Best Things to Do in Étretat, France: Hidden Gems & Travel Tips

Last Updated on 15th October 2026 by Sophie Nadeau

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Étretat is a picturesque seaside town in Normandy, northern France, best known for its dramatic white chalk cliffs, natural sea arches and pebble beach. The town is also home to clifftop gardens, historic buildings, literary attractions and lesser-known spots that many visitors overlook.

The waves whip sea spit into the air and the smell of salt fills my senses… There’s no feeling quite like being beside the sea. And Étretat has it all; the charm of a French town, glistening turquoise sea, jagged coastline and endless windswept coastal walks…

The best things to do in Étretat include hiking along the cliffs, visiting Les Jardins d’Étretat, exploring the town centre and discovering the landscapes that inspired Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Whether you’re planning a day trip from Paris or a longer stay on Normandy’s Alabaster Coast, here’s how to make the most of your visit, including hidden gems and practical travel tips.

What is Étretat famous for?

Chalky cliffs overlook an azure blue sea and it’s hard to believe you’re on the very fringes of the English Channel. After all, it’s warm, sunny and a holiday vibe permeates the air. This is Etretat, an oasis of calm on the edges of Normandy in Northern France. 

Located in Northern France, you can’t go wrong by dedicating at least a day or two to exploring this breathtaking region. Famously known for William the Conqueror, the Bayeux Tapestry and Giverny, the region is a whole treasure trove of cultural history!

If you want to spend multiple days exploring in the Summer or Autumn, then I highly recommend camping! With plenty of options, you’re sure to find a campsite to suit your budget (or you could even try wild camping if you’re feeling brave enough…).

Suggested one day in Étretat itinerary

One Day in Étretat: Suggested Itinerary

Time	Activity	What to Do
9:00 AM	Explore Étretat Town Centre	Start with a stroll through the charming streets, admiring the traditional Norman architecture and stopping for a coffee at a local café.
9:45 AM	Visit Le Vieux Marché	Browse the historic covered market and its surrounding shops for local crafts and souvenirs.
10:15 AM	Walk Up to the Cliffs of Aval	Head towards the western side of Étretat to admire the famous Porte d’Aval arch and L’Aiguille, the needle-shaped rock formation.
11:30 AM	Discover the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde	Continue along the clifftop paths for sweeping views over the English Channel and the white chalk coastline.
12:30 PM	Enjoy Lunch in Étretat	Return to town for lunch at a local restaurant, with seafood and Norman specialities among the options to look out for.
1:45 PM	Visit Les Jardins d’Étretat	Explore the contemporary gardens, known for their sculpted greenery, art installations and panoramic coastal views. Check seasonal opening times before visiting.
3:00 PM	Explore Le Clos Arsène Lupin	Visit this historic villa dedicated to Maurice Leblanc’s fictional gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin, for a literary-themed experience. Check opening days and ticket availability in advance.
4:00 PM	Walk Up to the Cliffs of Amont	Finish with views from the eastern side of the town, looking back towards Étretat’s beach, seafront and distinctive rock formations.
5:00 PM	Stroll Along Étretat Beach	Return to the pebble beach to admire the cliffs from below and enjoy the atmosphere before leaving. Check tide conditions and stay clear of the cliff faces.

Best things to do in Étretat

Admire the famous Cliffs of Étretat

While England may have the chalky white cliffs of Dover, France has the equally chalky coastline of Étretat. Most famous for its three whitewashed arches that rise up from the sea, the area has been a popular hotspot for French tourists for years.

The cliffs are so beautiful that they inspired countless painters to visit and paint the region. Plus, the light along the cliffs is perfect for taking an Instagram photo or two…

Think: Courbet, Boudin Monet and many more artists! Monet himself is quoted as saying “I count on doing a large canvas of the cliffs of Etretat, although it is certainly bold of me to do that after Courbet who did it admirably, but I will try to do it differently…“

Here’s a list of the iconic cliffs:

• Porte d’Aval – The famous natural chalk arch on the western side of Étretat.
• L’Aiguille (the Needle) – The striking, needle-shaped rock rising from the sea beside Porte d’Aval.
• Porte d’Amont – A natural chalk arch on the eastern side of Étretat.
• Manneporte – A huge natural arch farther west of Porte d’Aval.
• La Courtine – A prominent, wall-like section of the chalk cliffs.
• Roc Vaudieu – An isolated rock formation just offshore.
• Aiguille de Belval – A pointed rock formation along the nearby coastline.
• Falaise d’Aval – The western cliff section.
• Falaise d’Amont – The eastern cliff section, topped by the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde.
• Le Trou à l’Homme – A named coastal cave associated with a local shipwreck legend.

