Things to do in Honfleur start with a stroll around a 17th-century harbour lined with slate-fronted houses, a visit to a church built of wood by shipwrights, and a walk in the footsteps of the painters who paved the way for Impressionism. What to see in Honfleur, how to plan a day or a weekend and when to go based on Météo-France normals: here are the essentials.
A small port town in Calvados (about 6,600 inhabitants), Honfleur lies on the south bank of the Seine estuary, facing Le Havre, right next to the Pont de Normandie. The town has 57 listed historic monuments. It was from here that Samuel de Champlain sailed several times to America, including the voyage that led to the founding of Quebec City in 1608.
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Honfleur: key facts
- Location: Calvados, Normandy, on the Seine estuary, facing Le Havre
- Highlights: Vieux Bassin, Sainte-Catherine church, the Lieutenance, Musée Eugène-Boudin, salt stores, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce chapel
- Getting there: by car or coach; access and parking information on the tourist office website
- Getting around: the historic centre on foot
- Entry: see entry requirements for US and UK citizens below
- Ideal length: 1 day, 2 with Deauville or the coast
What to see in Honfleur: the highlights
The Vieux Bassin
The Vieux Bassin (old harbour) is the image of Honfleur: a former tidal harbour turned into a wet dock, completed in 1684 and enlarged between 1720 and 1725. Its tall, narrow houses with slate-covered façades have been painted countless times. Most of the houses on Quai Sainte-Catherine are protected as historic monuments.
The Lieutenance
At the entrance to the Vieux Bassin, the Lieutenance was the old Caen gate, rebuilt in the 16th century and flanked by two round towers. It is the only remnant of the town’s fortifications.
Sainte-Catherine church
Very unusually for France, Sainte-Catherine church is built mainly of wood. Its oldest nave dates from the second half of the 15th century, after the Hundred Years’ War; a second nave was added in the 16th century. Shipyard carpenters, the « maîtres de hache » (axe masters), built it without a saw, and its vault looks like an upturned ship’s hull. The bell tower stands apart, to protect worshippers in case of fire caused by lightning; it houses an annexe of the Musée Eugène-Boudin devoted to religious art.
The Musée Eugène-Boudin and the Honfleur School
Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet and Johan Barthold Jongkind painted Honfleur and met at the Ferme Saint-Siméon, on the heights above the town: this is known as the Honfleur School, which helped give rise to Impressionism. The Musée Eugène-Boudin pays tribute to this history; the painter’s birthplace is at 29 rue Bourdet.
Old Honfleur museums and the Maisons Satie
The Maritime Museum occupies the former Saint-Étienne church, whose bell tower is covered with chestnut shingles; the Museum of Ethnography and Folk Art is housed in the Manoir Vigneron. Erik Satie and Alphonse Allais were born on the same street: the Maisons Satie and the tiny Alphonse-Allais museum (Place Hamelin) are devoted to them. The two salt stores are protected as historic monuments.
The Côte de Grâce and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce chapel
On the heights overlooking the town, the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce chapel contains ex-votos and model ships. Lower down, the Jardin des Personnalités (10 ha, 25 acres, opened in 2004) gathers busts of figures linked to Honfleur, from Satie to Champlain. The tourist office also highlights Le Butin beach and the Pont de Normandie. Across the bridge, our guide to Le Havre, what to see and when to go presents Perret’s city.
Itinerary: Honfleur in 1 or 2 days
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vieux Bassin, the Lieutenance, Quai Sainte-Catherine | Sainte-Catherine church and bell tower, Musée Eugène-Boudin | Harbour and lanes of the centre |
| 2 | Notre-Dame-de-Grâce chapel, Le Butin beach | Maritime Museum, salt stores, Maisons Satie | Jardin des Personnalités |
| 3 (optional) | Drive to Deauville | Deauville | Back to Honfleur |
Honfleur combines with Deauville on the Côte Fleurie, and with the cliffs of Étretat on the other side of the estuary, via the Pont de Normandie. For a full tour of Normandy, add Mont-Saint-Michel.
When to go to Honfleur
From May to September: days are longest and sunniest (6.6 hours of sunshine a day in July), with highs around 21.6 °C (71 °F) in July and August. The climate stays cool and oceanic: only 19.0 days a year reach 25 °C (77 °F). Rain increases markedly from October to January; December is the wettest month (107.1 mm (4.2 in), 15.3 rainy days). Out of season, Honfleur is still well worth a visit, with its museums as a fallback.
