Things to Do in Dieppe, France: Is It Worth Visiting?

Dieppe is a beautiful seaside town on the coast of Normandy, with plenty to see and do. It developed into France’s oldest seaside resort after a sea-bathing establishment opened in 1824. The Duchess of Berry helped popularise the town with Parisian aristocrats. This was helped by the development of the beach, a ballroom and a theatre.

The town has a long pebble beach framed by white cliffs. Because Dieppe is a fishing port, seafood has a big influence on local menus. The city also has historic buildings, including a castle, churches, and other old structures.

Is Dieppe, in France, Worth Visiting?

Yes, Dieppe is worth visiting, especially if you enjoy seaside towns, seafood, markets and coastal walks. It is an easy ferry trip from the UK. It is one of France’s historic seaside resorts, with a pebble beach, harbour, castle, churches, market streets and cliffside viewpoints all within walking distance of the town centre.

Things to Do in Dieppe

The best things to do in Dieppe include visiting the castle, walking along the pebble beach, browsing the Saturday market, eating seafood near the harbour, visiting Église Saint-Jacques and Église Saint-Rémy, seeing Porte des Tourelles, walking to Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours, exploring the pier and watching the sunrise or sunset from the coast.

Dieppe Castle

Overlooking the seaside resort and beach, perched on white cliffs, is Dieppe Castle. This is a good place to have a walk around and enjoy the panoramic views of the coast. In 1188, King Henry II of England founded the Château de Dieppe. However, King Philip II of France destroyed it in 1195.

The site was rebuilt in the 14th century and expanded over the following centuries, including the addition of the town walls. Dieppe Castle has a quadrangle enclosure with distinctive round flanking towers. The castle is a blend of architectural styles and has an interesting history too. Nowadays, the building houses the Dieppe Museum.

Château de Dieppe is easy to reach from the town centre, with a steep climb to reach the castle walls. It is free to walk around the outside; however, you need to pay to visit the castle’s museum.

In the castle’s outer courtyard are some cannons. These seem to be a popular feature in tourist literature about the city. Peering over the walls, you have fantastic views of the town’s skyline, beach and the sea. To the rear of the castle is a steeper climb on a public footpath which leads to an observation deck. This is the best view in the area and perfect for taking photos of the coast and the castle.

Watch Sunrise or Sunset on the Normandy Coast

Sunrise and sunset are beautiful times of day, especially if you enjoy quiet time, views, or photography. Dieppe has a few good places to watch the sunrise, my favourite being around the marina with the boats as a backdrop. The best spot I’ve found to watch the sunset is on the white cliffs above the ferry port. There are benches overlooking the marina and beaches that offer superb views as the sun goes down.

The Saturday Market

Every Saturday, the usually tranquil town becomes a hive of activity during the famous market that descends on the town. During the Dieppe Market, the streets are lined with stalls selling an array of local produce. The market is rather impressive and dwarfs my favourite back home in England. Highlights include the French sausages, fresh fruit, countless cheese stalls and a chicken rotisserie.

Ride on the Carousel

There is a carousel on the quayside of Quai Henri IV. It is fun to watch, with music playing as people ride. This carousel has 2 levels and a variety of seating options.

Église Saint-Jacques

There are many churches to visit, including Église Saint-Jacques right in the centre of town. Église Saint-Jacques dates back to the 12th century. This church was built in the Flamboyant and Renaissance architectural styles. It is free to visit; however, you can leave a donation or buy a souvenir.

Église Saint-Rémy

Église Saint-Rémy de Dieppe is a beautiful church with a square by the entrance. The square has seating for a few restaurants and bars, making it a great place to sit and enjoy refreshments or lunch. Église Saint-Rémy was constructed in the 16th and 17th centuries. The church is rather grand inside, with massive pillars. To the rear of the church is a beautifully decorated chapel.

Fish Market at Bassin Duquesne

The fish market every morning was a real treat for me while staying. The stalls open early in the morning, from about 7:30 am. The stalls are on Bassin Duquesne, near the distinctive blue bridge. Recommendations include the Grondin Rouge, a distinctive red fish with a flavour like prawns. Some days you can purchase ray wings, turbot, mackerel and conger eel.

Beach Fun

Dieppe beach is long, stretching from the port to the white cliffs in the south. It is a pebble beach, so it can be uncomfortable underfoot if walking barefoot.

Watching kiteboarding here is fun, as is flying a kite, which quite a few people seem to do. In fact, Dieppe is home to an international kite festival every two years. The beaches have a few bars, fast-food outlets and gift shops to peruse. I found beachside bars to sit at and watch the sea and beach activity.

