A car-free weekend in Normandy!

And if it were possible to go to Normandy without using the car, what would you do? This is the challenge that the tourist office has tried to meet by offering you a low-carbon weekend for this summer!

Discover without further delay our idea of ​​a weekend for a practical stay without a car between Paris, Houlgate, Cabourg, Dives-sur-Mer and Merville-Franceville-Plage, for a budget of approximately €250 per person with transport, accommodation , food and activity.

Summary :

• A low-carbon weekend in Normandy
• Why choose a low-carbon weekend in Normandy?
• Summary of the stay
• Total cost of stay

It's five o'clock, Paris is waking up ! If you are an organized person, your bag is most likely already packed. In this case, you can still enjoy your cozy bed or go straight to the program of the stay. For the others, you will have to get up. A shower to wake up the body and mind, a coffee, tea or hot chocolate (we promise not to judge anyone), a piece of toast and presto, we move on to filling the travel bag!

As the car remains in the garage this weekend, we advise you to travel practical and light. We therefore favor the backpack (with padding for the back, lumbar and shoulders) over the suitcase. We thus protect ourselves from descents and ascents in the Paris metro, from lifting earthen of suitcases on the stairs and the wheels of suitcases who decide to escape on the day of said departure.

A low-carbon weekend in Normandy

Friday: The adventure begins

08h29 : Direction Gare Saint Lazare for a Paris-Deauville train departure. During the summer period, it is possible to find one-way tickets for €38 for two people.

11h15 : Arrival in Deauville. You have a little hour of spare time to use. You can rest, read a book, do crosswords or call the tourist office to receive a free personalized travel diary.

• If you eat early and your stomach is crying out for hunger, take out your homemade snack (yes, we try to have an eco-responsible approach even for lunch).
• If you eat late, wait until your arrival in Houlgate to enjoy your meal in front of a beautiful sea view.

12h09 : Direction Houlgate by NOMAD bus (line 111 for €5,80) with an arrival scheduled around 13 p.m. Once on the beach, walk towards the hotel Les Cabines to take possession of your room (plan a budget of €200 for two nights) and also collect your bikes directly from the hotel (50€ rental).

14h00 : Discovery afternoon, on foot or by bike, with the villa circuit in Houlgate. If you are coming here for the first time, the villa circuit is a good idea to discover the city. You will pass in front of no less than 41 Belle Époque villas, without missing the few must-sees like the hundred-step staircase which gives a breathtaking view of the sea.

19h00 : For dinner, opt for a meal on the go (30€) to fit within the budget. You can enjoy the sunset by sitting directly on a bench in the Roland Garros Promenade or go up to the orientation table which is located a little higher up, after the staircase of a hundred steps.

Saturday: Nature and culture on the program

09h00 : After your breakfast, get on your bike and walk along the beach towards the estuary, cross the harbor and go to Dives-sur-Mer to visit the town with its medieval past. Les Halles et art village will no longer have any secrets for you. As the Saturday is market day, take advantage of this authentic moment to discover local products, stroll through the Halles and buy picnic items in Merville, for a budget of €30.

12h00 : Head to Merville-Franceville-Plage to enjoy your picnic outdoors and enjoy the benefits of the beach, with your feet in the water or fanning out on the sand!

15h00 : For the afternoon, 3 possibilities are available to you. The first: stay put and enjoy your new little corner of paradise. The second, set out to discover theOrne estuary in a canoe with the Sailing and Paddling Club, for €24 for two people for 1 hour. The third, visit the Merville Battery, an unmissable historical site, €19 for two people.

20h00 : End the day with dinner at the restaurant Les Passantes in Houlgate. Expect around €80 for two people with a starter-main course-dessert menu.

Sunday: Softness and relaxation

10h00 : Nothing like a farm breakfast to start the day off right, enjoying a moment of relaxation before your check-out.

11h51 : Take the bus again, direction Deauville, still with line 111 of the NOMAD bus (€5,80) with arrival after 12:30 p.m.

13h43 : Return to Paris by train, with an arrival scheduled for 16:30 p.m. During the summer period, it is possible to find return tickets for €69.40 for two people.

Why choose a low-carbon weekend in Normandy?

Opting for a low-carbon weekend means choosing to travel responsibly and sustainably. By using public transport such as trains and buses, and by traveling by bike, you contribute to preserving the environment.

In addition, this mode of travel allows you to discover our territory from another angle, taking the time to enjoy our landscapes and our cultural treasures.

Summary of the stay

A low-carbon weekend between Houlgate, Cabourg, Merville-Franceville-Plage and Dives-sur-Mer. The prices displayed concern prices for 2 people!

Total cost of stay

By planning a low-carbon weekend like this, the total cost of the stay comes to around €250 per person with transport, accommodation, catering and activities included for the period of July and August. A reasonable budget for an environmentally friendly summer escape.

Please note: prices are indicative only. Variations may be observed, particularly for transport prices depending on the consultation period. Remember that the more in advance you book, the lower the price of your train ticket will be!