| Month | Avg max | Avg min | Rain | Rainy days | Sun / day | Sun vs Paris | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.4 °C (45 °F) | 2.5 °C (36 °F) | 77.9 mm (3.1 in) | 13.8 | 2.2 h | +0.3 h | ⚠️ Cold, grey, museums |
| February | 8.2 °C (47 °F) | 2.4 °C (36 °F) | 64.4 mm (2.5 in) | 12.0 | 2.9 h | −0.1 h | ⚠️ Cool, short days |
| March | 11.0 °C (52 °F) | 4.1 °C (39 °F) | 61.2 mm (2.4 in) | 11.4 | 4.1 h | −0.2 h | ⚠️ Cool, changeable spring |
| April | 13.9 °C (57 °F) | 5.6 °C (42 °F) | 60.4 mm (2.4 in) | 10.5 | 5.9 h | +0.0 h | ✅ Mild, less rain |
| May | 16.9 °C (62 °F) | 8.5 °C (47 °F) | 65.3 mm (2.6 in) | 10.3 | 6.1 h | −0.4 h | ✅ Pleasant |
| June | 19.7 °C (67 °F) | 11.3 °C (52 °F) | 68.3 mm (2.7 in) | 9.8 | 6.8 h | −0.0 h | ✅ Ideal, long days |
| July | 21.6 °C (71 °F) | 13.2 °C (56 °F) | 64.2 mm (2.5 in) | 9.8 | 6.6 h | −0.6 h | ✅ Sunniest |
| August | 21.7 °C (71 °F) | 13.4 °C (56 °F) | 81.4 mm (3.2 in) | 10.3 | 6.3 h | −0.6 h | ✅ Mild, sunny |
| September | 19.2 °C (67 °F) | 11.1 °C (52 °F) | 80.4 mm (3.2 in) | 10.6 | 5.3 h | −0.5 h | ✅ Ideal, fewer people |
| October | 15.3 °C (60 °F) | 8.7 °C (48 °F) | 95.3 mm (3.8 in) | 13.2 | 3.7 h | −0.2 h | ⚠️ More rain |
| November | 10.9 °C (52 °F) | 5.4 °C (42 °F) | 94.5 mm (3.7 in) | 14.5 | 2.4 h | +0.0 h | ❌ Wet |
| December | 8.1 °C (47 °F) | 3.0 °C (37 °F) | 107.1 mm (4.2 in) | 15.3 | 1.9 h | +0.0 h | ❌ Wettest |
Less sunny than Paris?
Slightly, over the year: the nearby Saint-Gatien-des-Bois station gets an average of 1,651 hours of sunshine a year, against 1,717 at Paris-Montsouris. In winter it even does slightly better than Paris (January: 2.2 hours a day against 1.9); the gap works against it in summer (August: 6.3 hours against 6.9). As for rain, expect 920 mm (36.2 in) a year, against 634 mm (25.0 in) in Paris: compare with our ranking of the rainiest cities in France.
How many rainy days over a weekend?
Scaling the average number of rainy days (≥ 1 mm) to a two-day stay gives an average of 0.6 rainy days over a weekend in July, against 1.0 in December. Even in summer a shower is likely: bring a jacket.
| Month | Rainy days over 2 days | Days ≥ 25 °C (77 °F) in the month |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| February | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| March | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| April | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| May | 0.7 | 1.5 |
| June | 0.7 | 3.4 |
| July | 0.6 | 6.2 |
| August | 0.7 | 5.7 |
| September | 0.7 | 2.0 |
| October | 0.9 | 0.1 |
| November | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| December | 1.0 | 0.0 |
Getting there and around Honfleur
- By car: Honfleur is at the southern end of the Pont de Normandie, facing Le Havre. The tourist office publishes access information and a list of car parks.
- By public transport: see the « How to get here » section of the tourist office website for coach links and the nearest stations.
- Once there: the compact historic centre is easy to explore on foot.
Where to stay
Staying around the Vieux Bassin puts every sight in the centre within walking distance and lets you enjoy the harbour in the evening. For a stay on the Côte Fleurie, Honfleur and Deauville make two complementary bases.
If you… then…: choosing your trip
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| only have one day | Vieux Bassin, the Lieutenance, Sainte-Catherine and the Musée Eugène-Boudin |
| love painting | Musée Eugène-Boudin, Boudin’s birthplace, then the Ferme Saint-Siméon, where the painters met |
| are travelling with children | Jardin des Personnalités and Le Butin beach |
| are touring Normandy | combine with Deauville and Étretat via the Pont de Normandie |
| want sunshine | aim for June to August, the sunniest months according to Météo-France |
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens: you may enter the Schengen area, including France, for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa; your passport should be valid at least three months beyond your period of stay (six months recommended), and immigration officers may ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025).
- UK citizens: no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist; your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented: fingerprints and a photo may be taken at the border, free of charge (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 22 October 2026).
- Health and emergencies: UK travellers need a GHIC or valid EHIC for medically necessary state healthcare; everyone should have travel insurance covering medical costs. Emergency numbers: 112 (European emergency number, with some English-speaking staff) and 15 (medical emergencies) (GOV.UK; travel.state.gov).
Practical tips for Honfleur
- Tourist office: guided tours can be booked on its website.
- Weather: a cool oceanic climate, with showers possible in any season: bring a jacket.
- Mobile data: check your home carrier’s roaming charges before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need in Honfleur?
One day for the Vieux Bassin, Sainte-Catherine and the Musée Eugène-Boudin; two with the heights of the Côte de Grâce and the other museums.
What is the best time to visit Honfleur?
May to September, with 6.6 hours of sunshine a day in July; December is the wettest month according to Météo-France.
Why is Sainte-Catherine church made of wood?
It was built after the Hundred Years’ War by shipyard carpenters, the « maîtres de hache »; a wooden church of this kind is very rare in France.
Which painters painted Honfleur?
Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet and Johan Barthold Jongkind, among others, grouped together as the Honfleur School.
Honfleur or Deauville: which to choose?
Honfleur for the historic harbour and museums, Deauville for the beach; the two are easy to combine.
Our sources
- Météo-France, climate sheet for Saint-Gatien-des-Bois (14578001), 1991-2020 statistics (sunshine 1991-2017), accessed 23 October 2026
- Météo-France, climate sheet for Paris-Montsouris (1991-2020), for the comparison
- Wikipedia (French edition): « Honfleur », « Église Sainte-Catherine de Honfleur », accessed 23 October 2026
- Honfleur Terre d’Estuaire tourist office (ot-honfleur.fr), accessed 23 October 2026
- Destination de Voyage calculations: sun per day, difference with Paris, rainy days over a weekend
- Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, France country information (last updated August 11, 2025) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for France (updated 22 October 2026)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
To extend your trip, see our guides to Normandy and France, and our destinations in Europe.
