“comme nul par ailleurs” – “like no other place”

Honfleur is a beautifully historic port town in France. It is picturesque with its slate-covered buildings. Being that, you have likely seen the port in many paintings depicted by Monet, Boudin, and Courbet. Imagine walking along cobbled streets, admiring the alluring harbor, and marveling at the rows of timbered houses while exploring this medieval city. Honfleur was indeed a welcome addition to our road trip along Coastal Normandy!

We stopped in Honfleur as part of our Coastal Normandy Road Trip. If you want to read the overview of our trip, you can find the link here…

Visit Normandy France: The Best 3-Day Road Trip

More about Honfleur, France

• Honfleur is a city in northern France. It generally sits where the Sein River meets the English Channel. Consequently, the city was crucial for its old port. 
• Honfleur is also a historic medieval city. Due to its preserved character and monuments, it is one of the most popular destinations in France. 

What to See in Honfleur, France

Here’s a Tip

We found street parking by the Port of Honfleur and walked around. You can pay for street parking at the pay machines on the sidewalks or using their app. If you are interested in using their app, then you can use the QR code on their street parking machines.

Sites in Honfleur, France

• Saint Catherine Church
  • Saint Catherine is the largest timber-built church in France. The structure is just spectacular, especially knowing it is from the 15th century. The church is made of timber because resources were very much limited. The builders mainly used wood from the nearby Touques forest. The fantastic architectural design is the result of the woodworkers’ experience with naval construction. 
• The Bell Tower 
  • The Bell Tower is a separate structure across the street from Saint Catherine Church. The tower is made of oak due to the need for a sturdy material. The bell tower became a museum in 1959. 
  • Check the opening times in advance, as these buildings close early. Even if you cannot make it before they close, take some time to admire the exterior.
• Port of Honfleur
  • This historic port is stunning and lively. You will find many shops, restaurants, and people enjoying the day. This is a great place to sit down and order a relaxing drink. It is also a great place to do as the locals do and enjoy life.
  • There is also an adorable carousel for small children to buy tickets and ride. 
• The Old Basin 
  • The Old Basin is a historic landmark of the city. Today, you will notice lots of lavish boats in the harbor. If you look around, you may also spot two towers. These towers were used to protect the entrance to the inner port. 
• La Lieutenance
  • This is the site of the 17th-century home of the lieutenant and governor of Caen. Today, you can find a plaque commemorating this site and old rigging at the front of the building. It looked like there was a restaurant inside, but it was closed when we walked by.  

More Ideas

• Walk Around
  • Do yourself a favor and walk around to admire the aged European architecture. I am a sucker for this old-world charm.
• Shop
  • My husband loves to look at souvenirs, and there were plenty of options by the Port of Honfleur. If you are interested in looking for calvados shops, there are many options here. We did not buy calvados because I do not particularly enjoy the drink. 

If I Had More Time in Honfleur, France

As always, there is more I wish I got to. These spots are on my radar for our next visit. 

• Le Jardin des Personnalités
  • This city garden is a 25-minute walk outside of the busy port city. Le Jardin des Personnalités sits along the Seine and is the home to busts of historic Honfleur figures. 
  • Le Jardin’s website
• Panorama du Mont-Joli
  • From Old Town, there is a short but steep walk up the hill to a lovely viewpoint. It looks like it takes about 10 minutes to get to the top. The climb rewards you with an overview of the Normandy Bridge and Port of Honfleur. 
  • There is a longer yet more gradual route if you walk through the local streets.
  • There is also a church at the top of the hill. From reviews and pictures, I believe it would be worth a stop to see the stained-glass windows. 
• La Fabrique a Biscuits
  • I would love to visit a biscuit factory! For those who do not know, biscuit is French for “cookie”. This cookie factory provides guided tours, but you must call to make reservations.
  • La Fabrique a Biscuits’ website

Time to Eat!

We did not make dinner reservations, and it was a big mistake. We thought we could find something open for walk-in diners since Honfleur is a popular travel destination. I cannot stress enough how important it is to try and make reservations in advance. It is easy to make reservations on the app- The Fork.

Why didn’t we make reservations? We were unsure of our timing during our road trip. More often than not, I prefer to be spontaneous and dislike over-planning. I am also not against street food. I love a delightful snackerie,  but most of those options were closed on the weeknight we were there. My husband had a long day of driving, so he was aching to sit down somewhere. When in Europe, it is best to have food plans.

We walked around for about an hour, checking various restaurants for availability. We finally found a place that had availability for us to sit and enjoy a meal.

• Les Marmottes
  • They served classic French comfort food, including casseroles and crepes.
  • The service was friendly and helpful. I thought the food was ok, not great. It was nice to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. There was an overhead covering to protect us from the light rain.

What to Eat and Drink in Honfleur, France

I like to try regional foods and drinks when I’m traveling. Honfleur was a great place to try these items! 

• Calvados
  • Calvados is Normandy’s signature spirit. Calvados is brandy distilled from apple cider or a mixture of pears and apples. 
  • It was too sweet for my palate, but it was fun to try! 
  • However, we enjoyed an apple dessert flambéd in calvados for one of our desserts at a restaurant stop in Normandy! 
• Tripes à la mode de Caen
  • I must confess, I love tripe. It is weird for some, but I grew up eating tripe in Phở. I find it delightful because it takes on the flavor of the broth it is stewed in, and I like the crunch. Tripes à la mode de Caen dish was a little sweet for me, but still a fun cuisine to try. 
  • This Caen-style tripe is a French stew with recipes dating back to the Middle Ages. This stew consists of tripe, hooves, bones, vegetables, local herbs, cider, and calvados. The ingredients are combined and simmered for about 15 hours! 

Last Thoughts about Honfleur, France

Honfleur is charming! I was especially impressed by the lively crowd. I wish we had more time here. We stopped here for several hours one night to take a break from our drive and to grab dinner. It would have been nice to walk around during some daylight. There seems to be so much more to see and do here.