Top 5 things to do in and around Deauville
As well as its iconic monuments and legendary seafront, Deauville and the surrounding area offer a wide range of activities to appeal to all types of traveller. Whether you’re a lover of Norman gastronomy, a nature enthusiast, a seasoned golfer or in search of absolute relaxation, this destination offers much more than its famous surfboards. From the lush green hills of the Pays d’Auge to the picturesque ports of the Côte Fleurie, from wellness experiences to gourmet getaways, discover our selection of 5 must-do activities to complete your stay in Deauville. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything about the town itself, don’t forget to download the Navaway audio tour, which will guide you through the 19 key places of interest in the town centre.
1. Relax in a thalassotherapy spa
Category: €€€ / Well-being
Description: Deauville wouldn’t be the chic, elegant destination it is without its renowned thalassotherapy establishments. The spa and seaside tradition dates back to the very origins of the resort in the 19th century, when sea bathing was considered therapeutic. Today, Deauville’s thalassotherapy centres perpetuate this heritage by offering top-of-the-range treatments combining seawater, seaweed and innovative massage techniques. The benefits of seawater drawn from the sea and heated to the ideal temperature are renowned for their relaxing, remineralising and revitalising properties. Whether you opt for a half-day discovery or a complete wellness break lasting several days, you’ll enjoy hydrotherapy pools, saunas, hammams and a varied menu of treatments including seaweed wraps, affusion massages and seawater jets. Some establishments also offer special packages for sports enthusiasts, expectant mothers and people suffering from joint pain. The hushed atmosphere and seafront setting create a cocoon of serenity, perfect for recharging your batteries after a day’s sightseeing. To complete your discovery of Deauville, don’t forget to follow the Navaway audio tour, which will reveal all the secrets of the town.
Good to know: The main thalassotherapy centres in Deauville are open all year round. Booking is essential, especially in high season (July-August). Half-day packages start from €120, full days from around €200-250, 3 to 6-day cures from €450 to €1,500. Bring your swimming costume, bathrobe and slippers (sometimes provided). Most establishments have a diet restaurant. Access is generally reserved for adults (minimum age 16-18, depending on the centre). Single treatments are also available (30-minute massage from €60). Parking available on site. Some packages include accommodation in partner hotels.
Download the audio tour to discover Deauville on foot and on your own
Would you like to explore Deauville like a local, with no time or group constraints? Download theNavaway audio tour now and let it guide you through 19 of the town’s must-see places of interest. Thanks to interactive navigation and immersive commentary, you’ll discover the fascinating history of this legendary seaside resort, from its origins to its golden age. Perfect for a visit at your own pace, this itinerary turns every stroll into an enriching cultural adventure.
2. Play golf on the greens with a sea view
Category: €€€ / Sports
Description: Golf enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy in Deauville and the surrounding area. Golf Barrière de Deauville, located on the heights of Mont-Canisy just a few kilometres from the town centre, offers a 27-hole course redesigned by architect Tom Doak in an exceptional natural setting. With its undulating fairways, strategically placed bunkers and panoramic views over the English Channel, the Bay of Seine and even, on a clear day, as far as the cliffs of Étretat, this golf course is one of the most beautiful in Normandy. The layout alternates between wooded areas and open spaces, offering spectacular views, particularly on the holes overlooking the sea. The elegant clubhouse has a well-stocked pro-shop, a covered driving range and a restaurant with a panoramic terrace where you can enjoy fine Normandy cuisine after your round. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced golfer, the establishment also offers lessons with qualified professionals and introductory or advanced courses. The course regularly hosts prestigious competitions and remains open virtually all year round thanks to its excellent drainage. A memorable golfing experience in an unspoilt natural setting, just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of the seaside resort. To discover all the treasures of Deauville, download the Navaway app.
Good to know: Golf Barrière Deauville is open all year round (exceptionally closed in winter due to bad weather). Green fee 18 holes: €75-110 depending on the season, 27 holes: €100-140. Equipment hire available (clubs, trolleys, buggies). Private lessons with a pro: from €70/hour. Free access to driving range and putting green with green fee. On-site restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Reservations strongly recommended, especially at weekends and in high season. Dress code: correct golf attire required (no jeans, tank tops). Handicap recommended but not compulsory. Shuttle service available from Barrière hotels. Address: Mont Canisy, 14800 Saint-Arnoult. Free car park. Even if you’re not playing, the panoramic restaurant in the clubhouse is well worth a visit for its exceptional views.
