Long Weekend in Normandy: Deauville & Trouville-sur-Mer

In early July, my partner and I decided to go to Normandy to celebrate many things: the end of confinement, our birthdays & the successful renewal of my titre de séjour.

Despite it being close to Ile-de-France I’d never been – shocking as I’d been wanting to go for ages! I had long been drawn to the area due to its historical beaches, beautiful sights, and the fact that I have a familial tie to the area: my mom’s side of the family originated from the Normandy region, having immigrated to Canada (or Nouvelle France, to be precise!) to join the fur trade and settle in the New World in the 16th century or so.

While there is a long list of places I dream of visiting in the region – such as Etrétat, Mont St-Michel, and Omaha Beach – we opted to go to Deauville-Trouville, the classic weekend getaway destination of Parisians.

How to get to Deauville-Trouville from Paris

We went to Deauville-Trouville by car, and returned by train, thereby experiencing the most common methods of transportation to reach these lovely seaside towns. The drive over was pleasant and not overly long, taking roughly two and a half hours. The train back took a similarly long length of time.

Trains to Deauville-Trouville depart frequently throughout the day (roughly 10 times) and are often a direct journey with no need to change. They depart from Gare St-Lazare and can cost as little as 10.50€ if you book in advance, with ticket prices averaging 30€ each way in my experience.

Deauville

For our stay, we booked accommodation by Deauville. The towns are in fact separate, despite being small, right next to each other, and serviced by the same train station, and each has its own unique character.

I got the impression that Deauville was a bit more upscale and polished, filled with fancy homes, golf courses, and luxury boutiques such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès. Even its beaches gave off a ritzy vibe, with the dressing cabins named after international celebrities who’d frequented the area.

The beaches themselves were lovely, sandy and strewn with thousands of seashells. While the water and weather was not as warm as in the south, it was still possible to sunbathe and go swimming.

By the harbour one can also find the infamous Casino Barrière Deauville. While not usually my cup of tea, it still made for an enjoyable visit one evening, where we drank champagne and I got to try a slot machine for the first time.

Trouville-sur-Mer

Across the harbour from Deauville is its sister town of Trouville-sur-Mer, which can be accessed both on foot or via a small boat. Boat tours also frequently depart from this crossing point, which cost around 10€ and let you get a good look at the whole area (though waters can be choppy, so those who get easily seasick should be warned!).

Trouville-sur-Mer is a more quaint version of Deauville, feeling like a classically Norman seaside town. Its harbour is dotted with dozens of seafood restaurants and shops that peddle regional specialties like caramels, mesh net bags, soaps, and apple cider. Open air markets also frequently take place in the area, especially in the high season. One could easily pass the afternoon shopping, before going for dinner and watching the sunset from the beach.

Speaking of dining, I highly encourage any visitors to the area to try out the seafood that Trouville-sur-Mer has to offer. The variety is immense and the prices are very reasonable (especially coming from Paris). One night we sampled a wide variety, including mussels, langoustines, and white fish, and were very impressed with how fresh and flavourful everything was. Definitely a highlight of the visit!