Where to stay

In the centre

In the centre you are close to the railway station, the old town with its pedestrianised streets and Place du Général de Gaulle with its theatre, where the main market is held on Thursdays. The tourist office (Office de Tourisme) is on Quai de Caligny.

If you come by car, there are around 3,800 free spaces in the Petit and Grand Perroquet, Chantereyne and Divette car parks. In the inner centre parking is pay and display, but free on Sundays and public holidays and every day from 12:00 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 09:00. You’ll see when you book whether your accommodation has its own parking.

By the harbour

The Port Chantereyne marina lies next to the historic centre. To the east of it, the Cité de la Mer occupies the former Gare maritime transatlantique, where cruise ships also berth. From the cruise terminal to Place du Général de Gaulle it is around 1.0 km as the crow flies.

This area suits you if you want to visit the Cité de la Mer, stroll along the waterfront in the evening or take a boat trip around the roadstead. There is more on the roadstead, the marina and the terminals on the harbour page.

Before your ferry

The ferry terminal, the Gare maritime transmanche, lies east of the centre. It is around 1.3 km as the crow flies to the tourist office and around 1.7 km to the railway station; on foot it is further.

• By car: There is a car park in front of the Gare maritime that is open around the clock. Vehicles are left there at the owner’s risk.
• Without a car: Taxis and ride-hailing cars (VTC) also serve the Gare maritime.
• In the terminal: There are showers, toilets open around the clock, a cash machine and a brasserie that opens around departure and arrival times.

For an early sailing, choose somewhere in the centre or by the harbour where breakfast and check-out fit your timings. Routes and check-in times are under ferries from Cherbourg.

Near Collignon beach

Collignon beach is in the Tourlaville district, east of the centre. It is open all year and lifeguarded from 1 July to 31 August, when dogs are not allowed on the beach. From here you look out over the breakwaters and forts of the roadstead. You can go kitesurfing, sailing, windsurfing and kayaking, and there are restaurants nearby.

There are two campsites close to the beach, covered on our camping page. Other places to swim are listed under beaches.

Without a car

The railway station is in the centre. Nomad trains run from Paris Saint-Lazare via Caen to Cherbourg, calling at Carentan and Valognes among other stations.

In town, the buses of the Cap Cotentin network get you around. There are also more than 170 hire e-bikes in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Valognes and Bretteville-en-Saire. One docking station is outside the Bureau du port in Port Chantereyne, and you can return the bikes to any station.

Compare places to stay

The accommodation map below shows places to stay in and around Cherbourg. Prices and availability depend on your travel dates. You book with the provider linked from each listing.