Le Vieux Bassin (Old Harbour)
The heart of Honfleur - a small harbour surrounded by tall, colourful townhouses that lean at every angle. It's one of the most photographed spots in Normandy, and it's exactly as charming as it looks in pictures.
Le Havre / Honfleur - Wed 8 Jul
Honfleur is the plan - a gorgeous little harbour town about 30 - 40 minutes from Le Havre by taxi. Think colourful old cottages leaning over a picture-perfect harbour, fresh seafood, and cobbled streets. No long trains, no rushing. Paris is out - both Angie and Iain have been before and it's not for this trip.
🚢 Ship arrives: 7:00 AM | 🎯 Target onboard: 4:30pm | 🚢 Ship departs: 8:00 PM
📍 Port: Le Havre, France | 🚕 Honfleur by taxi: ~30 - 40 mins each way
Honfleur at a Glance
Honfleur is a small but famous harbour town in Normandy - best known for its beautiful old harbour (Vieux Bassin), the slanted wooden church of Sainte-Catherine, and being a favourite of artists including Monet and Boudin. It's exactly the kind of place that's worth a visit just to wander and soak it up. No agenda needed.
Wendy's tip: "I've never been - I don't know it well." So we're going in fresh, keeping it simple, and letting the town do the work.
Getting There
- 🚕 Taxi: Grab a taxi from right outside the cruise terminal in Le Havre. The drive to Honfleur takes about 30 - 40 minutes. Agree a return journey price with the driver or get their number for the return trip. This is the easiest option by far.
- 🚗 Hire car: Possible if you prefer to drive yourself, but the taxi is simpler and you can relax.
- 🚢 Stay in Le Havre: Also a valid option - Le Havre itself is a UNESCO-listed modernist city with some interesting architecture. If the Honfleur trip feels like too much effort, you can easily fill the day exploring locally.
Map: Le Havre to Honfleur day plan
A compact view of the cruise terminal, taxi route focus, and the key Honfleur stops for the relaxed Normandy day.
Stress-Free Itinerary
🌅 Morning - Drive & Arrive
| 7:00 - 7:45am | Ship arrives. Disembark, walk through the terminal, find a taxi outside. |
| 7:45 - 8:30am | Taxi to Honfleur (~30 - 40 mins). Relax, watch the Normandy countryside go by. |
| 8:30 - 9:00am | Arrive Honfleur. Find a cafe near the harbour for coffee and a pastry - most things open from 9am. |
☕ Morning - Wander the Old Harbour
| 9:00 - 10:30am | Walk around the Vieux Bassin - the famous old harbour. Colourful houses leaning over the water, fishing boats, a constant stream of photos. No agenda, just wander. |
| 10:30 - 11:30am | Sainte-Catherine church - the wooden church in the square. Unique and worth a look. The market may be setting up nearby. |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm | Stroll the Rue de la CHAÎNE and surrounding streets - pretty cobbled lanes, art shops, Normandy specialities. |
🍽️ Lunch
| 12:30 - 1:45pm | Lunch by the harbour. Look for fresh seafood - mussels, sole, calamari, oysters from Normandy. It's what Normandy does well, and the harbour setting makes it. |
🌆 Afternoon
| 1:45 - 3:00pm | More wandering, a coffee, an ice cream, sit and people-watch. There's no must-see after lunch - just enjoy the town. |
| 3:00 - 3:30pm | Head back to Honfleur town centre to find your taxi back to Le Havre. |
| 3:30 - 4:15pm | Taxi back to Le Havre cruise terminal. |
| 4:15 - 4:30pm | Back at the ship with bags of time before 8pm departure ✅ |
Key Highlights
Sainte-Catherine Church
A unique wooden church dating from the 15th century, built by sailors. Unusual and atmospheric - quite unlike any English church. The wooden vaulted ceiling inside is particularly striking.
Normandy Cuisine
Look out for fresh oysters from the coast, mussels, sole, and cider. Normandy is famous for its apples and dairy - cheese like Camembert and Pont-l'Évêque, and the local cider goes beautifully with seafood.
Cobbled Old Town
Honfleur's old streets - particularly Rue de la Chaîne and the lanes around the church - are a pleasure to wander. Small independent shops, art galleries, and cafes tucked into centuries-old buildings.
Notes
- Ship arrives at 7:00 AM and departs at 8:00 PM - a very long day in port, so no rush to maximise time.
- Currency: Euro (€). France is part of the EU.
- Taxi from Le Havre to Honfleur and back - confirm the price before you set off so there are no surprises.
- Both Angie and Iain have been to Paris already, so that's off the table for this trip.
- No Princess excursion needed - the taxi is straightforward and gives you far more freedom than a coach tour.
- Le Havre itself is worth knowing about: it's a post-WWII rebuilt modernist city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Architect Auguste Perret's work is everywhere. Interesting if you want something different, but Honfleur is the clear highlight.
🚢 Return to Majestic Princess itinerary