Le Havre - Sunday Experiences In Nearby Towns?

[Ottawa Lynne]

Hi! We'll be in Le Havre on a Sunday in May. Our first time there we took the excursion offered by NCL to Paris and enjoyed a day there but were disappointed that everything off of the Champs was closed because it was a Sunday. The next time was a Saturday and we stayed in Le Havre and enoyed the art gallery (highly recommend) and walked around the market getting fresh pastries. I see that the market will likely be opened in the early morning again. Anyone have any experience in nearby cities on a Sunday?

[John Bull]

A 25-minute taxi ride will take you to the fishing / tourist port of Honfleur.

Harbour lined with bars, cafes, etc. Little streets off, with craft & souvenir etc shops.

Relies heavily on visitors, pretty-well everything will be open on a sunday.

 

Or the D-Day sights, but that needs either a tour, or a rented car + a sense of adventure.

 

JB 🙂

 

 

[ssawjo]

Last summer we were in LeHarve and visited Honfleur on a Sunday, a beautiful day.  It was our second visit there.  Our Sunday visit was not enjoyable due to the crowds.  You could not get a seat at any of the restaurants in the harbor area and the shops were packed.  We were the only cruise ship in LeHarve that day.  So, it was all local folks.  Our first visit was on a Saturday.  It was from a river cruise ship.  Much better experience.  The local outdoor market was thriving and not many tourists.  

 

We love Honfleur and highly recommend going.  But it may be crowded, so be forewarned.  

 

Enjoy your day there.

[jenjens1023]

On 8/2/2023 at 4:53 PM, ssawjo said:

Last summer we were in LeHarve and visited Honfleur on a Sunday, a beautiful day.  It was our second visit there.  Our Sunday visit was not enjoyable due to the crowds.  You could not get a seat at any of the restaurants in the harbor area and the shops were packed.  We were the only cruise ship in LeHarve that day.  So, it was all local folks.  Our first visit was on a Saturday.  It was from a river cruise ship.  Much better experience.  The local outdoor market was thriving and not many tourists.  

 

We love Honfleur and highly recommend going.  But it may be crowded, so be forewarned.  

 

Enjoy your day there.

How did you get to Honfleur? Is taxi the only way? Approximate cost? Is the market easy to find? My daughter wants to get pastries while the boys explore Normandy 

[ssawjo]

We were in Honfleur twice.  The first time was an excursion off of a river cruise and the second was part of a private tour that included two other French towns.  You can take a taxi if you wish but look at the other posts here or in the British Isles/Northern Europe board.  The market was very easy to find.  It is in the town square.  There are several bakeries if I recall for your daughter.  Nice town, enjoy if you go.  Your boys will love Normandy, also.

[Hlitner]

On 8/2/2023 at 7:36 PM, Ottawa Lynne said:

Hi! We'll be in Le Havre on a Sunday in May. Our first time there we took the excursion offered by NCL to Paris and enjoyed a day there but were disappointed that everything off of the Champs was closed because it was a Sunday. The next time was a Saturday and we stayed in Le Havre and enoyed the art gallery (highly recommend) and walked around the market getting fresh pastries. I see that the market will likely be opened in the early morning again. Anyone have any experience in nearby cities on a Sunday?

If you are looking for a part of Paris where everything is open on Sunday’s, the area is Marais.  Lots of good shopping and places to grab a nice lunch.  
 

As to the Le Havre area, if you are simply looking for a town with shopping and cafes, Honfleur is open on Sundays.

 

Hank

[FritzG]

We have always found plenty of cabs available in the cruise port area in LeHavre.  They used to have a flat rate to Honfleur, but recently we just dealt with the taxi drivers.  We’ve always had taxi drivers who arranged to come back to Honfleur to take us back to LeHavre. 
 
We were there twice on Sundays, and both times most of the shops, patisseries, and restaurants were open. I’m Catholic, and both times we were able to attend mass in the historic wooden church.  
We’ll be there on a Sunday again in early September.

 

Edited August 11, 2023 by FritzG

[gwatson7]

On 8/5/2023 at 10:10 AM, jenjens1023 said:

How did you get to Honfleur? Is taxi the only way? Approximate cost? Is the market easy to find? My daughter wants to get pastries while the boys explore Normandy 

We took the bus there. Relatively easy and a bit more cost effective. 

[Ottawa Lynne]

thanks everyone - it was great to hear people's experiences/plans!

[John Bull]

12 hours ago, gwatson7 said:

We took the bus there. Relatively easy and a bit more cost effective. 

 

Bus Vert's timetable was very very limited, especially on sundays.

And complicated - depended on school holidays.

 

But I'm aware that a new service was set up in the last year or two, making Le Havre to Honfleur much more convenient.

Can you quote the operator's name or a little detail ?

 

JB 🙂