Famous for its 2.5-mile (4-kilometre) fine-sand beach and its romantic Belle Époque ambiance, the enchanting town of Cabourg is an irresistible seaside destination. Enjoy plenty of outdoor activities, cultural opportunities, the Grand Hotel and a lavish casino.
Check out Cabourg’s historic Grand Hotel, made famous in Marcel Proust’s novel Remembrance of Things Past (À la recherche du temps perdu). Order a meal in the grand dining room where Proust would have eaten breakfast and look out over scenic views of the English Channel. Next door is Cabourg’s Le Grand Casino, a local landmark known for its early 20th-century architecture and furnishings. Drink champagne in the lounge bar overlooking the sea, attend musical evenings and try your luck at blackjack.
Head down to Cabourg Beach, where you can rent umbrellas, sun lounges and deckchairs so you can relax in comfort. If you are feeling active, try windsurfing, speed sailing or canoeing. Away from the beach, Cabourg offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Take the kids for a game of miniature golf, try go-karting at Circuit de Cabourg or go for buggy rides. You can also rent bikes and cycle along the beachfront promenade or stop by the Hippodrome de Cabourg (the Cabourg Racecourse) and watch some of France’s top horses compete in the famous night races.
Don’t miss out on Cabourg’s cultural side. Visit the Pavillon Charles Bertrand, an exhibition centre where you can admire work by local artists. The town is home to a thriving community of artists and there are many other private galleries and studios too. Plan your visit for June to coincide with the annual Cabourg Film Festival, which has been running since 1983. The festival attracts some of French cinema’s biggest stars.
Cabourg is in Calvados in Lower Normandy. Fly into Caen Carpiquet Airport, which is just a 35-minute drive from Cabourg. Cabourg is also a 30-minute drive from the port at Ouistreham, where you can catch daily ferries to Portsmouth in England. The town is easily accessible by train, with regular connecting services from Paris on the weekends and during summer.
