Day trips › Étretat from Paris
Why this excursion
Étretat is probably the day trip worst served by public transport in our whole catalogue: you need a train to Bréauté-Beuzeville or Le Havre, then a bus (30 to 60 minutes depending on the line), for a total of nearly 3 hours and several changes. By car, the drive is direct via the A13: about 2 h 45.
The white chalk cliffs of Étretat, sculpted by wind and sea, inspired more than 80 paintings by Claude Monet and served as the setting for Maupassant's novels. The Falaise d'Amont, topped by a chapel, and the Falaise d'Aval, with its famous Needle, frame the village's pebble beach.
Access to the cliffs is free, which makes this excursion different from the others: here you pay for the transport and the comfort, not for entry tickets.
Options and prices
Vehicle
Pickup
Site entry
Time on site
Guidance
Price
Cancellation
| Shared shuttle | Private excursion | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Air-conditioned minivan, 8 seats max | Sedan (1-4 pax) or van (5-7 pax) |
| Pickup | Central meeting point (Opéra), departure 7:30 am | Hotel or any address in Paris, time of your choice |
| Site entry | Free (cliffs and beach open to all) | Free |
| Time on site | About 5 h | Flexible, adjustable to the tide |
| Guidance | FR/EN-speaking driver | Same + optional photo stop at Fécamp |
| Price | €129 / adult · €99 / child under 12 | €790 / sedan · €890 / van |
| Cancellation | Possible up to 24 h before | Possible up to 24 h before |
Included
- Air-conditioned round-trip transport
- Pickup depending on the option
- Tolls, fuel, parking
- Tide calendar sent before departure
Not included
- Meals (recommendations provided)
- Optional activities (Fécamp-Étretat rail-bikes, boat trips from Fécamp)
- Tips
The day's schedule
- Meet at the departure point (Opéra)
- Arrival in Étretat
- Falaise d'Amont and its chapel Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde
- Pebble beach, free time
- Free lunch in the village
- Falaise d'Aval and the Needle (coastal path)
- Departure back to Paris
- Arrival in Paris, drop-off at the departure point
Journey times are observed averages and may vary with traffic.
Practical information
- Check the tides before you go: some passages at the foot of the cliffs are only accessible at low tide.
- No entry ticket needed for the cliffs or the beach: open access all year round.
- Bring several layers of clothing: it is often windy, even in summer.
- The paths on the heights can be slippery: shoes with good grip are recommended.
Our commitment
Frequently asked questions
How long does the excursion last?
About 11 h door to door (departure 7:30 am, return around 6:30 pm), including about 5 h on site on the shared shuttle.
Is there an entry ticket to pay?
No: the cliffs and beach of Étretat are open to all, free of charge. You only pay for the transport.
Why does this excursion cost more than there are tickets to pay for?
Because the journey is the real difficulty here: without a vehicle, you need about 3 h of train and bus connections. The price reflects the comfort of the direct trip, not entry fees.
Will we see the low tide?
It depends on the time of your visit compared with the day's tide times: the calendar is sent to you before departure.
The journey is long: is it a good idea for a single day?
Yes: precisely because the journey is the main difficulty, direct door-to-door transport changes everything compared with 3 h of train and bus.