Hike to the best viewpoints on the cliffs

There’s no better way to see the cliffs, arches and sea in all their shining glory than from a bird’s eye perspective. Although the walk up to the cliffs is moderately strenuous, once you reach the top, walking is fairly easy on soft, springy grass.

It’s important to note that there are very few railings once you get to the very top of the cliff, or indeed, along many of the steps carved out of the side of the cliff. Make sure to keep an eye on children/ dogs!

Here are the best viewpoints in town

• Falaise d’Amont viewpoint – One of the best panoramic views of Étretat’s beach, town and the Porte d’Aval arch from the eastern clifftop.
• Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde – A beautiful clifftop viewpoint beside the chapel, overlooking the English Channel and the dramatic chalk coastline.
• Falaise d’Aval viewpoint – The classic view of Étretat’s famous chalk arch and the Aiguille rock formation from the western cliffs.
• La Manneporte viewpoint – Offers a spectacular perspective of the enormous Manneporte arch and the rugged coastline farther west of town.
• The beach at Étretat – The best place to appreciate the scale of the cliffs from below, with Porte d’Aval and Porte d’Amont framing the pebble beach.
• Jardins d’Étretat – A landscaped garden on the Amont cliffs with elevated views over the town, beach and coastline.
• Cap d’Antifer Lighthouse – A quieter viewpoint along the coast, with sweeping views towards Manneporte and the surrounding cliffs. Le Havre Etretat Normandie Tourisme
• The GR21 coastal path – Offers multiple viewpoints over the chalk cliffs, sea arches and coastline beyond Étretat.

Visit Les Jardins d’Étretat

One of the most magical places to visit in Étretat also offers one of the best views to be found anywhere in town. The Upper Gardens of Étretat are known in French as Les Jardins d’Étretat.

The gardens are famous for being experimental and feature ‘living sculptures’ against the backdrop of a villa which was once owned by actress Madame Thébault.

It’s pretty pricey to enter at €12.90 per person, but once inside you’ll see a number of gorgeous sculptures, well manicured gardens, and have access to an outdoor café and restaurant. I do think it’s only worth the cost if you’re interested in gardens, otherwise you can skip it and instead head to one of the many viewpoints along the cliffs.

Notre Dame de la Garde Chapel

The Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde is perched, in pride of place, high above the surrounding area. The original chapel was built in the mid 185os but was tragically destroyed in August 1942. at the height of WWII.

A new chapel was constructed on the very same spot in the 1950s, almost a century after the original. Unfortunately during our last visit, the chapel was under scaffolding and so I wasn’t able to take any photos of it!

Caves!

When walking around the cliffs, I was incredibly surprised to see all of the tunnels and caves carved out from the chalky stone. These caves reminded me a little bit of all of the smuggling coves in Cornwall, England.

Relax on Étretat Beach

After a walk around the coastal line and a trip to the chapel that presides over the surrounding area, what better way to cool off than to take a quick dip in the sea or lie on the beach? Although the beach is pebbles, it’s one of those ‘smooth pebble’ beaches and so not uncomfortable to walk on/ lie down on.

Even on the mid-September day when we visited Etretat, the beach was absolutely packed! As such, I can’t even imagine how busy it must be in the summer! If you’re planning to spend the day on a beach, then make sure to head there as early as possible to secure the best spots!

Etretat Town Centre

The town of Étretat is a tourist destination in of itself. With cute timber-framed houses, plenty of cafés and green spaces, it’s definitely worth a stroll around. There are a number of restaurants where the local Normandy cuisine looks delicious, and little cobbled lanes give way to adorable architecture.

The centre of Etretat town is bustling with tourists and locals alike. Filled with cute boutique shops, small quirky galleries and a whole load of eateries, Etretat is everything you’d expect from a French town.

