Last updated: September 2026.
Sun-soaked beaches, Belle Époque charm, and a dash of Parisian glamour: enter Deauville stage left! One of Normandy’s most elegant seaside escapes, this gorgeous town is famous for its wooden boardwalk, film festival, and colourful beach umbrellas, and made a great destination for exploring Normandy with kids.
Is Deauville good with kids? We thought so, particularly with a baby or younger children. It’s compact and easy to walk, the huge sandy beach and Les Planches boardwalk are brilliant with a pram, and there’s enough to do nearby that you don’t have to rely on beach weather. It also works particularly well for UK families who want to drive to France rather than fly.
Packing up the car with all our baby gear and more snacks than our village corner shop, we took the Eurotunnel to France for a break with our 6-month-old and our dog Cleo. I’d been looking at Normandy for a while before I settled on Deauville as our destination, wanting to combine somewhere under 3 hours drive from Calais with a beach, all the amenities we now need close by with a baby, and some interesting French culture and delicious food to devour.
What we found was a destination that ticked all the boxes: a Blue Flag beach for safe swimming, a long pram-friendly promenade, plenty of fresh food, and dog-friendly outings so Cleo could enjoy the trip too.
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In this guide I’ve shared our itinerary, tips for travelling to Deauville with a baby, and a taste of the town’s unique character.
Getting to Deauville from the UK
Driving via LeShuttle: Folkestone to Calais, then around 2.5 to 3 hours’ drive on to Deauville. This is what we did, and the whole thing couldn’t have been more straightforward. The check-in process was quick, boarding was simple, and the 35-minute crossing meant Rory barely noticed we’d moved countries. I particularly love the flexibility of LeShuttle, a delay on the M25 had us arriving after our booked train departed but we were automatically put onto the next available one, and on the way home we arrived at Calais a couple of hours early and were similarly booked onto an earlier one (getting home early is always a bonus!). A tip for parents: while there are baby changing facilities in the terminal building, there’s none on the trains themselves, so be prepared to do a change in the car if needed (not ideal when the boot is packed!).
Ferry: a Normandy ferry crossing (Portsmouth to Caen, or Portsmouth/Newhaven to Le Havre and Dieppe) can cut down your driving in France considerably depending on where in the UK you’re starting from, since you land much closer to Deauville than at Calais.
Train: there’s no direct train from the UK, but Eurostar to Paris followed by an onward train to Deauville-Trouville station is a workable public transport option if you’d rather not drive at all.
We drove, and with a six-month-old I’d choose this option again: no faffing with luggage restrictions, the car doubles as a nap space on the way, and we could bring everything (and Cleo) without a second thought. If you’re flying or taking Eurostar instead, we’d recommend hiring a car in France with Auto Europe, which compares all the major rental companies for the best price. If Deauville is one stop on a wider driving trip, our best family road trips from the UK guide has more routes worth considering.
Why visit Normandy?
Normandy is, of course, most famous for the D-Day landings of 1944, but its history stretches back centuries, playing a key role as a hub for trade and fishing. By the 19th century, seaside towns like Deauville became fashionable retreats for Parisian high society, who came for sea bathing, horse racing, and casino nights. That glamour still lingers, it’s hard to pin point it (although the casino still stands!), but you’ll see what I mean if you visit.
The restaurant and bar prices definitely make the most of this reputation, but that aside, it’s got a lovely rustic charm to it and the distinctive half-timbered architecture makes for many a nice photo. Walking through these Normandy towns feels like stepping into a postcard, and in Deauville you can add in many chic boutiques and bakeries tucked into historic façades.
