Things to see and do in Cherbourg

Cherbourg in Normandy is famous for its maritime, military and naval history, and its links to the Titanic. A major ferry port, Cherbourg has plenty of family-friendly attractions which celebrate the city and its seafaring past. It’s also an excellent base to explore the unspoilt Cotentin peninsula over several days, and the D-Day beaches. 

Why visit Cherbourg in France?

The 17th-century military engineer Vauban, whose fortifications are to be seen all over northern France, said Cherbourg was the ‘keys to the kingdom’. 

For anyone interested in maritime or military history, Cherbourg is an essential destination. Occupying a strategically important position at the head of the Cotentin peninsula, through history it has seen war, invasion and liberation. The city changed hands six times between English and French during the medieval period, and its harbour became one of the most heavily fortified in the world under Napoleon. In World War II taking Cherbourg was vital to the success of D-Day. 

All this rich history can be seen in the city’s most popular visitor attraction, La Cité de la Mer, and in the Musée de la Libération on Fort Roule. 

Must-see Cherbourg attractions

Find out what life was like on board a nuclear submarine

La Cité de la Mer

La Cité de la Mer (The City of the Sea) is no ordinary aquarium or maritime museum. Housed in the historic transatlantic liner terminal, it is more like an immersive museum of the sea, full of wonder for all the family. Tickets give entry to all the different permanent exhibitions, including the aquarium and the submarine, but some restrictions apply. Children under 5 are not allowed inside the submarine for safety reasons. 

Le Redoubtable

‘Le Redoubtable’ is a decommissioned French military submarine that was built in Cherbourg in the 1960s. It is docked and on permanent display at La Cité de la Mer, giving visitors an incredible chance to experience life on board this icon of the French navy. This vessel was France’s first submarine to carry nuclear ballistic missiles, and visitors can explore its control room, the engine room and the private quarters of the crew, while listening to an audio guide (available in English). ‘Le Redoubtable’ is open all year round. 

Titanic, return to Cherbourg

On 10 April 1912, two days before ‘the unsinkable ship’ sank, the Titanic made a stopover in Cherbourg to embark 281 passengers. The Titanic exhibition at La Cité de la Mer tells the story of that doomed maiden voyage, recreates rooms from the ship and includes artefacts that have been salvaged from the wreck. Before you enter the exhibition itself you walk through the 1930s baggage hall, part of the old terminal building, which would have taken emigrants off to new lives in the Americas, or on luxury cruises. 

The Ocean of the Future 

Discover the 17 stunning aquariums at ‘La Cité de la Mer’

Come face to face with all manner of sea creatures, and learn more about the blue planet in the aquarium at La Cité de la Mer. The upper levels of the aquarium are a multimedia-based exhibition, while the lower levels present the 11-metre deep ‘abyss’, a stunningly beautiful aquarium with dolphins, sharks, stingrays and exotic fish. The touch pool has rays and dogfish, and smaller tanks are home to octopus and jellyfish. 

Musée de la Libération

Fort Roule, site of the Liberation Museum

Fort Roule, on the summit of the Roule mountain overlooking Cherbourg, houses the ‘museum of the liberation’, the story of the occupation of the city by the Nazis and its liberation by US forces in 1944. Cherbourg saw intense street fighting as capturing the only deep water port in northern France became key for the Allies. The museum gives a real sense of what life was like in the city during World War II, and offers panoramic views of the port spread out below. 

Walk the coast path for incredible views 

Cherbourg has the second largest artificial harbour in the world, completed by Napoleon III in the mid-19th century. To get a sense of the vastness of the fortifications and how big the harbour is, take the coastal path east, and for the more intrepid hikers, climb the GR®223 national walking route, high above the port. You’ll get amazing views of the whole sweep of the bay, and be able to pick out Fort de l'Ouest, with its long walls, bastion and lighthouse. 

Other things to do in Cherbourg

Fort de l'Ouest

Find inspiration at the Thomas Henry museum

Just off the main quayside in a modern building you’ll find the Thomas Henry museum, which has been called the ‘little Louvre’ for the wealth of art it exhibits, focusing on European painting from the 15th to the early 20th century. Among its most notable pieces are works by early Renaissance masters Fra Angelico and Filippino Lippi, as well as a substantial collection of paintings and drawings by French Realist Jean François Millet, who was born near Cherbourg. The museum is open every day except Mondays, with free entry on Wednesdays.  

Take cover at the home of the Cherbourg umbrella 

The perfect thing to do on a rainy day! The umbrellas manufactured at La Parapluie de Cherbourg are renowned for their durability, tradition and elegance, having been made here since 1986 after its founder was inspired by a famous French film called The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. They can withstand wind speeds of up to 155 km/h – hopefully the weather will be milder on the day you visit! The factory is open for guided tours, where you’ll see how the umbrellas are hand crafted with real expertise.  

Enjoy sumptuous seafood on the quayside

There’s only one place to try fresh seafood in Cherbourg – Le Café de Paris, on the quayside. Its head chef and multiple Michelin star winner Christophe Poard creates menus full of local produce, with specialities that include oyster gratin, spicy prawn salad and salmon gravlax. In the summer tables are arranged outside and you eat with views over the bustling marina. 

Plan your trip to Cherbourg

Take a day trip to Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue

Driving to Cherbourg from Calais

It’s a drive of around 4 hours 45 minutes from the LeShuttle terminal in Calais to Cherbourg. You’ll take the main A16 autoroute down the Opal Coast, before joining the A29 north of Rouen and travelling over the Seine at the Pont de Normandie near Honfleur. The final leg of your journey is on the N13 road through the Cotentin peninsula. There will be tolls on this route of around €30 each way. 

Day trips from Cherbourg

Cherbourg is a great base from which to explore the rest of the Cotentin peninsula, a beautiful area of rugged coastline and secluded beaches. Discover stunning coastal villages like Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue, 40 minutes drive from Cherbourg, where you can try your hand at kayaking, kite surfing and paddle boarding. Or relax on the huge beaches of Barneville-Carteret, just 45 minutes drive away. If the lure of Mont-Saint-Michel proves too strong, it is only a drive of around 2 hours 10 minutes to the fairytale island that is one of France’s most inspiring sites. 

Book your trip to Cherbourg with LeShuttle  

You’ll have plenty of memories to ‘share’ from Cherbourg! Remember, it’s just a 35-minute crossing on LeShuttle from Folkestone to Calais.