How to Get to Etretat from Paris (Train via Le Havre, 2026)

🇪🇺 This guide is part of our comprehensive Europe Travel Guide.

Étretat is one of the most dramatic coastal day trips from Paris — white chalk cliffs, famous arches, a pebble beach — but the logistics trip up a lot of visitors. There's no direct train. You change at Le Havre and then take a bus. This guide walks through the route step-by-step so you don't waste time figuring it out at the station.

Paris to Etretat — Options at a Glance

Step-by-Step: Paris to Etretat by Train

This is the route most travellers take and the one that gives you the most flexibility.

Step 1 — Paris Gare Saint-Lazare to Le Havre

Station: Paris Gare Saint-Lazare (not Gare du Nord, not Gare de l'Est — Gare Saint-Lazare)

Train: Intercités de Normandie (SNCF) — direct train, no changes

Journey time: ~2 hours

Frequency: Roughly 6–8 departures per day, spread across morning and afternoon. The 7:30–8:30am trains are ideal for a day trip to the cliffs.

Ticket price: ~€20–35 one-way depending on advance booking. Book on sncf-connect.com or at Gare Saint-Lazare. Book early for cheaper fares — last-minute Intercités tickets can reach €45+.

Platform: Le Havre trains depart from the main Basse-Normandie hall. Arrive 15 minutes before departure.

Step 2 — Le Havre to Étretat: Bus 24 (Keolis Normandie)

This is the leg most travel blogs skip. Le Havre and Étretat are 30km apart, and this bus is the only public transport connection.

Bus operator: Keolis Normandie — Bus Line 24

Departure point: Le Havre Gare Routière (bus station), which is directly adjacent to the train station — walk out of the station main exit, the bus bays are immediately to your left. Takes about 3 minutes on foot.

Destination stop: Étretat — the bus stops in the town centre, a short walk from the beach and cliffs.

Journey time: ~50–60 minutes

Frequency:

• Weekdays: roughly every 1–2 hours between ~7am and ~7pm
• Weekends and public holidays: fewer departures — typically 3–5 per day
• Check the current schedule at lio.normandie.fr before you travel, as timetables vary by season

Ticket price: ~€3 one-way, paid on the bus or at the station

Key tip: Check the last bus back from Étretat to Le Havre before you leave Paris. On weekends the last bus can be as early as 5–6pm. Missing it means a €50+ taxi back to Le Havre to catch your train.

Step 3 — Le Havre to Étretat by Taxi (Alternative to Bus)

If the bus schedule doesn't work (late arrival, Sunday timetable, travelling with bags), taxis wait outside Le Havre train station.

• Cost: ~€45–60 one-way
• Journey time: ~30 minutes
• Return: Ask your taxi driver for a number to call when you want to return, or use the taxi rank in Étretat town centre

For groups of 3–4, splitting a taxi (€55 return ÷ 4 = ~€14 per person) is often cheaper and faster than the bus.

Paris to Etretat by Direct Bus

FlixBus and BlaBlaCar Bus operate seasonal routes between Paris and Étretat, running direct without the Le Havre change.

• Departure: Paris Bercy Seine bus station (12th arrondissement) or Gallieni
• Journey time: 3.5–4.5 hours (depending on traffic and route)
• Price: €10–20 one-way if booked ahead; ~€25–30 last-minute
• Frequency: 1–2 departures per day; seasonal (more in summer)
• Check flixbus.com for current timetables

Advantage: Direct to Étretat, no bus change at Le Havre. Disadvantage: Slower than train, inflexible if you miss the departure, limited return times.

Paris to Etretat by Car

Driving is the most flexible option — lets you stop along the Normandy coast (Fécamp, Étretat, Yport) and explore at your own pace.

Route: Paris → A13 towards Rouen → A29 towards Le Havre → D940 to Étretat

Distance: ~200km

Driving time: ~2.5 hours without traffic. Allow 3h on summer weekends or bank holiday Fridays.

Parking in Étretat: Free car parks on the edge of town (15 min walk to the cliffs). The town centre has limited paid parking; arrive before 9am in summer to get a space.

Car rental: Available at Paris Gare Saint-Lazare, Paris CDG and Orly airports. Budget €60–100/day for a compact car.

What to Do in Étretat

Once you arrive, Étretat is compact and very walkable. The cliffs are the reason people come.

The three famous formations:

• Falaise d'Aval (to the right of the beach) — the most photographed, with the arch (Porte d'Aval) and the Needle (Aiguille). Hike to the top (~20 min) for the best views and photos. Free access.
• Falaise d'Amont (to the left) — smaller, with the Notre-Dame de la Garde chapel and a memorial to WWI aviators. Quicker hike (~15 min).
• Manneporte — the largest arch, only visible from the sea or a longer coastal hike

Gardens: The Jardins d'Étretat — a landscaped garden above the town with cliff views. ~€10 entry.

Beach: Pebble beach (no sand). Swimming is possible in summer — bring shoes for the stones.

Food: Several restaurants along Boulevard René Coty facing the beach. Seafood is the local staple — moules-frites and fresh sole are the standards. Busy at lunch in summer; expect a wait without a reservation.

Time needed: 3–4 hours at the cliffs is comfortable for most visitors. A full day allows the longer coastal trail walks.

Train from Paris to Etretat — Timing Tips

• Leave Paris early: The 7:30–8:00am train from Gare Saint-Lazare puts you in Le Havre by ~10am and Étretat by ~11am — before the coach tour crowds arrive.
• Return plan: Last practical train from Le Havre to Paris is around 7–8pm. Check the schedule on travel day for last bus from Étretat and work backwards.
• Avoid July/August Sunday afternoons: Étretat to Le Havre bus is often overloaded. Consider a taxi for the return leg on peak summer weekends.
• Day trips in shoulder season (April–June, September–October): Fewer crowds, easier parking, same cliff views. May–June is arguably the best time.

FAQ: Paris to Étretat

Is there a direct train from Paris to Etretat?

No. There is no direct train from Paris to Étretat. You take the Intercités train from Paris Gare Saint-Lazare to Le Havre (~2h), then Bus 24 (Keolis Normandie) from Le Havre bus station to Étretat (~1h). Total journey ~3–3.5 hours.

How long does it take to get from Paris to Etretat by train?

About 3 to 3.5 hours total: ~2 hours by train from Paris Gare Saint-Lazare to Le Havre, then ~1 hour by Bus 24 from Le Havre to Étretat. Add 15–20 minutes for the connection at Le Havre bus station.

How much does the train from Paris to Etretat cost?

Paris → Le Havre by Intercités: ~€20–35 one-way (book early for cheaper fares at sncf-connect.com). Le Havre → Étretat by Bus 24: ~€3 each way. Return total budget: ~€46–76.

Which Paris station for Etretat?

Paris Gare Saint-Lazare — not Gare du Nord, not Gare de l'Est. All Normandy trains (Le Havre, Rouen, Caen, Cherbourg) depart from Gare Saint-Lazare.

Can you do Etretat as a day trip from Paris?

Yes, comfortably — but you need an early start. Leave Paris on the 7:30–8:30am train to get ~6 hours at the cliffs before heading back. The last convenient return train from Le Havre arrives in Paris around 9–10pm.

📍 Also see: Paris neighborhoods guide | Europe Travel Guide