3. Stroll through the Deauville market and sample Norman produce
Category: € / Gastronomic
Description: There’s nothing like a trip to the Deauville market to discover the authenticity and rich gastronomy of Normandy. Every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday morning, the Place du Marché comes alive and the half-timbered market halls, built in 1923, are filled with colourful stalls where local producers and enthusiastic traders rub shoulders. Here you’ll find the quintessential Normandy cheeses: farmhouse camembert made from raw milk, fragrant livarot, creamy pont-l’évêque, not forgetting the delicious goat’s cheeses from the Pays d’Auge. Fishmongers sell freshly caught seafood: oysters from the Baie des Veys, scallops, whelks, crabs and, of course, the finest fish from the English Channel. The greengrocers unpack cider apples, seasonal vegetables and the famous sand carrots of Créances. Don’t miss the traditional charcuterie, with black puddings, Vire andouilles, rillettes and homemade terrines. The bakers will be showcasing their brioches, Normandy apple tarts and Deauville shortbread. A friendly atmosphere guaranteed, with shopkeepers keen to share their expertise and advise visitors. Take the opportunity to discuss recipes and culinary traditions with these ambassadors of local gastronomy. To continue your culinary discovery of Deauville, the Navaway app will guide you to the town’s best addresses.
Good to know: Deauville market: Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings from 8am to around 1pm (arrive early for the best selection). Place du Marché, halles centrales, 14800 Deauville. Market car park nearby (fee payable). Bring cash, as not all traders accept credit cards. The atmosphere is particularly lively on Sunday mornings. The market is open whatever the weather (covered market halls). Ideal for a gourmet picnic before a walk on the beach or inland. Some producers offer tastings. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice on how to store and prepare your produce. There are several cafés and bistros around the square to make the moment last longer. In high season, the market expands with additional stalls in the adjacent streets.
4. Take an excursion to Honfleur, a picturesque port and the birthplace of Impressionism
Category : €€ / Cultural
Description: Just a 20-minute drive from Deauville, Honfleur is a must-see when visiting the Côte Fleurie. This medieval harbour town, miraculously preserved from the destruction of the Second World War, is extremely charming with its Vieux Bassin lined with tall houses with colourful facades reflected in the water. It was here that the Impressionist painters, led by Eugène Boudin, Monet, Jongkind and Courbet, came to capture the changing light of the Seine estuary. The cobbled streets of the historic centre invite you to stroll between art galleries, craft shops and half-timbered facades. Don’t miss the church of Sainte-Catherine, the largest wooden church in France built by naval carpenters in the 15th century, with its inverted frame in the shape of a ship’s hull. The Musée Eugène Boudin houses a fine collection of Impressionist paintings and Norman folk art. The lively quayside is home to seafood restaurants and crêperies where you can sample local specialities in front of the boats. On Saturday mornings, the organic and artisanal market attracts gourmets from all over the world. Honfleur exudes maritime and artistic authenticity, offering a charming contrast to the worldly elegance of Deauville. To help you plan your visit to the region, take a look at the Navaway tours available in Normandy.
Good to know: Honfleur is around 15 km from Deauville (20-25 min by car). Recommended parking: Parking du Bassin de l’Ouest or Parking de la Gare (chargeable, approx. €2-3/hour). The historic centre is entirely pedestrianised. Allow at least 3-4 hours for a complete visit. Eglise Sainte-Catherine: free admission, open daily from 9am to 6pm. Musée Eugène Boudin: open all year round except Tuesdays out of season, admission €7, free for under-18s. Traditional Saturday morning market on Place Sainte-Catherine. Very busy in summer and at weekends, so book during the week or arrive early. Numerous restaurants on the quays (reservations recommended in high season). Possibility of crossing by boat from Deauville in summer (seasonal shuttle service). Themed guided tours available from the Tourist Office. Free: stroll around the Vieux Bassin and the narrow streets of the historic centre.
