Top 10 Cherbourg Shore Excursions
Many will also know it for been one of the ports of call for the ill-fated maiden voyage of infamous Titanic and it is a great place to visit for those with an interest in that ship as you exit your vessel via the baggage hall and terminal used by the passengers of the White Star liner.
One of the great aspects of visiting Cherbourg is that you can easily walk around the port to the city centre, or you can visit the impressive maritime museum right next door to where you dock.
Away from the city itself, there is plenty to see and experience in region and along the Normandy coast and that is what we look at in this list.
But just what are the top 10 Cherbourg shore excursions? That is just what we answer in this list, which is based on our experience of visiting the port on a cruise holiday and the research we did before visiting there.
Shore Excursions In Cherbourg
Mont-Saint-Michel Visit
Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the iconic images of France, even if you are not sure what it is from its name, you will have seen it on adverts, in travel book or as the backdrop to tv programmes.
The island sits just about a mile off of the mainland of France and gets cut off at high tide, which just adds to the spiritual nature of the island in the same way the Holy Island in Northumberland give you a unique feeling no matter if you are religious or not.
It is quite a drive from Cherbourg down the coast to the bridge across but if you have a long day in port, it is a excursion well worth doing as it is a place you will always remember.
D-Day Landing Beaches
If you are fascinated by history, want to visit the parts of France we have all seen so many times in documentary, on tv or in film to gain a better understanding of just what happened there or you want to pay your respect to those who lost their lives, a trip to the D-Day landing beaches in a good option for many.
Whilst each line will offer different excursions, most will offer visits to Saint Mere Eglise, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, the D-Day Museum at Arromanches and Pointe du Hoc.
Val De Saire Exploration
Normandy is home to some beautiful countryside that is home to beautiful villages, historic port villages and lots of incredible views of the French coastline.
One of the best regions to experience all of that and more is in Val de Saire, which translates as the Vale of the River Saire, where those on excursions can often enjoy a visit to a small fishing village such as St Vaast la Houge, the historic Barfleur where William the Conqueror set sail before the Norman Conquest and also take in the Gatteville lighthouse.
Bayeux Visit
If you are British or have an interest in the history of Britain, whenever you hear the name of the town of Bayeux one thing will come to mind and that is the Bayeux Tapestry.
The beautifully decorated embroidered cloth that depicts the Norman conquest is still a highlight of a visit to the town but there is so much more on offer for those visiting Bayeux including its medieval streets, the Notre Dame cathedral and plenty of great shopping, eating and drinking opportunities.
Caen Visit
The nearby city of Caen is one that can often get overlooked, and that is even by the excursion companies that cruise lines team up with, but don’t worry, if your line doesn’t offer trips there, it is easy to do on your own.
There are regular train services from Cherbourg to Caen and it is well worth heading there as there it offers some incredible architecture, great shopping opportunities and a truly authentic day in France.
Building such as the Hotel de Ville, the Abbaye aux Hommes, the Abbaye aux Dames and the Saint-Pierre Church are well worth visiting and taking a photograph of.
The cities old town is great for strolling around its narrow streets and simply seeing what you come up to next with streets such as the Rue Froide a great place to do some shopping.
Chateau des Ravalets Visit
One of the images that come to mind when you think of France are beautiful country chateau’s complete with splendid gardens and if a visit to one of them is on your to do list when visiting France, you can do it when visiting Cherbourg.
The beautiful Chateau des Ravalets is located on the outskirts of the city and is offered as an excursion by the majority of cruise lines who give you free time there to walk around the house before exploring the stunning French and English gardens.
Battles of Normandy Museum and Battlefields Tour
If you have an interest in the region’s military past a visit to the Normandy Victory Museum will be of interest to you and many cruise lines offer you the chance to head not only there but also to the nearby field where the Battle of Carentan unfolded.
This gives you a factual and practical look at one of the most important battles of World War 2 that is thoughts of as been crucial the success of the D-Day landings.
Traditional Food and Drink Tour
There are some foods that can be found around the world, including the likes of Chinese and Italian but there is one that is often thought of as been the most luxurious and indulgent cuisine- and that is the food and drink of France.
It is often in the small towns and villages found well away from the tourist hotspots where you can experience true French cuisine including plenty of local delicacies and that is exactly what you can experience on a food and drink tour of Normandy.
Try a tipple of Calvados at a distillery, head to a local bakery to try local breads and cakes before heading to a gourmet shop to buy some local nibbles to take back to the ship as gifts.
Horse and Carriage Tour
If you want to make a tour of the city centre that bit more interesting than walking around its streets or if you want to keep kids entertained, why not try a horse and carriage ride around Cherbourg.
These are offered from the city centres main square and can sometimes be pre-booked at the terminal.
City Centre Shuttle
When you dock in Cherbourg, you are overlooking the city centre, and you feel like you are just a short stroll from the cafes, shops and attractions on offer there.
Unfortunately, you dock at the other side of the harbour from the main city centre and whilst it is a flat and straightforward walk, it does take around 15-20 minutes to get to the main square.
If you have mobility issues or you just don’t fancy the walk, there are shuttle buses offered for a low cost which will stop in the city centre and next to the train station if you want to get off and explore on your own quicker.
Cherbourg ShoreEx
The French coastal city of Cherbourg offers plenty to see and do whilst on shore and it is a great place to simply walk around and enjoy been somewhere different from home.
If you have been there before or if you want to see more of what the region has to offer, the great news is that there are plenty of great shore excursions in Cherbourg.
Normandy is a region of France steeped in history and that can be explored in a number of different ways including visiting its World War 2 battlefields, history towns such as Bayeux and by exploring the many small villages found in its idyllic countryside.
