Le Havre
A port city in Normandy with a concrete center rebuilt after 1944, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and France's second-largest Impressionist collection.
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Le Havre is a port city on the north bank of the Seine estuary, where the river meets the English Channel, in the Seine-Maritime department of Normandy. King Francis I founded the city and its port in 1517. Bombing in 1944 destroyed much of the center, and Auguste Perret rebuilt it in concrete between about 1945 and 1964. UNESCO listed the rebuilt center as a World Heritage Site on July 15, 2005.
Come for the postwar architecture, the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art (MuMa), and the port, which is France's largest container port. MuMa has France's second-largest Impressionist collection after the Orsay, with works by Monet, who lived in the city from age five. The city beach covers over 30,000 square meters and has held a Blue Flag every year since 1998. Most rain falls in autumn and winter, and winds are often strong, so late spring and summer suit a beach stop best. Give the city at least two days. Rouen is about one hour away by car.
Le Havre in five
- Ride the tram from the beach to the upper townThe tram has 23 stations over 13 km of track, running from the beach to the station and up to the upper town. A funicular has linked the upper and lower towns since 1890, and the Jenner tunnel also connects them.Getting around
- Check the ferry from Terminal de la CitadelleFerries sail from the Terminal de la Citadelle to Portsmouth in southern England. Crossings take about 5.5 to 8 hours, so leave room in the next leg of your trip for a late arrival.
- See the Apartment-Témoin to read the postwar rebuildMuch of the center was bombed in 1944 and rebuilt in concrete by Auguste Perret's office. The Apartment-Témoin is a standard apartment from 1947 to 1950 that shows everyday life in the 1950s.
- Carry a windproof layer for the beach and the upper townWinds are often strong, and the weather can change quickly during the day. The beach can rarely flood during storms with strong winds and high waves, so check local warnings before a visit in a storm.
- Visit MuMa for the port's Impressionist paintingsThe André Malraux Museum has France's second-largest Impressionist collection after the Orsay, with works by Monet, Renoir, Dufy and Degas. Monet lived here from age five and painted Impression, Sunrise in the port area in 1872.
Things to do in Le Havre
See all attractions in Le Havre
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen rules: visa-free short stays for many passports, others need a visa Read more
- Emergency
- 112 EU emergency; 17 police, 18 fire, 15 ambulance
- Tipping
- Service is included; rounding up is common
- Time
- UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 with daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low3°Cold, windyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, windy
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cold, snow possibleFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow possible
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Windy, changeableMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy, changeable
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Spring, changeableAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, changeable
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Fest Yves festivalMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fest Yves festival
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Thunderstorms, jazzJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Thunderstorms, jazz
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Thunderstorm seasonJulyPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Thunderstorm season
- AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°MoZaïques, flowersAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
MoZaïques, flowers
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Festival of the SeaSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Festival of the Sea
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Rain, rock festivalOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, rock festival
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Rain, autumn festivalNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, autumn festival
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Cold, wet, windyDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet, windy
Average daily high and low in Le Havre, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Le Havre
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 72%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 90%
Le Havre
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°8°90%Monday: Rain. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Tue11°5°0%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed9°3°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°5°1%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri11°3°15%Friday: Fog. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sat10°5°13%Saturday: Rain. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sun9°4°23%Sunday: Fog. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 07:25 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Rouenabout 1 hour by carA Normandy city on the Seine, and a stop on the rail line to Paris.
- Étretatby Gray Coach bus from Le HavreCoastal cliffs and beaches, reached on the Gray Coach service.
- Fécampby Gray Coach bus from Le HavreAnother coastal stop on the same bus route.
Before you go to Le Havre
Rules for Le Havre, checked
- Check Schengen entry rules for your passport on France-Visas before you book. Many nationalities travel visa-free for short stays.Source
- Declare cash above the EU limit on the customs form when you enter or leave the EU.Source
- Check local warnings before going to the beach in a storm, since strong winds and high waves can flood it.
Plan around Le Havre
The coast, Rouen and the towns around Le Havre
Read the guideGetting to and around Le HavreTrains from Paris, ferries to England, the tram and Lia buses
Read the guideEntry rules for FranceSchengen entry and visa checks before you book a trip
Read the guideWhere to stay in Le HavreBase options in the center, the docks and the upper town
Read the guideFestivals in Le HavreFest Yves, MoZaïques, the Festival of the Sea and more
Read the guideAll of FranceLe Havre in a wider French route
Read the guideLe Havre FAQ
Is Le Havre worth visiting?
Yes, if you want postwar architecture, Impressionist paintings and a working port. The rebuilt center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, and one or two days covers the main sights.
How do you get from Paris to Le Havre?
By train from Paris Saint-Lazare, which runs via Rouen. By car, take the A13 from Paris, then the A131 harbor road over the Tancarville Bridge.
Does Le Havre have an airport?
Le Havre Octeville Airport, 5 km north of the city, has no scheduled flights. The nearest commercial airport is Caen-Carpiquet, about 54 km away.
How many days do you need in Le Havre?
Two days covers the rebuilt center, MuMa, the Volcano and the beach. One day covers the center and one museum.
What is the Volcano in Le Havre?
The Volcano is the Espace Oscar Niemeyer, a curved building by Oscar Niemeyer built in 1982. It houses a national theatre seating 1,093 and a smaller 250-seat hall.
When is the best time to visit Le Havre?
May, August and September, when Fest Yves, MoZaïques and the Festival of the Sea run. Rain falls all year, so pack for showers.