Car Rental Le Havre

Whether you’re going to Le Havre itself or driving around the Normandy countryside, renting a car is the easiest way to get around this stunning region.

Le Havre is the second biggest port in France and is a popular destination for passenger ferries as it’s relatively close to Paris. The capital is only 124 miles away from Le Havre on the A13 highway, heading south. The ferry terminal has short- and long-term parking facilities available all year round for visitors. However, it should be noted that parking in the city center is limited to metered time slots.

The A29 will take you north towards Amiens. If you cross over the toll bridge Pont du Normandie, you’ll approach the magnificent Honfleur harbor - a must-see attraction on any vacation to Normandy.

If you want to visit Bayeux or the Normandy ‘D-Day’ beaches, they’re both easy to find on the A13. If you’re heading in the opposite direction, the A131/A13 will take you to the beautiful city of Rouen.

The city center has an American-style grid pattern, so it’s simple to navigate your way around. The liveliest part of town is along Avenue Foch, where residential buildings are the same height and shape, but vary in color and style - making for a stylish and memorable drive into town.

They drive on the right-hand side in France, as in the U.S., and the speed limit on freeways is 80mph (130 km/h). Speed limits vary according to the weather, so its 60mph (95 km/h) in the rain and 30mph (50 km/h) in fog (where visibility is 50m or less). It’s essential that the driver and all passengers wear seatbelts and, across Europe, there are no right turns at junctions on red lights.

Le Havre is a popular ferry destination located on the mouth of the Seine estuary. As a former military port, it was obliterated in September 1944 and rebuilt from scratch between 1946 and 1964. While it’s home to a world-class art museum with an outstanding collection of French Impressionist paintings, the port is best known for its contemporary architecture.

Perret’s concrete legac

The architect behind Le Havre’s renaissance was August Perret, and his masterpiece is St Joseph Church, a New York-style bell tower lit with 6,500 pieces of colored glass. Dedicated to Le Havre’s World War II victims, it's now considered one of the architectural masterpieces of the 20th century.

Impressionist art

Le Havre is home to some outstanding museums. The most important is MuMa (Musée d'Art Moderne André Malraux), which is home to some of the greatest French Impressionist paintings of all time, including Monet’s Waterlilies.

Situated close to the harbor, and near where Monet first painted the city, MuMa is covered in natural light, making it the perfect setting for its 19th and 20th century paintings. Some of the other key artists on display here include Pissarro, Renoir and Degas.

Sunshine and beaches

If you’re visiting over the summer months, then you can enjoy the natural light and beauty that inspired numerous Impressionist painters.

With over a mile-long stretch of sand available, you can enjoy water sports, surfing, and swimming during your time in the port. Volleyball courts, a children’s skatepark, and other recreational features are all near the beach. Alternatively, of course, you can just relax in it, feeling the soft, golden sand between your toes.

Beyond Le Havre

Le Havre is the ideal point of departure for many destinations in northern France. History fans can visit the Normandy beaches and explore the military debris left over from the D-Day battle in June 1944. Omaha Beach is the best known, with American losses reaching nearly 3,000, memorably depicted in the 1998 Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan.

If you’re looking for the beautiful French villages and landscapes that further fueled the flights of fancy of the Impressionist school, you can head over to Giverny and visit Monet’s house and gardens. Alternatively, drive to the fishing town of Honfleur, which is also home to one of the most charming ports in France.

When you rent a car in Le Havre, you can get to Paris, Rouen, and Honfleur within a matter of hours. Rich in contemporary architecture and with excellent transport links, the port is a fantastic place to start your Normandy driving vacation.