Situated on the banks of the Seine estuary in Normandy, France, the picturesque harbor town of Honfleur is a traveler’s dream. Far from the hustle and bustle of common tourist destinations, Honfleur nonetheless has its own share of attractions. It offers maritime and cultural delights, as well as beautiful scenery.
If you’re keen to visit this charming town, here are the 5 best things to do in Honfleur.
Sightseeing en Route to Historical Sites
Normandy played a pivotal role during World War 2, and most military history fans have Normandy on their travel bucket lists. Located in Normandy, the lovely town of Honfleur makes a great sightseeing spot while visiting historical sites on tours like the Band of Brothers Tour.
The WW2 tours will take you to all the places of military and historical interest like the Beach landing sites and war memorials in the area. But about an hour’s drive from those world-famous beach landing sites, Honfleur is almost as famous in its own right.
The old port, which was a thriving harbor back in the Middle Ages, has been painted many times over by artists over the years. Incredibly well preserved, the cobbled streets and buildings stretching outward from the old port will make your sightseeing stopover worthwhile. But be sure to visit the harbor in the evening, when the twinkling of lights from the surrounding townhomes reflect on the water.
Soak Up Some Maritime History
Fortunately, the harbor in Honfleur was not the target during wartime attacks, so many maritime treasures survived. The Musée de la Marine de Honfleur (Honfleur Marine Museum) boasts a fascinating collection of these maritime artifacts, navigational instruments, models, and even engravings.
If you love all things to do with the sea, then this little museum is a must-see. Although the museum is very small, it is a wonderful homage to the French Navy and houses one of the oldest maritime collections in the world.
It’s located in the Church of Saint-Etienne, the oldest church in Honfleur. Built-in the 14th century, the church served many different purposes throughout the 18th century and eventually found its new purpose in 1976 when it became the home of the maritime museum you see today.
Stroll Through the Jardin des Personnalités (Personality Garden)
With a name like the Personality Garden, you just know that you’re in for an interesting adventure. This garden does not disappoint, with its lush greenery, fragrant blooms, and realistic busts portraying historical figures of Normandy’s past.
Honfleur is proud of the famous and colorful personalities who have either lived or visited here through the centuries. It is this heritage that is celebrated in the garden. To be fair, it’s more of a park than just a garden. You can go for a stroll through the ten hectares of landscaped gardens and admire nature, or even have a picnic.
But the most popular pastime here is to go ‘celebrity spotting’ of historical figures. See how many famous faces you can spot. We saw a few renowned artists and several other colorful ‘personalities’ who once walked through this quaint seaside town.
Go For a Ride on a Carousel
Although this is not a permanent installation and is more modern than other attractions on this list, you’d never guess from looking at it. It has an old-world charm that can’t be beaten. And if you’re traveling with young kids, this is sure to be the highlight of their trip.
The colorful traditional-style carousel with its wooden horses is set up outside the town hall from May through October each year. It’s a testament to fine artistry and craftsmanship and delights adults and children alike.
Your trip to Honfleur won’t be complete until you’ve taken a selfie with this gorgeous carousel in the background. Surrounded by wooden decking and benches, it’s the perfect place for some pause and reflection while visiting Honfleur.
Take a Boat Trip along the Seine Estuary
Sometimes the best sightseeing is done by boat, especially when such pretty scenery is all around. That’s not going to be a problem when visiting this town! But you don’t have to buy a boat to see the sights. You can book a boat trip from the Old Harbor, and three options are available to you.
The 45-minute long tour by boat, with commentary, will give you more insight into the history of the port and its surrounding buildings. The other short boat trip lasts an hour and a half, also with commentary, but takes you all the way up to Normandy Bridge.
If you would prefer a more private tour, then a skippered private boat tour of the Normandy coastline is the way to go. You’ll feel like a VIP in your chartered sailboat, catamaran, yacht, or speedboat. That’s the way to see Honfleur in style!
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