Porte des Tourelles

Between the beach and the town centre is Porte des Tourelles. This is the last remaining gate of the old town walls. Porte des Tourelles dates from the 15th century and is built of flint and sandstone. It has a passageway beneath it, flanked by two circular towers. The towers are crowned with conical roofs. Originally, there were 7 gates in medieval times; 5 of these faced the sea.

Explore the Normandy Coastline

The Normandy coastline has many towns and beaches to visit depending on how far you wish to travel. The nearby coast has distinctive white cliffs; however, some are unsafe and not suitable for walking near.

Maison Miffant

Maison Miffant is a historic monument and the only half-timbered house to survive the Anglo-Dutch fleet’s bombardment in 1694.

Square du Canada

There is a small park at the western end of the town called Square du Canada. The park contains the Dieppe-Canada Memorial. This relates to Operation Jubilee, also known as the Dieppe Raid, which took place on 19th August 1942.

Arcades de la Bourse

A stunning sight at night is the Arcades de la Bourse. Arcades de la Bourse were part of a reconstruction plan for the city by Louis XIV. These date from the 17th century and consist of pillars and an arcade. There are cafes and shops in the arcade.

Shopping

The town has a shopping area with two principal streets. There are independent retailers, including specialist food shops such as charcuteries, patisseries, and bakeries.

There are clothing boutiques, bookshops, and gift shops. I found everything I needed in the town centre without having to visit the larger out-of-town supermarkets and stores.

Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours & Viewpoint

On the cliffs overlooking Dieppe is Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours. This church has amazing views nearby. There are statues and benches to sit on and relax, looking out at the sea.

The church was built in 1876 for the sailors who died at sea. Before becoming a parish church, the neo-Gothic Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours was a pilgrimage site.

Dieppe Pier

A lovely place to go for sea views is Dieppe Pier. It’s a long pier that stretches out into the sea and is fantastic for a walk. In addition to the views, a major social activity seems to be fishing on the pier. It’s fascinating to watch the fishing and wine drinking. It’s quite a popular spot with locals on the weekends.

Tourist Information Office

If you want other activity suggestions or to arrange tours, the local tourist information office is a great place to visit. It’s pretty easy to find, as it’s next to the marina. They cover things in the city as well as key sights in Normandy.

Parc François Mitterrand

A pleasant park to spend time in and take a walk is Parc François Mitterrand, named after the former French president. The park has lovely shaded areas to relax in and monuments to see, or you could sit by the picturesque waterfall.

Dieppe Travel Guide

Where is Dieppe?

Dieppe is on the Normandy coast in northern France, facing the English Channel. It is north of Rouen and is connected to Newhaven in England by ferry, making it a practical first stop in France for UK travellers.

What’s Nearby In Normandy?

There are some fascinating places to visit within the day-trip range of Dieppe. I continued my trip onwards to Rouen, a beautiful and historic city. However, a long time ago I visited Mont-Saint-Michel and St Malo. You can find a variety of tours and attractions in this part of France on the Viator website.

Getting to Dieppe in Normandy

Without a car, you can reach the town from most places by train, mostly via Paris or Rouen. The train station is a 10-15-minute walk from the town’s central areas. You can also arrive by ferry, as I did. There are multiple ferries per day from Newhaven in England to Dieppe. The number depends on the season. The ferry terminal is a 15-20-minute walk into town.

Where To Stay

There are various options for places to stay, including hotels and apartments. This includes cheaper or luxury hotels. We stayed in a centrally located apartment with a kitchen so I could enjoy the fruits of the local markets. You can find a range of places to stay on Booking.com.

Appartement 1 Chambre

Our dog-friendly accommodation in Dieppe, Appartement 1 Chambre, was rather nice. It was centrally located and easy to reach most key places in the town. Being near the harbour was handy for dog walks, too.

The apartment had a bedroom, a lounge and a very well-equipped kitchen, which was ideal for cooking food from the local markets. The accommodation was spacious, and there were no extra fees for staying with a dog.

Where To Eat Out

There are bars, cafes and restaurants in Dieppe serving a range of dishes. The most popular foods are local seafood and fish, and crustaceans dominate menus. The key area to dine out is alongside the harbour, which is lined with eateries for alfresco dining.

You can choose from extravagant fine dining to a simple budget meal out. The most flamboyant and popular dish with visitors seems to be the Fruits de Mer, or seafood platter. However, there are a few local delicacies that are very special: marmite dieppoise and tarte normande.

Is Dieppe Dog-Friendly?

Dieppe in the Normandy region of France is a dog-friendly place to visit and spend time. Many of the restaurants and cafes accommodate dogs. There are many locals and tourists out and about with their dogs walking or enjoying the cafe scene.

We enjoyed walking Henry on Dieppe beach during our stay. Dogs are currently not allowed on the beach from 15 June to 15 September, but for the rest of the year they are welcome on a lead.