5. Walking in the Pays d’Auge between valleys and stud farms
Category: € / Nature & Sport
Description: Just a few kilometres from the bustling seaside resort of Deauville, the Pays d’Auge rolls out its bucolic Normandy bocage landscapes dotted with apple trees, half-timbered manor houses and prestigious stud farms. This undulating region boasts a dense network of footpaths, allowing you to discover the authentic hinterland on foot or by bike. The signposted trails wind through lush green meadows grazed by racehorses, passing through charming flower-filled villages such as Beuvron-en-Auge (listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France) and Saint-Germain-de-Livet with its fairytale castle. You’ll come across typical Augeron farms offering tastings and direct sales of artisanal cider, calvados and pommeau. The best routes will take you to viewpoints overlooking the Touques valley, with breathtaking panoramas of the rolling countryside stretching all the way to the sea. The “Route du Cidre” and “Route des Haras” trails combine walking with discovering the region’s agricultural and equestrian heritage. Easily accessible from Deauville, these walks offer a breath of nature, ideal for alternating with the resort’s seaside and cultural activities. Don’t forget to pack a picnic with produce from the Deauville market for a gourmet break in the heart of Normandy’s countryside. Before your walk, discover Deauville on the Navaway audio tour.
Good to know: The Pays d’Auge hiking trails are accessible all year round free of charge. Numerous signposted circuits from 5 to 20 km, easy to medium level. You can set off from Deauville or the surrounding villages (10-30 mins by car). Mountain bike and cycle routes also available. Bikes can be hired in Deauville. Maps and guides available from the Deauville Tourist Office or downloadable online. Recommended routes: Beuvron-en-Auge loop (8 km, 2 hrs), stud farm circuit around Saint-Arnoult (12 km, 3 hrs), apple tree trail at Cambremer (10 km, 2 hrs 30 mins). Best time of year: spring (orchards in bloom) and autumn (colours). Bring walking shoes, water and clothes suited to the changeable Normandy weather. Possibility of visiting cider factories along the way (Route du Cidre). There are several restaurants and inns along the way where you can stop for lunch. Pays d’Auge Tourisme” mobile application with downloadable GPS routes.
In conclusion, Deauville and the surrounding area offer a remarkably diverse range of activities that will appeal to all types of traveller. Whether you’re looking for total relaxation in a thalasso spa, a round of golf by the sea, a gourmet exploring the Normandy market, an art and history enthusiast in Honfleur or a hiker eager to explore the countryside in the Pays d’Auge, this Normandy destination has plenty to offer. These activities are the perfect complement to the discovery of the town’s emblematic sites, which you can explore on the Navaway audio tour. With its seaside elegance, cultural heritage, refined gastronomy and unspoilt nature, Deauville is an ideal all-round destination for a long weekend or a rejuvenating holiday. Whether you’re coming with your family, as a couple or with friends, you’re bound to find something to make your stay memorable on this enchanting stretch of the Côte Fleurie.
FAQ : Everything you need to know about activities in Deauville and the surrounding area
Can we do these activities all year round?
Most of the activities on offer are available all year round. Thalassotherapy, golf and hiking are available all year round, although spring and autumn offer the most pleasant conditions. The Deauville market is open all year round (Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays). Honfleur can also be visited all year round, with a particularly charming atmosphere outside the summer months when the crowds thin out.
Do you need a car to enjoy these activities?
For the thalassotherapy, golf and market in Deauville itself, a car is not essential (everything is accessible on foot or by taxi from the centre). However, a car is highly recommended for visiting Honfleur and hiking in the Pays d’Auge. Car hire is available in Deauville. Alternatively, you can hire electric bicycles to explore the surrounding area, or organise excursions with transport from Deauville.
What’s the budget for these activities?
The budget varies according to the activities: markets and walks are free or very economical (just allow for the shopping and travel budget). Honfleur remains affordable (parking and possibly a museum). Golf and especially the thalassotherapy represent a bigger investment (€100-250 a day). For a full weekend with one or two premium activities, allow €150-400 per person, excluding accommodation and restaurants.
Are these activities suitable for families with children?
The Deauville market, a visit to Honfleur and easy walks in the Pays d’Auge are perfect for families. The thalassotherapy centres generally accept teenagers aged 16 and over. Golf courses offer introductory lessons for children. For younger visitors, there are nature walks, visits to Auge farms with tastings, and discovering the Vieux Bassin d’Honfleur, which offers a picture-postcard atmosphere that will delight young and old alike.
Is it possible to combine several activities in the same day?
Exactly! A typical day might include: Deauville market in the morning, lunch of local produce, then an afternoon at the spa or golf. Or a morning hike in the Pays d’Auge with a visit to a cider factory, a picnic in the countryside, then a late afternoon in Honfleur. The advantage of this region is its proximity to all the attractions. With the Navaway app, you can also intersperse a guided tour of the historic centre of Deauville between two activities.
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