Port Guide | France | Dive Deep

Honfleur

Isabella Moreno | Editor

Published on 2025-08-14

Welcome to Honfleur, the ridiculously scenic Normandy harbor town whose charm is matched only by its flagrant disregard for architectural restraint. Here, half-timbered houses stand shoulder-to-shoulder with unapologetic whimsy, leaning casually over cobblestone streets as if whispering centuries-old gossip. Honfleur's pretty harbor has been inspiring artists for generations-Monet, Courbet, and Boudin all whipped out their paintbrushes to capture this place before Instagram made it trendy. You're probably itching to stretch your sea legs, so wander straight into the lively Vieux Bassin neighborhood for coffee, calvados, or, if you're feeling particularly Norman, buttery moules-frites with a side order of salty local wit. With just a couple of days to spare, you can dive deep into Normandy's serious side with a pilgrimage to the nearby D-Day beaches, or simply lounge around town pretending to sketch like an Impressionist while secretly enjoying people-watching at a cafe. Either way, Honfleur won't judge-after all, it's already entertained pirates, painters, and tourists with questionable berets.