Sidecar tour from Le Havre: Normandy Bridge, cider tasting

Ride a sidecar across the Normandy Bridge instead of watching it from a tour bus

A 3.5-hour private sidecar tour departing from Le Havre cruise port takes up to six passengers (two per sidecar) across the Normandy Bridge, through Honfleur's Vieux Bassin, past the wooden Sainte-Catherine Church, and up to Mont-Joli for views of the Seine estuary. The tour ends with cider, pommeau and calvados tasting at Manoir d'Apreval, a five-generation family orchard between Deauville and Honfleur. Your guide meets you at the ship and speaks English or French. Return to the terminal or request a drop-off elsewhere.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Honfleur30m
2. St. Catherine’s Church30m
3. Le Havre Cruise Portpass by

Sidecar tour and cider tasting

• Meet guide at Le Havre cruise port
• Cross the Normandy Bridge
• Visit Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Chapel
• Enjoy views at Mont-Joli
• Taste cider at family distillery
• Return to cruise terminal or nearby drop-off

The experience

The tour leaves the cruise terminal with your pilot and one other passenger per sidecar, so you're riding the Côte Fleurie instead of sitting behind glass. You cross the Normandy Bridge (opened in 1995, a cable-stayed span that connects Le Havre to Honfleur), and then drop into the town itself. The Vieux Bassin, dug in the Middle Ages, sits ringed by half-timbered houses and fishing boats. Your guide points out the Sainte-Catherine Church, built entirely of wood by shipbuilders in the late 15th century, its nave shaped like an overturned hull.

From there you climb to Mont-Joli, a few hundred meters above Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Chapel, where the view opens across Honfleur, the bridge, and the estuary. Your guide shares stories about Vikings and World War II: the chapel itself dates to the early 17th century and still draws local sailors seeking protection before they sail. Then you ride inland to Manoir d'Apreval, a family estate in the apple orchards of Pays d'Auge. The orchard has been producing cider and calvados for five generations using organic methods. You taste cider, pommeau and calvados there, meet the family, and ask them about life and dining in Normandy. Your pilot then returns you to the cruise terminal, or drops you elsewhere if you prefer.

Helmets, vintage goggles, gloves and rain gear are provided. The tour runs 3.5 hours and suits all fitness levels. Children as young as four can ride. Groups stay under six per booking but can expand to twelve on request.

What’s included

• Pickup at Le Havre cruise port and return to the terminal.
• vintage goggles, helmets, gloves and rain gear.
• cider, pommeau and calvados tasting at Manoir d'Apreval.
• live guide in English or French.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 15:00

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “You will meet your pilot after the custom gates.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by RETRO TOUR NORMANDY

Is this one for you?The tour departs from the cruise terminal itself, so you don't need to arrange transport or leave the port area. Your pilot meets you at the ship and brings you back. This works for anyone without a rental car or unfamiliar with Normandy roads, and it means you can make the most of a port day without the logistics.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

67 verified traveler reviews

5 ★66

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

Can I ride in the sidecar if I'm traveling with someone else?

Yes. Each sidecar holds two passengers (one behind the pilot and one in the basket), so you and a travel partner ride together. Groups up to six people travel as multiple sidecars on the same tour.

What is the Normandy Bridge and why does the tour cross it?

The Normandy Bridge is a cable-stayed span that opened in 1995 and connects Le Havre to Honfleur across the Seine estuary. Riding it in a sidecar gives you an open-air view of the structure and the water below, rather than passing over it in an enclosed vehicle.

What happens at the cider tasting at the end?

You visit Manoir d'Apreval, a family orchard between Deauville and Honfleur that has produced cider and calvados for five generations using organic methods. You taste cider, pommeau and calvados, meet the family who runs the estate, and can ask them about local life and dining recommendations.

Does the tour return me to my ship, or can I get dropped off elsewhere?

Your pilot returns you to the Le Havre cruise terminal by default. At the end of the tour, you can request a drop-off nearby instead if you prefer to explore on your own.

What is Sainte-Catherine Church and why is it unusual?

Sainte-Catherine Church in Honfleur was built entirely of wood in the late 15th century by shipbuilders, making it the largest wooden church in France. Its main nave is shaped like an overturned ship's hull, and a detached bell tower resembles an old ship's lighthouse: the whole structure reflects Honfleur's maritime heritage.