Normandy’s finest hotels with sea views

How about spending a night or more in a dream hotel? It doesn’t have to be luxurious, just have that special something that makes all the difference: a breathtaking view that makes you want to get up at the crack of dawn to gaze at the horizon and the ever-changing reflections on the water for as long as possible. Discover below our selection of hotels with sea views in Deauville, Trouville and Etretat, as well as locations off the beaten track.

Let’s begin with this beautiful location, which offers very affordable rates given its proximity to Jersey and the wild Cap de Carteret. Close your eyes and imagine sinking into soft yet supportive bedding with the sea as your backdrop. The brightly lit rooms with their refined décor and private balconies or terraces are a delight.

Start your day with a morning stroll along the long sandy beach (just across the road), followed by a meal of local specialities in the hotel restaurant, which overlooks the islands of Jersey and Ecréhou. You can then enjoy a short walk or hike to the Cap de Carteret on the GR®223 hiking trail, before strolling through the streets of Barneville. You can also explore the Channel Islands, such as Jersey or Guernsey, which are just an hour’s boat ride from the Normandy coast.

Off the coast of Granville, the 365 islets of Chausey look like a lagoon with their turquoise waters, as they do on so many days of the year at low tide. If you want to make the most of your visit, why not spend the night on the main island, far away from the hustle and bustle. What a pleasure it is to have a drink, lunch or dinner overlooking the sea! For an additional fee, you can sample the gourmet ‘Around the Lobster’ menu.

It’s hard to ignore one of Normandy’s most famous hotels. Whether you’re looking for a superior room with a sea view, a deluxe room with or without a terrace, a ‘Prestige Mer’ room, or even the Liz Taylor Junior Suite, many of us dream of an unforgettable stay here. What better way to experience the glamour of the seaside resort, which welcomes some of Hollywood’s biggest names every year?

Spend your day enjoying a royal breakfast, shopping at the major fashion and designer boutiques in the town centre, and lounging on the beach with its famous colourful parasols.

If you’re looking to recharge your batteries for a few days and stay in a beautiful location with sea views in Trouville-sur-Mer, we strongly recommend this hotel, which is located opposite the town’s long sandy beach. While most rooms overlook the sea, if your budget allows, we have a slight preference for the 60 m² La Reine des Plages suite. With its five-metre-high bay windows, you’re guaranteed a sea view from wherever you are in this duplex room! The spa and holistic well-being treatments complete the idyllic experience.

Local activities include spa treatments, relaxing and swimming on the beach, strolling through the cobbled streets of Trouville-sur-Mer and savouring fresh local produce at the famous fish market on the quays.

This is the kind of place you’ll want to come back to one day. First of all, there’s the setting. The hotel faces the dramatic cliffs that once inspired Claude Monet and so many other Impressionist painters. Then there are the beautiful rooms, where the decor focuses on warmth and noble materials. Eleven of the 18 rooms boast sea views! Some rooms look out onto the cliffs below, with the famous arch and its needle. To complete the picture, the hotel’s restaurant serves seafood and its large terrace, which overlooks the seafront, is open from March to November.

Activities include breakfast and dinner with sea views, a stroll through the narrow streets of Étretat, and plenty of time to take in the scenery, both in summer and winter.

Without a doubt, this hotel is the most affordable in terms of price for a ‘standard’ room. Perched on the heights of Étretat, the Domaine Saint-Clair boasts one of the town’s finest sea views. A special mention goes to the Superior Junior Suite with its king-size bed. Through the large windows, guests can enjoy an incredible view of the sea and the Aval cliff, which was so dear to Arsène Lupin. And what about the Donjon spa and its private whirlpool bath with breathtaking views?

Activities include a break at the oyster bar in the town centre, a top-class dinner at the hotel’s restaurant or in Étretat town centre, a swim in the hotel pool, a spa session in the Donjon tower, and a stroll along the seafront once the crowds have left.

Let’s stay in Étretat to reveal another hidden gem. Want to relax and unwind from everyday life? Spend the night at this hotel. One important detail is that breakfast can be served in your room for a small supplement. Out of season, the Excellence rooms are quite affordable. However, if you want an unforgettable stay, choose a Deluxe room with a sea view and a private Jacuzzi on a large terrace or in your own private garden!

Things to do: take a stroll through the streets of Étretat and climb the path leading to the cliffs; enjoy a drink in the large hotel garden overlooking the town and sea; sample the home-cooked cuisine at the Bistrot or opt for the hotel’s gourmet restaurant with its panoramic view.

Picture yourself sitting quietly on the terrace outside your room or on the incredibly comfortable bed found only in the finest hotels. In front of you lies the one and only Mont-Saint-Michel, surrounded by its mesmerising bay — the site of the highest tides in continental Europe. The rooms are spacious, bright and completely peaceful. In short, it’s paradise on earth!

Local activities include a guided tour of the bay and a visit to the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, as well as dinner at the hotel restaurant. In the evening, you can enjoy dinner on the Mount itself, for example at the Logis Sainte Catherine, which boasts a unique view of the bay.

Cabourg is the most romantic beach in Normandy! Marcel Proust used to stay at the Grand Hôtel regularly. The view of Cabourg’s long sandy beach and parasols is simply breathtaking. In a Deluxe room with a terrace or balcony, you’ll have a front row seat. The Superior sea-view rooms are also very spacious. If Proust’s books have left a deep impression on you, you can even stay in room 414 with its Belle Époque décor, wooden floor, and desk overlooking the sea.

What’s on your agenda? A shopping trip with your partner or friends? A show? Relaxing? Reading Proust by the sea?

Welcome to a corner of Normandy that Jacques Prévert was particularly fond of. Every season has its own charm here, and offers the chance to experience moments of poetry. The hotel where you will be staying is a real haven, with nine charming rooms, eight of which boast sea views. The décor is simple and warm. The sea is ever-present, and the little port is truly charming and photogenic.

Activities include a walk or hike along the GR223, a visit to Prévert’s house a few kilometres from the hotel, and the amazing Jardin de Vauville with its exotic vegetation. You can also sample pastries with flavours from days gone by, accompanied by old-fashioned hot chocolate, while enjoying a 180° sea view in the hotel tearoom.

The 180° sea view is nothing short of magical! Built in the 1870s and located just ten kilometres from the bustling town of Cherbourg, this hotel has seen many famous faces pass through its doors, including Claude Monet, Boris Vian, Jacques Prévert, Edith Piaf, Marcel Cerdan and Françoise Sagan. With just nine rooms, it has a very intimate feel. Five rooms are in the historic building and four are in the annexe (La Longère). The latter houses four ‘ocean liner cabins’ with terraces and full sea views.

Local activities include a walk along the customs officers’ path (the GR223 – Chemin des Douaniers), a trip to Cherbourg, a visit to the birthplace of the famous painter Jean-François Millet in Gréville-Hague and a visit to the magnificent natural site of Nez de Jobourg, the most visited site in La Manche after the iconic Mont-Saint-Michel.