A number of buildings are built in the charming timber architecture that is typical of the region (make sure to have your camera ready)! The town is also the perfect place to pick up a French crêpe (or two!). Cider is a local speciality and is the perfect refreshing beach drink s it’s pretty dry and not too sweet under the hot sun!

Visit Le Clos Arsène Lupin

Le Clos Arsène Lupin is a fascinating stop in Étretat for fans of French literature and mystery. Housed in a charming former villa, this immersive museum is dedicated to Arsène Lupin, the fictional gentleman thief created by author Maurice Leblanc, who lived in Étretat.

Visitors can follow a series of interactive clues and theatrical displays to uncover the secrets of Lupin’s world, making it a fun and unusual way to discover the literary heritage of this coastal town.

Browse the Covered Market (Le Vieux Marché)

While the white cliffs are the top attraction when it comes to the acclaimed town, there’s most definitely more to see than meets the eye. If you’re headed straight for the beach or the headland, then it’s easy to miss that the town is pretty substantial in size, with several buildings of note.

One such building is that of the wooden market hall (sometimes referred to as ‘Les Halles d’Étretat’), which is an open plan covered marketplace dating back to 1926. Today, you can find plenty of fresh produce for sale inside, as well as souvenirs to purchase by which to remember your trip. 

Discover the Musée du Patrimoine d’Étretat

On the top of the cliff of Amont, and located just steps away from the church, the Heritage Museum of Étretat is well-reviewed and is seldom-visited when compared with the beach, or even the hiking trails and viewpoints at the top of the chalky cliffs. 

A cultural immersion into the history of the town and its surrounds, the museum is well-reviewed and costs just €3 to enter.

Open every day (with the exception of some public holidays), it’s here you’ll discover that the town has been inhabited since prehistorical times as well as the fact that the town was home to an oyster park which supplied Marie Antoinette herself. 

Find the Spot Where Monet Painted Étretat

The chalky cliffs of Étretat perhaps became so famous for the simple fact that Claude Monet, one of the most iconic of impressionist painters (and whose artistic renditions of the town are part of the reason it became so popular among holidaymakers in the first place) painted along what is now the town’s main boardwalk.

A plaque halfway along the promenade celebrates the fact, directly in front of the Restaurant Perrey (which, in turn, has pretty mixed reviews for its food if online advice is anything to go by).

The spot marks the exact location from which Claude Monet painted the ‘Bâteau de pêche’ in 1885. Part of a series of paintings created between 1883 and 1886, the paintings are immediately recognisable as Étretat. 

Hidden Gems of Étretat

Due to the sheer volume of visitors that the coastal settlement of Étretat receives each year, you may mistakenly believe that there are no hidden gems left to uncover.

However, scratch beneath the surface of this delightful French destination and you’ll soon discover that there are many secret spots in Étretat. From the historical to the quirky to the downright weird, here’s the crème de la crème of unusual things to do in Étretat.

Château des Ifs

When you’re driving towards Étretat by car, on the fringes of town, you’ll likely spot the magnificent and grandiose Château des Ifs. For me, that was the moment that truly struck me that we had well and truly left the city behind and were so obviously in the French countryside.

Though the Château is sadly closed to the public today, its impressive exterior can be admired from behind the iron grill gates which mark the entryway to the property. 

The oldest part of the castle you see today has the architecture of the early reign of Louis XIII, though no official records remain as to the exact construction of the Château. The estate then remained in the hands of the Hervieu family up until the estate was sold to Pierre Dufresne in 1859.

Étretat beach diving boards

Vestiges of the past are never too far away when it comes to Étretat and this is perhaps nowhere more apparent than when you spy the historic diving boards from the middle of the 20th-century at the end of the promenade boardwalk, directly above the beach.

