MapVivid
Manneporte and around
A day in Étretat · 9:30–15:45 · 5 stops
Open it on your phone:
mapvivid.com/etretat/itineraries/manneporte-and-aroundA walking day around Phare d'Antifer, Manneporte and L'Aiguille d'Étretat, with a lunch break nearby and Chemin des Douaniers to end the day.
Every stop on Google Maps: open the list
Morning
9:301Phare d'Antifer ↗30 min
Tall lighthouse on the Alabaster Coast
- Check visit schedule
- Great views of the cliffs
↓ 43 min walk
10:452Manneporte ↗1 h
Huge natural arch beyond the Porte d'Aval
- Reached by the coastal path
- Visit at low tide
↓ 11 min walk
12:003Needle rock rising from the sea beside the Porte d'Aval
- Best seen from the cliff path
- Tide changes the scene
↓ 4 min walk
13:004Falaise d'Aval ↗1 hSunset
Iconic arch cliff with the Porte d'Aval
- Walk the cliff path at sunset
- Wind can be strong
Lunch
14:00Lunch break nearby · Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps ↗
↓ 5 min walk
Afternoon
15:155Chemin des Douaniers ↗30 minSunset
Customs officers path along the clifftops
- Wear sturdy shoes
- Stay away from edges
Good to know. Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.
Étretat tips
Cultural
- Follow Monet's footsteps: the Impressionists painted these cliffs, so look for the viewpoints that inspired Monet's famous canvases.
- Taste Normandy flavours: try local cider, Calvados, seafood and cheeses such as Camembert and Neufchatel.
- Greet shopkeepers: say bonjour when entering a shop or cafe in France; it is considered basic politeness.
Local Hacks
- Go early or late: the cliffs get crowded from late morning in summer, so visit at sunrise or in the evening for quieter paths and better light.
- Walk both cliffs: most visitors only climb one side, but the Falaise d'Amont and Falaise d'Aval each give a different view of the arches.
- Visit the Clos Lupin: this small house museum honours Arsene Lupin, the gentleman thief whose stories are set around Etretat.
Saving
- Hike for free: the clifftop walks to the Porte d'Aval, Manneporte and the Aiguille viewpoints cost nothing and give the best views.
- Stay in Le Havre or Fecamp: accommodation in Etretat is limited and pricey in summer, so nearby towns can be better value.
- Picnic on the cliffs: buy bread, cheese and cider from local shops and eat with a view rather than paying tourist restaurant prices.
Security
- Stay back from cliff edges: the chalk cliffs are crumbly and unfenced in places, so keep to marked paths and never stand near the edge.
- Check the tides: rising water can cut off beaches below the cliffs, so check tide times before walking along the shore at low tide.
- Wear proper footwear: the shingle beach and steep cliff paths can be slippery, so wear sturdy shoes rather than sandals.
Transportation
- Plan bus or car access: Etretat has no train station, so drive or take a regional bus from Le Havre, the nearest major rail hub.
- Park outside the centre: the village is tiny and parking fills up fast in summer, so use the edge-of-town car parks and walk in.
- Explore on foot: the beach, the village and both cliff paths are all walkable, so you will not need transport once you arrive.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack a windproof jacket: the Normandy coast is breezy and showery in every season, especially on exposed clifftops.
- Expect mild summers: July and August are pleasant but rarely hot, so bring layers for cool evenings and the sea breeze.
- Prepare for grey winters: winters are cool, damp and windy, so bring warm, waterproof clothing if you visit off season.
Planned with MapVivid. Opening hours change, so check each place before you go. This day, with the map: mapvivid.com/etretat/itineraries/manneporte-and-around
Day 2 of 29:30–15:455 stops
Manneporte and around
A walking day around Phare d'Antifer, Manneporte and L'Aiguille d'Étretat, with a lunch break nearby and Chemin des Douaniers to end the day.
Opens Google Maps with every stop of the day, ready to save to your own list.
Morning
109:30 · 30 minTall lighthouse on the Alabaster Coast
3 tips
- Check visit schedule
- Great views of the cliffs
- Windy
📷 Photos
43 min walk
210:45 · 1 hHuge natural arch beyond the Porte d'Aval
3 tips
- Reached by the coastal path
- Visit at low tide
- Wear sturdy shoes
📷 Photos
11 min walk
312:00 · 1 hNeedle rock rising from the sea beside the Porte d'Aval
3 tips
- Best seen from the cliff path
- Tide changes the scene
- Bring a jacket
📷 Photos
4 min walk
413:00 · 1 hIconic arch cliff with the Porte d'Aval
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Walk the cliff path at sunset
- Wind can be strong
- Stay behind the edge
📷 Photos
Lunch
Lunch break nearby · 14:00
Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps5 min walk
Afternoon
515:15 · 30 minCustoms officers path along the clifftops
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Wear sturdy shoes
- Stay away from edges
- Best at sunset
📷 Photos
Take this day with you
Add the stops to your calendar
Times are local time in Étretat. Apple Calendar adds every stop at once (Outlook too). Google Calendar adds one event per link.
Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.