Cherbourg Walking Tour Ideas

We plan to spend our day in Cherbourg exploring on foot. I've researched using some guidebooks and travel websites, but would appreciate recommendations from cruisers who've visited this port. We'll be there early May.

We'll also be there in early May. I was hoping to get some ideas as well.

Cherbourg is unfortunately not a hugely interesting city. It has been rebuilt after WW2 and lacks character (most of the historical buildings were destroyed). One of the main interest I think is the Cité de la Mer ( http://www.citedelamer.com/en/ ), which is dedicated to the sea and sea exploration. There is an aquarium but also many temporary exhibitions (there is apparently one about the Titanic in 2015) and you can also visit a former military submarine. Quite an interesting visit altogether if you enjoy museum/exhibitions.

Other than that it's tough to recommend something specific in Cherbourg. What are your areas of interest? Are you dead set on spending the day in town? If you are willing to rent a car you can easily get outside of town. DDay beaches of course are close by, but there are also many nice places and villages at less than an hour drive.

Thanks for the reply. We are now thinking of visiting a couple of seaside villages near Cherbourg.

It's a good idea, the area around Cherbourg is really beautiful.

If your stay is long enough you can go to the Mont Saint Michel but it's still a long drive (at least 2 hours each way). Or you can just drive along the coast, going west from Cherbourg and then going south, on the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula. All this area is wild and beautiful (Omonville La Rogue, Goury Lighthouse, Biville Dunes, Portbail...). You can skip the powerplant! ;) Or going east, you can visit the lighthouse in Gatteville (you can climb to the top, beautiful view if the weather is clear), go to the charming town of Barfleur and also to Saint Vaast la Hougue which is famous for its oysters (you can buy them fresh on the harbour and eat them on the spot with with a glass of wine) and you can take a shuttle boat (10 minutes) to the island of Tatihou. This is if you like nature and typical little villages.

Or you can go to Bayeux and visit the cathedral and the tapestry museum... Many more options if you are indeed willing to get out of Cherbourg.