The exact location for the diving boards can be found at the base of the steep steps which lead up  to the Amont cliff. Étretat has been a popular holiday destinations since at least 1850, when the town installed three diving boards for bathers to make good use of. Of all the secret spots in Étretat, this is one you could easily miss if you don’t look closely enough…

Where to eat in Étretat

Please note that as Étretat is such a famous beach town, some restaurants are pretty bad quality and so I would advise you to check reviews ahead of time to avoid dissapointment. Here are some places where we recommend dining out:

• Le Lann-Bihoué: We personally ate at this cosy dining spot and enjoyed a traditional savoury buckwheat galette followed by a traditional crêpe covered in salted caramel.
• LA FROMAGERIE D ETRETAT: This spot is pretty pricey (but that’s not surprising in a beach resort frequented by Parisians). On the menu you’ll find small bites such as sandwiches and oysters.

Where to stay in Étretat

One of the oldest buildings in the town has since been transformed into a hotel in the heart of all the action. Situated within a main thoroughfare of the town, it’s hard to miss the Hôtel la Residence owing to the fact that the accommodation is set against the backdrop of a 14th-century townhouse which even boasts ornate wood carvings.

Travel tips for visiting Étretat

How long do you need to visit?

I’ve now been to Étretat three times and each time I spent a different amount of time in the town; once I went for a full weekend, another time I visited for a day, and the last time I visited was a quick rushed visit post-ferry on the way to Paris.

I can confidently say that the best experience is to be had if you opt to stay overnight. This way you can easily enjoy the cliffs around sunrise or sunset without all of the day trippers and the entire ambiance of the town changes.

• Bring a Coat/Warm Jacket!: We visited the coastline of Étretat on a balmy summer day and I even caught the sun a little bit. (Bring the suncream. Always bring the sun cream!) Despite my pink cheeks, I still felt a little cold in the evening and was definitely wishing that I’d brought my winter coat from Paris along for the car journey.
• Bring Your Swimsuit: The days can be warm, and it’s always lovely to go for a dip in the water. The sea may be a little chilly, but it’s always worth a quick swim when you’re by the seaside.

When’s the best time to visit?

The only time I wouldn’t recommend visiting Étretat if you want to see a little sun is during the winter time. The climate of Normandy is pretty similar to the Southwest of England. That’s to say that it’s quite unpredictable, and you can never be sure when it will rain, or might be cold.

As such, I highly recommend visiting in the Spring or the Autumn as the Summer can be very busy. Not only that but nearby accommodation can get particularly full during peak season. If you’re planning to go pretty last minute, then finding accommodation near the town will be pretty near impossible in the summer months.

How to Get to Étretat from Paris

The easiest way to get to Étretat from Paris is by car, with the journey taking around 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic. If you’re travelling by public transport, you can take a train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Le Havre or Bréauté-Beuzeville, then continue to Étretat by bus or taxi.

Bus services can be seasonal, so it’s worth checking the latest timetables before setting off. Étretat makes a lovely day trip from Paris, though staying overnight allows you to explore the town and its famous cliffs at a more relaxed pace.

How to Get Around Étretat

Étretat is a small seaside town that is best explored on foot. Most of the main attractions, including the beach, town centre, covered market and access points to the clifftop paths, are within walking distance of one another.

Comfortable shoes are essential if you plan to hike up to the viewpoints, as some paths are steep and uneven. If you’re hoping to explore the wider Alabaster Coast, having a car will give you greater flexibility to visit nearby villages and coastal destinations.

Where to Park in Étretat

If you’re visiting Étretat by car, it’s best to use one of the designated public car parks on the outskirts of the town and walk into the centre. Parking can become particularly busy during summer, weekends and school holidays, so arriving early is advisable.

Some parking areas are paid, and restrictions or tariffs may vary depending on the season. Check local signage and current parking information before leaving your vehicle, and avoid parking in residential areas or blocking access routes. We personally parked at Parking du Grand Val as we were able to leave our car for several hours (it was paid parking).

Cliff Safety and Responsible Visiting

Étretat’s spectacular white chalk cliffs are beautiful but can be unstable, with the risk of rockfalls and sudden collapses. Always keep to marked paths, stay well back from the cliff edges and never walk beneath overhanging cliffs or into restricted areas.

Avoid climbing on the natural arches or approaching the edges for photographs, and follow any local safety notices or temporary closures. Help protect this fragile coastal landscape by taking your rubbish with you, respecting local wildlife and leaving the natural environment undisturbed.

Watch my full guide to Étretat

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