Best of Honfleur

Home to one of the prettiest harbors in France, Honfleur is a captivating town in Normandy perched near the mouth of the Seine. Colorful buildings overlook the boats bobbing on the rectangular Vieux Bassin, with terrace cafes providing strategic vantage points over the water. From there, cobblestone streets lead off into the heart of Honfleur, where you’ll find pretty squares dotted with buildings from centuries past — when Honfleur was one of France’s most important ports.  

Honfleur has a few intriguing museums and historic sites, but the real reason to visit is to walk the old streets and soak up the town’s authentic maritime charm. Honfleur is also an excellent base for visiting other highlights of Normandy, including the high-society resort of Deauville, with its mansion-backed beaches, and the Pays d’Auge, a lush countryside of villages and farms that produce famous cheese (like Camembert) and apples (used to make excellent hard ciders). North of Honfleur, the enchanting Alabaster Coast was a favorite with impressionist painters, particularly the soaring sea cliffs of Étretat, which Monet, Courbet, and Boudin all painted.