Étretat and the Cap d'Antifer lighthouse

Étretat is a seaside resort and tourist town located along the English Channel, on the Alabaster Coast, near the Seine estuary. It is known for its cliffs and famous three arches.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.42 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 387 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 380 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 107 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -2 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Étretat (76790)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 49.702857° / E 0.200645°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1710ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking in one of the car parks (paid) on Route du Havre.

(S/E) Head towards the town by going down Route du Havre, taking the small path on the right-hand side of the road, which is for pedestrians only. At the first set of traffic lights, cross the road and take Rue Anicet Bourgeois. Then take the first left, Rue de Traz Périer, to reach the pier.

(1) Follow the pier to the left towards the Aiguille. Climb the stairs leading to the top of the cliffs. Turn right to reach the Pointe de la Porte d'Aval and admire the view. Then retrace your steps and continue right on the path between the cliffs and the golf course to reach the next point: the Pointe de la Manneporte (superb panorama).

(2) Take the path towards the south-west. Go down the hill to reach a hand-operated pumping station on your left. Pass the station and climb the slope to reach Pointe de la Courtine. Go to the tip to admire the view (at the end, on your left, there is a small open cave with a beautiful view of the cliffs), then retrace your steps.

(3) Take the path again and start the descent towards the Valleuse d'Antifer. Follow the path inland, along a road called Rue d'Antifer. After a few metres, on the right-hand side, there is a small staircase leading to the road. Go down it, turn right and continue down to the beach (a very pleasant spot).

(4) From the beach, retrace your steps and take the first path on the right, which climbs uphill. Climb the hill following the coastal path, marked with orange signs. After the electric fence, turn right immediately towards the cliff and follow the path to Pointe du Fourquet.

(5) Go down, pass the dip in the path and continue straight ahead. The path branches off to the right. Follow it and pass between two wooden posts (a passageway in the fence for hikers). Climb up towards the Cap d'Antifer lighthouse and continue to the road at the foot of the lighthouse.

(6) Continue along the road until the first X-junction, at the first houses of the hamlet of Jumel. Turn left onto Rue de la Côte, continue straight ahead through the hamlet of La Place and arrive at an X-junction. Turn right onto Rue des Châtaigniers and descend to the first left turn.

(7) Turn left, go through the forest gate and take Chemin du Bois Gaillard, following this road until you reach the road, Rue d'Antifer.

(8) At the road, turn right, continue for about 200 m until the first bend and turn left onto the path that climbs into the woods. Continue straight ahead and cross the field at the edge of the woods. At the end of the field, at the X-junction, take the left-hand path that leads to the Étretat golf course at a place called Petit Valaine.

(9) Turn right and follow the road to Étretat. At the end of the road, go down the road, turn right, continue for a few metres and follow the municipal signs to the Route du Havre and the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 34 m - Paid parking on Route du Havre
  2. 1 : km 0.69 - alt. 8 m - Pier
  3. 2 : km 2.05 - alt. 80 m - Pointe de la Manneporte
  4. 3 : km 3.48 - alt. 82 m - Pointe de la Courtine
  5. 4 : km 4.35 - alt. 20 m - Antifer Valley
  6. 5 : km 5.62 - alt. 83 m - Pointe du Fourquet
  7. 6 : km 6.68 - alt. 99 m - Phare d'Antifer
  8. 7 : km 9.06 - alt. 85 m - Rue des Châtaigners
  9. 8 : km 9.96 - alt. 50 m - Rue d'Antifer
  10. 9 : km 11.49 - alt. 94 m - Petit Vilaine - Chemin
  11. S/E : km 12.42 - alt. 34 m - Paid parking on Route du Havre

Notes

Almost all parking spaces in the town are paid. There are car parks outside, on Route du Havre, which are also paid and have a maximum parking time of 10 hours. There are free spaces at the top of the Amont cliff, at the Chapelle Notre-Dame car park.

Worth a visit

Superb views and impressive cliffs between (1) and (6).
The market halls are located on Place du Maréchal Foch.
The Manoir de la Salamandre, 4 Bd Président René Coty.
Le Clos Arsène Lupin, 15 Rue Guy de Maupassant.
The Château des Aygues, Rue Jacques Offenbach.
The Villa la Guillette, 57 Rue Guy de Maupassant.
Notre-Dame Church, Av. Nungesser et Coli.
Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde Chapel, Falaises d'Amont.
The gardens of Étretat, an open-air contemporary art museum, Av. Damilaville.
Étretat beach and its pier

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Margue13
Margue13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

  • LOST PROPERTY*

We found a wallet belonging to someone named Stéphane Bozinis. We left it at the Etretat Tourist Office.

Otherwise, the hike was very nice, with beautiful views of the cliffs below.

You can book a tour of the Antifer lighthouse, so be sure to check in advance!

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Valentinfelix
Valentinfelix

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike suitable for all levels
Excellent views and a beautiful, simple route combining views of Etretat and the countryside
Highly recommended

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Françoise. L
Françoise. L

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, magnificent cliff landscapes (it was my first time there) and a return trip through fields and beautiful woods. I recommend it from start to finish... It's a bit steep before you get to the Antifer lighthouse, so you need good shoes, but you'll get there... Thank you very much!

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Elie Liberman
Elie Liberman

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Much of the course runs alongside the Etretat golf course, and some sections are relatively difficult in wet weather. Otherwise, it is a beautiful, varied course with spectacular views and easy sections in the fields.

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Mickadouch
Mickadouch

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty route for exploring the famous cliffs. Some stunning spots, somewhat spoiled by litter left behind by inconsiderate walkers and owners of badly behaved dogs (the owners). Must be very busy in season...

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jeco
jeco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thanks to benoitrando for this beautiful hike, partly along the coastal path, on a beautiful autumn day.

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gypat042@gmail.com
gypat042@gmail.com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route starts at the Antifer lighthouse, allowing you to park in the pottery village of Cap d'Antifer instead of struggling to find a parking space in Etretat. In summer, it's always nice to take a dip at point 4 on the way back, as this beach is rarely crowded. The view from the cave at point 2 is quite impressive (those with a fear of heights should take care).

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smashdc
smashdc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

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Icetea
Icetea
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Done backwards so that you can discover Étretat at the end of the hike.

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altete martine
altete martine

Hello,
I haven't yet tried all the walks I've selected around Honfleur.
I will be there for eight days in May.
So far, I've always been completely satisfied with all the routes I've saved on Viso Rando via my mobile phone: in Alsace, the Vosges, the Jura and the Morvan.
Best regards

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CMINA
CMINA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting route. At the end of July, it's very busy at the start, but you soon find yourself alone or almost alone. This hike offers magnificent views of the coast but remains challenging due to the steep climbs and descents. If, like me, you are well into your seventies, walking sticks and good shoes are absolutely essential. You can also take a break and rehydrate on the pretty beach at Antifer. And what a pleasure it is to see the lighthouse when you reach the top of Cap d'Antifer and finally get a close-up view! The return trip, mostly through cool, peaceful woods, is another reward. A great idea!

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PolluxRando
PolluxRando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We did this hike in good weather, going from Etretat to Cap d'Antifer (1 to 6) and back, to enjoy the light on the cliffs from east to west and vice versa. On this section, the hike is natural and challenging (walking sticks are necessary on some sections). The sheer cliffs are impressive. As you approach Étretat, it gets very crowded... even though we were there in the middle of the week and outside of school holidays. But there's no secret... it's magnificent! A very beautiful hike.

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Eric51400
Eric51400

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be careful in wet weather; it is advisable to bring walking sticks as the descents and ascents can be very slippery.

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