Best things to do in Deauville with kids
If you only have a short time in Deauville itself, these are the things we’d prioritise, all experiences from our own trip:
- Walk Les Planches, the famous wooden boardwalk lined with beach cabins named after Hollywood stars
- Spend time on Deauville beach, a Blue Flag stretch of sand that’s pram and dog-friendly outside peak hours
- Explore the town centre and its half-timbered architecture, chic boutiques and bakeries
- Browse Deauville market, particularly if you love cheese
- Take the kids for a ride on the carousel in the town centre
- Walk across the bridge to Trouville-sur-Mer for a change of pace
Things to do in Deauville with kids: our 3-day itinerary
Day 1: promenades and plages
We started with a stroll along Deauville’s famous promenade, Les Planches, a 1920s wooden boardwalk lined with beach cabins named after Hollywood stars. The Blue Flag beach here is spotless, and the water was JUST about warm enough for a leg dip, although it’s close to the major port of Le Havre, so I was surprised it had Blue Flag status.
Cleo loved trotting along the boardwalk (it’s dog friendly), and while dogs aren’t allowed on the main beach during the day, they’re welcome before 10am and after 7pm, perfect for a golden-hour walk.
Day 2: Honfleur harbour
A short drive away, Honfleur is all cobbled streets and colourful buildings wrapped around a picturesque harbour. We had a leisurely seafood lunch and hit a pretty big milestone: R’s first time eating away from home in a restaurant high chair! He only had some puree out of a pouch but it was nice to see a future where we can all eat together. If you’re visiting Honfleur with a pram, be prepared for some bumpy cobblestones, and we had our Egg pram given we’d driven, not even our trusty but less sturdy travel pram.
For another evening stroll, just 10 minutes or so in the other direction from Deauville is Villerville, a charming fishing village with a quieter, more rugged stretch of coastline.
Day 3: markets, merry-go-rounds, and Trouville-sur-Mer
Our last day was spent exploring Deauville’s centre, browsing the market stalls (cheese lovers, prepare to lose all self-control), and taking R for a ride on the merry-go-round. From there, we wandered over the bridge to Trouville-sur-Mer, which has a more relaxed, bohemian vibe than its polished neighbour. We ended the day with a drink by the beach, watching the waves roll in.
Deauville or Trouville with kids?
Deauville feels smarter and more polished, with the huge beach, famous boardwalk and grand architecture. Trouville felt a little more relaxed and bohemian to us. The good news is that you don’t really have to choose between them for sightseeing because you can walk across the bridge from one to the other. For accommodation, I’d choose based on the property you prefer and the atmosphere you’re after rather than worrying that you’ll miss the other town.
Where to stay in Deauville with kids
Normandy is huge (it makes up 5% of the total area of France and is bigger than Wales in square metres!) so there’s plenty of options to base yourself in, but where you stay changes the trip more than you’d think.
We chose to stay just outside of Deauville in an Airbnb in Saint-Martin-aux-Chartrains, in a traditional Normandy gîte with a large enclosed garden, ideal for Cleo to run around in and for al fresco dinners once R was asleep.
- Deauville – best if you want the beach, shops and restaurants on the doorstep and plan to use the car mainly for day trips
- Trouville-sur-Mer – a slightly more relaxed feel while still being very close to Deauville, an easy walk across the bridge
- The countryside around Deauville – more space, gardens and easier parking, useful for families with toddlers or a dog, which is what we chose
- Honfleur – consider this if a harbour-town atmosphere matters more to you than being right beside Deauville beach
For a Deauville base itself, a few genuinely family-suitable options worth looking at:
- Hôtel Barrière Le Royal Deauville – a grand beachfront hotel with a pool, a good splurge pick if you want to be right on Les Planches
- Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy Deauville – the iconic half-timbered hotel in the centre of town, similarly grand
- Mercure Deauville Centre – a central, more moderately priced option with family rooms
- Ibis Styles Deauville Centre – a simpler, budget-friendly base if you’d rather spend on activities than the room
Search and compare Deauville accommodation here, or browse Trouville-sur-Mer and Honfleur options if you’d rather base yourself in one of the neighbouring towns.
