles) from the centre. It publishes no fare or timetable, and fares quoted online disagree and aren't current, so ask your cruise line what its shuttle costs and agree a taxi fare before you set off.
What are the main attractions in Le Havre, and is it worth getting off the ship?
Yes, with a plan: Le Havre's city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it is about 1.6 miles from the cruise terminal, which itself offers check-in, a shop, free WiFi and toilets. The centre was rebuilt from 1945 to 1964 to a plan by Auguste Perret, and the tourist office highlights Saint Joseph's Church and the MuMa modern art museum. Excursions to Paris, Honfleur, Étretat and the D-Day beaches all start at the terminal.
Beaches
Can you walk to a beach from the Le Havre cruise port?
No: no beach is within walking distance of the Le Havre cruise terminal. The town's long pebble beach is on the city seafront, across the harbour entrance from the Pointe de Floride, so you would need a shuttle or taxi to reach it. Le Havre's tourist office names that pebble beach among its ship-watching spots.
Day trips from the port
What are some good excursions to Normandy from Le Havre?
Good excursions from Le Havre include the D-Day beaches, Étretat, Honfleur, Mont Saint-Michel and Paris, and the listings we checked all pick up at or beside the cruise terminal. The Omaha Beach tour is 8 hours and starts with a 90-minute drive. Étretat (30 km) and Honfleur (17 km) are much closer, while Mont Saint-Michel adds about 3 to 3.5 hours on the bus each way.
How much does a Beaches of Normandy tour cost from Le Havre?
The 8-hour Omaha Beach D-Day excursion from Le Havre listed from $231.91 per person on 23 October 2026, with entry to the Omaha Beach centre and a 45-minute guided tour there included. Lunch is not included. Prices change with the date and group size, so check the live price on the booking page.
How do I get from the Le Havre cruise port to Paris, and how far is it?
Paris is 195 km (about 120 miles) from Le Havre by road, and trains to Paris Saint-Lazare take about 2 hours 20 minutes, around 16 a day. That is nearly 4 hours 40 minutes on the train for the round trip, after the 2.5 km ride from the terminal to the station. The shore excursion runs 10 to 11 hours and the operator times the coach to your ship; if the ship is late, the start is postponed.
How do I get to Honfleur from the Le Havre cruise port?
Honfleur is only 17 km (about 10 miles) from Le Havre, and two excursions pick up at the cruise terminal: a 3-hour vintage sidecar tour that crosses the Pont de Normandie, and an 8 to 12 hour day trip that adds Étretat and returns you to the ship by 4:00 or 5:00 pm, depending on your sailing.
Money, documents and safety
Do I need euros in Le Havre, and can I use a card?
Yes, Le Havre uses the euro, like the rest of France, and France's tourism agency says credit cards are accepted in a large number of shops, hotels and restaurants, with nearly all ATMs taking Mastercard and Visa. Most restaurants include a service charge in their prices ('service compris'), so an extra tip is optional; the agency suggests 10-15% of the metered fare for taxi drivers.
Do I need a passport for a closed-loop cruise that stops in Le Havre?
Take a passport: Your Europe (the European Union) says a non-EU visitor's passport should be valid for at least 3 months after they leave the EU and issued within the last 10 years. US Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter with a birth certificate and photo ID, but may still need a passport for other countries, and flying home needs a passport book or another accepted air-travel document.
Is Le Havre safe for cruise passengers?
The US State Department rates France Level 2, exercise increased caution, because of terrorism and unrest, and advises avoiding demonstrations and areas of unrest. It also says pickpocketing and phone thefts are common in crowded places, so keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or zipped bag when you're in busy areas.
What time zone is Le Havre in, and do the clocks change?
Le Havre is on Central European Time (UTC+1), with summer time (UTC+2) from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October under EU rules. In 2026 the clocks go back one hour on Sunday 25 October, so check the all-aboard time against the time your ship announces.
Is there Wi-Fi at the Le Havre cruise terminal?
Yes: Le Havre's tourist office lists free WiFi at the Cruise Terminal. Away from the terminal, roaming costs depend on your own carrier, because the EU's 'roam like at home' rules cover travel between EU and EEA countries and don't set what a US carrier charges. Check your plan's rates for France before you go.