If you stay in the area, one of our favourite discoveries was Oh My Pizz, a local pizza place that not only delivers but also has innovative fresh pizza vending machines dotted in villages surrounding Deauville. We also spotted a fresh oyster dispenser, proof that Normandy takes its seafood seriously! Local supermarkets had fantastic fresh produce (including plenty of France’s famed rotisserie chicken), making it easy to eat well without cooking from scratch every night. We went to the large Carrefour in Touques which had everything we needed.
Deauville with kids: frequently asked questions
Yes. It’s compact and easy to walk, the huge sandy beach and Les Planches boardwalk are pram-friendly, and there’s enough to do nearby that a rainy day doesn’t ruin the trip. It also works particularly well for UK families who’d rather drive to France than fly.
Yes, Deauville beach is a Blue Flag beach, meaning it meets high standards for water quality, safety, and facilities. The beach has lifeguards in summer, the sandy shoreline is gentle, and the famous wooden boardwalk (Les Planches) is completely pram-friendly.
The easiest way is by car via LeShuttle (Folkestone to Calais, then 2.5-3 hours’ driving) or a Normandy ferry crossing, which can cut down the driving in France depending on where you set off from. There’s no direct train, but Eurostar to Paris followed by an onward train to Deauville-Trouville station works if you’d rather not drive.
A long weekend (3-4 days) is perfect for Deauville, allowing time to explore the beach and boardwalk, visit neighbouring Honfleur and Trouville, and enjoy leisurely meals and market visits. With a baby, this pace allows for nap times and flexibility. A full week would let you add day trips to D-Day beaches, safari parks, or Mont-Saint-Michel.
Deauville feels smarter and more polished, with the bigger beach and famous boardwalk. Trouville is a little more relaxed and bohemian. You can walk across the bridge between the two, so it’s less about choosing for sightseeing and more about which property and atmosphere you prefer for where you stay.
Not for Deauville itself, it’s compact and walkable, and you can reach Trouville on foot. A car becomes useful if you’re staying in the countryside nearby or want to do day trips to Honfleur, the D-Day beaches, Cerza Safari Park or further into Normandy.
Why stay in Deauville with kids (and dogs!)
- The boardwalk is pram-friendly and offers a relaxing way to end the day.
- The long Blue Flag beach is sandy and has lifeguards in summer.
- Dog-friendly hours on the beach mean four-legged family members can join in.
- With plenty of day trip options nearby, you can spend your days in quaint harbours or bustling markets, if you can’t do more than a few hours on the beach.
- Accommodation options with outdoor space are easy to find and really quite reasonable.
More things to do in Normandy: day trips from Deauville
One of the best things about basing yourself in Deauville is how easy it is to explore more of Normandy. Here’s some of our suggestions:
- Families with animal-loving children will love the Cerza Safari Park near Lisieux (around 45 minutes’ drive). It’s one of the biggest wildlife parks in France, with over 1,500 animals, walking trails, and even a small train to help little legs see it all.
- History enthusiasts are spoiled for choice. Head west to the D-Day landing beaches (such as Omaha, Gold and Utah, with the first two approx 75 minutes’ away) to explore moving memorials, bunkers, and museums. In the same area you have Arromanches-les-Bains, which is home to the D-Day Museum and remnants of the Mulberry Harbours used during the 1944 landings.
- For a completely different flavour of Normandy, Rouen (around 1 hour 45 minutes away) offers towering Gothic cathedrals, medieval streets, and Joan of Arc history.
- And if you don’t mind a longer drive (about 2 and a half hours), Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France’s most iconic sights.
We feel Deauville is a brilliant base for exploring Normandy, with its mix of walkable classy seaside relaxation and Normandy history and charm. Despite only having been in Île de Ré a few weeks earlier, it felt really quite different, and if slow, beach-led breaks are your thing, Sylt in Germany is another one we’d point you towards.
Have you been to Normandy? We’d love to know what else we should be including in our must-see sights, so get in touch via the comments or on Instagram.
Our next adventure isn’t far behind, so see you soon.
Allie, Jack & R (and this time, Cleo too!) x
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